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New Cast Metal Miniatures (Plus a Tutorial by Lora Mahaffey)
Filed under Art Projects, Bella Ayers, Giveaways, Lora Mahaffey, Miniatures, Nichola Battilana, Sale, Tutorials
Note: most of the links on this post no longer work, as we moved to a new Web site in 2018. However, you can see the supply list items from Nichola’s project that are still available on the new site.
NEW Cast Metal Miniatures Section!
AND on sale;!! 25% off through MONDAY night!
Beside the adorable new items (like that clock at left and below, in a prepping & painting cast metal tutorial by Lora!) there are old faves on sale, too! Like the Miniature Square Metal Box with Lid shown at right. And check below for a big bunch of new metal minis, too!
See more and sale ends Monday night, October 24th (2016).
We’ve got THREE art projects today. And I’m starting off with a great tutorial on prepping and painting cast metal by Design Team Member Lora Mahaffey!
I knew Lora would be the right person to ask for this tutorial. She is so knowledgeable about jewelry techniques (and has the patience and steady hands for such tiny things). Here’s a bit from Lora’s blog post:
First of all, with pot metal, which is what this clock is made out of, you need to give it a good scrubbing with something like Dawn or (if you wear gloves) Trisodium Phosphate, or TSP. Dawn is the mildest option, but basically you need to do this to get the mold release compound off of the metal or nothing you put on it will stick.
Having started life in a mold, there are some bits and raw edges that can be filed off to give the clock a smoother look. I used a couple of jewelry files to do a bit of this, but this thing is so tiny that I ended up leaving it (for the most part) as is. I filed off the most obvious sticky-outy bits but the other don’t show up much and basically disappear when the paint goes on, so don’t worry too much about it.
Read more of Lora’s tutorial in her blog post. And be sure to come back as you can win one of these metal clocks in today’s Giveaway!)
Staying with the miniature cast metal theme, look at that amazingly tiny dollhouse by Design Team Coordinator Miz Bella (Kim Ayers) using the new Tiny Metal Dollhouse! I just had to include the photo showing the house next to a 7/8″ tall Miniature Book (covered with an image from the Little Library Collage Sheet) so you get an idea of how tiny it is.
Note that there is tiny furniture inside the dollhouse (that you can view from the back of the house… see the photo at right).
Other noteables: I love the tiny path through the lawn that Bella made by scratching off a bit of the ReadyGrass. Plus the whole dollhouse fits inside a Mini Glass Dome!
Read about Bella’s process (and see more photos) in her blog post.
Ok… maybe you’re not brave enough to tackle a metal miniature… Here is the third adorable project for today (by Design Team Member Nichola Battilana): A Miniature Chipboard Stage in which some weirdos put on a show. 🙂
“What a stage really needs are it’s players. So I printed out the Little People Collage Sheet at 50%, fussy cut those suckers, and added wings. Note: I’m not entirely certain where that devilish fellow in the centre popped up from… he just sort of snuck in there!”
You can get an idea of the size of the stage from the photo of Nichola holding it on far left; the “box” part of the theatre (without the apron in front) is just 1″ deep. Read more (including some behind the scenes banter) in Nichola’s blog. And here’s her Supply List, too.
New Collage Supplies – ALL on Sale! View all new items | |||
Hooray for the Mini Metals Giveaway!
Ok… this one is special. There are so many cool new options in the Cast Metal Miniatures section (plus the items that were already on the site… 26 in all) that YOU get to pick! Your choice of 5 items from the new section is today’s Giveaway!
I’m sneaking in one more new one AND one more old one (photos at right): Metal Candelabra or Light Fixture and Oval Metal Tea Tray… but those are just suggestions.
To enter the Mini Metals Giveaway drawing all you have to do is leave a comment BELOW on this blog post TODAY OR TOMORROW (the deadline is 11:59 pm PST, FRIDAY, October 21 2016)!
And tell me: WHAT FIVE ITEMS WOULD YOU PICK? Here’s the link to the Cast Metal Miniatures section again.
Don’t forget to leave your (hello! correct) email address, too, so I can contact the winner; your email address does not need to be made public. Note: I’m offering free shipping, too, but only within the USA. International shipping will still apply.
Please be patient! Spammers try to post crap here a lot so comments are moderated. So if you don’t see your post in the comments section, be patient and check back in a few hours before re-posting it, please!
After midnight, I’ll randomly pick the winner (via Random.org). So check your mailbox on Sunday morning to see who won and for the next Giveaway and Newsletter!
Hey, who won the Old Cemetery Giveaway? That would be Kim Lucak! Congratulations! Check your email for more info.
Lots of cute miniature metals. I could use them for altered arts projects and also doll house décor. I would choose:
Griffin sconces
Lavabo Fish & Basin Wall fountain set
Cathedra frame
flying witch and moon
square metal box with lid
HOw cute are these!Love the cuckoo clock and frame! Perfect for mixed media canvases!!
Love these cast metal miniatures! I’d pick the candelabra, the cream & sugar set, the cuckoo clock, the set of doorknobs, and the metal box with lid!
So cute. I love cockoo clocks
Very cool new things! Soooo many possibilities!
I would start with,
Griffin sconces
mini dollhouse
gryphons
teaset
apothecary bottles
but they are all great!
These are great miniature with so much detail and just begging for beautiful patinas. I’m making a miniature crow witch hovel (that is, the crow is the witch) and these would be perfect accents, especially the Box and Lid, the Griffin Sconces, the Facing Gryphons, the Cathedral Frame, and the Lavabo Fish and Basin Wall Fountain. Can’t wait to see more of these!
SO cute! Lots of possibilities for projects!
These are so cute. I want to make some shadow boxes. I would choose the:
tea set
metal door knobs
mini teapot
set of gryphons
cathedral frame
Hard to choose!! Good luck everyone!
So many possibilities …The 5 I would choose are:
Set of door knows
Tiny dollhouse
1/2″ arm chair
Left and right facing gryphon
1/2″ spoked wheels
Thanks for the opportunity, Cheers!
great collection of miniatures…. creates many ideas!
So sweet! I love miniatures. I NEED that dollhouse. 😉 I would also choose the mini square metal box, mini letter opener, mini rocking chair and metal grandfather clock. Thank you for the chance to win!
I want the gryphons, the cathedral frame, the standing frame, the doorknobs and the daggers.
I love the new miniatures. I would get the grandfather clock, for my husband who learned to restore grandfather clocks from his grandfather, the witch in the moon for my sister who had a part in the local production of Wicked, The miniature doll house for my best friend who is a realtor,the metal dagger for my brother who works as a blacksmith at Renaissance fairs, and the teapot for me because I love tea.
I would follow either Bella or Lora’s tutorial to treat them and then make them into a necklace for me, my friend and my sister and create a miniature scene of sword making for my brother and clock repair for my husband. They would make great Christmas presents!
These miniatures are adorable!!! Coloring/painting them is a GREAT idea!!!!!
OOOOOOOOOOOO! I am bouncing off the walls with delight!! These are totally awesome!! I would choose the Victorian Cherub Mantle Clock, Lavabo Fish & Basin Wall Fountain Set, Griffin Sconces, Set of 4 Metal Apothecary Jars and the Candelabra/Light Fixture.
They would look amazing in the Victorian Dollhouse that I am building for my 4 year old granddaughter for Christmas.
Thank you for the chance to win them!
They are all so adorable, makes choosing hard. I would choose the tea tray, the doorknobs, the gryphon, griffen sconces and the box….
And then order the light fixture and Apothecary jars.
Love, love love this!!! I would select the Victoria Cherub mantel clock, Lavabo Fish and Basin Wall Fountain set, Ginger jars, and Apothecary jars. So many fun ideas!!!!
My picks would be everything! Lol these are awesome. Seriously though: The fish and basin wall set, metal cathedral frame, 1/2 scale metal tea set, square metal box and the oval metal tray.
Definitely the mantle clock, apothecary and ginger jars, morter & pestel, fountain & ink wells, I would be in Alpha Heaven!
1. Grandfather clock 2. Metal arm chair 3. Fish and basin fountain set. 4. Mantel clock 5. Square box with lid.
I love:
The witch and moon
The griffins
The griffin sconces
The cuckoo clock
The candlesticks
But all the pieces are very nice!!
These are awesome!!! I would pick the cathedral frame, apothecary jars, arm chairs, gryphons & the mortar pestle !
Cute minis. I would choose the spoked wheels, cuckoo clock, apothecary jars, door knobs and standing frame. Thanks for the chance to win.
ooh hard to pick! they are all so cool
1. Grandfather Clock
2. Candelabra
3. Griffin Sconces
4. Lavabo Fish & Basin Wall Fountain Set
5, Metal Mortar & Pestle
I would pick the teapot, witch on a broom, griffin sconces, gryphons and cathedral frame.
awesome miniatures I would make a diorama with them thans
I would choose the griffins, Cathedral frame, standing pic frame, metal box and metal dollhouse.
I’ve already used the Griffen Sconces. They were great! But I would choose the cathedral frame, the standing picture frame, the Victorian cherub mantel clock, the miniature box and the tea tray. I hope I have luck on my side for this one!
Love these adorable miniatures. I would choose:
Grandfather clock, dollhouse, tea set, inkwell and pen, rocking chair. Thanks for a chance to win.
What a fun giveaway. I would choose the Cathedral Frame, Griffin Sconces, Facing Gryphons, Cream and Sugar set and Cherub Mantel Clock!
I would choose the metal box with lid, the dollhouse, cherub mantle clock, cathedral frame and wall fountain set. Thanks for the chance
Wow, I love them all! Tea tray, candlelabra, ginger jars, apothecary jars, doorknobs, metal house, square metal box with lid, fountain set,tea set, and on and on….
Love them all!
I would pick:
Fish basin & wall fountain
Gryphons
candelabra
mortar & pestle
apothecary jars
These are lovely. I would choose the metal cathedral frame, metal apothecary jars, the metal doorknobs, griffin sconces and left & right facing metal griffons.
You are so mean making us choose!! OK OK _ If I HAD to choose five, I’d choose the left & right gryphons, metal cathedral frame, standing picture frame, the square box and the tea tray. As always, magnificent projects!!
Oh wow aren’t these adorable! I would choose items that are really cute like the candlestick, the clock, the dollouse, the wall fountain and the cathedral. Frankly I love them all!
This was hard but the arm chair, the cathedral frame, flying witch with moon, fountain and the tea set. I’d do the Red Queen in the chair at the Tea Party!
I love the way Lora Mahaffey and Kim Ayers painted the miniatures. Wonderful!
Candelabra
Box with lid
Mortar and pestle
Door knobs
Apothecary jars
I would like to get the Miniature Square Metal Box with Lid, 2 Lavabo Fish & Basin Wall Fountain Set, and 2 Metal Candelabra or Light Fixtures.
I’m absolutely obsessed with these minatures! i’d like them all!!!!
I just discovered you and I’m a happy, happy miniaturist. 1. Lavabo fish and basin wall fountain set, 2. metal cathedral frame, 3. tiny metal dollhouse, 4.mini metal teapot, 5. metal flying witch and moon