Front Step and Other Random Parts

Well it may not seem like a lot, but I was working most of the day! After sending off this week's packages I came back home and got to work on my front step!

First, I carved out the spots where the columns will go. I don't want there to be a huge gap below them, so now the columns fit snugly in these!

The dollhouse kit I am using came with this massive wooden block.

Then I started adding the bricks like before.

I wanted there to be a little lip over the edge of the step, so I took the kit shutters...

Here are the parts that come in the kit for the shutters. I am using the larger pieces for the step.

I then trimmed them down to make the lip.

Then it was back to laying the bricks! I had to wrap them over the lip to make it look like whole bricks.

I also made this window things for the top floor... there was two of them , but I don't know what they are called.

Here are some more of the same shutter pieces.

I plan on turning them into my fireplace for the living area.

I then jumped back to the top floor windows and checked to make sure the window frame fit. It did!

Then back to the step. I trimmed all the bricks and I also repeated the herringbone pattern on top of the step, just like the porch. Then I painted it red...

Lighter highlights...

That is all for today! I still need to go back and dull down that red. I also need to grout the step.

Question- does anyone have any advice for my windows? I wanted to make them slide up to open, but I have no idea how to go about doing that.

Oh! And here is my work area. It is my closet. Hahaha! It is a total mess, but always a work in progress.

Thanks for stopping by! Come back tomorrow to see what else I get done on the house!

-xo

Blake

Front Porch - Part 3 - Overhang, Columns, Trim

Ahhh! I can't contain my excitement for this project!

First I want to ask you guys something! Below on the the left you will see how my house looks right now. The corners of the building are exposed and need to be hidden. So... I am taking this wood trim and using it! BUT I don't know what to do with it! My first option was white... but then I wanted to tie in the window frames and I wanted to stain them black... THEN I thought... what about bricks?! It would bring that red color up into the rest of the house and it will also tie in with the chimney! (Coming soon, of course!) SO... what are your opinions? As of right now I am leaning towards the brick, but I wanted to know what you all thought!

The trim would go on the four corners on the front of the house.

Also, I would want to trim off the edges of the floors and walls on the back. If that makes sense?

Well... on to what I did today! I took popcicle sticks and created a wooden cap for my brick column bases.

Below you can see the two versions I made. I made the right one first, but I thought it was too wide and thin looking so I then made the left one. I went with the left one.

Then I covered them with "cement."

I used this grout stuff for my bricks, for those of you that were wondering. I had plenty left so instead of mixing it with water, I did this...

I mixed my paint up to the color I was looking for...

Then I just slowly started mixing in the grout stuff until it was the consistency I wanted.

I then applied it with a paint knife. Below you can see the before and after. The cement looks just how I wanted! I am so happy! I went back once it dried a little and flattened it to make it look more square.

Here is a close-up. Pretty convincing, huh?

Then some kit bashing! That IS what you call this, right? lol. Basically I got rid of the balcony above the front porch. It made the porch too dark and I hated that you couldn't see all of the door from my eye level.

I took the two columns that were meant for the balcony and I laid popsicle sticks in between them. I then took the ends of the sticks and made it look like they were going through the larger piece of wood.

Here you have it! I really like how it looks. I looks lighter and brighter! 

Here is what the columns look like in place.

Another view of the overhang. Is that what you would call this thing? I don't know what to call it.

And I found the front step! Now I get to go cut more bricks. Hahaha!

Really happy with how everything is coming along! Here is me playing around! Hahaha!

That's all for today! I am going to ride to the grocery store with my mom and then run to Hobby Lobby. I am still going to work for the rest of the day, but I think I might work on things for my Etsy shop. Hahaha!

Thanks for stopping by!

xo

-Blake