Miniatures Needed
One inch scale unfinished Potting Bench
One inch scale plastic or wooden Kitchen Stool
One inch scale Market Basket
One inch scale Terra Cotta Pots (3)
One inch scale Broken Pot Shards
Bonnie Lavish One inch scale Gardening Tools & Gloves Kit
One inch scale Rusty Watering Can (purchased at craft store)
One inch scale Flower Seed Packets Kit or Printables
Supplies Needed
¼” basswood stripwood
1” basswood stripwood
Woodland Scenics or similar Soil Material, or dried used coffee grounds
Seedling Leaf Punches (approximately 1/8” long)
White Daisy Petal Punches (approximately 1/4” diameter)
Green Star Punches (approximately 1/8” – 3/16” diameter)
Yellow Circle Punches (approximately 1/8” diameter)
Green Lichen
Dried Reindeer Moss
Cloth covered green wire
Green floral wire
Tin floral wire
Cardstock or Index Card
Tacky Glue
Paper Clay or Crayola Model Magic or other Air-Drying Clay
American Accents Vintage Red Paint (or your choice of color or wood stain)
Acrylic Paints: Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Green Umber, Avocado, Cadmium Yellow, Buttermilk, Medium Hauser Green, Brown Iron Oxide, Silver Metallic
Wood Stain
Crackle Medium (optional)
American Accents Antique Top Coat
Gloss Varnish (optional)
Matte Sealer Spray
Tools & Miscellaneous Items Needed
Wax Paper (to protect work surface)
Paper Towels
Floral Foam Block
Sandpaper
Scissors
Small Scissors
Ruler
Paint Brushes
Tweezers
Needle Nose Pliers
Xacto Knife
Paper Plate –for projects using soil material
Foam Pad (such as a computer mouse pad) – Seedling Tray & Daisies projects
Popsicle Stick – for stirring paint and/or stain
Corsage Pin – Seedling Tray & Daisies projects
Toothpicks – for applying glue
Small White Rag – for Potting Bench project
Emery Board – for sanding and distressing
2 Small Clothespins – Garden Tools Project
GENERAL NOTES
These instructions are for a One Inch Scale Miniature Potting Bench & Stool plus 6 Garden Accessories:
1. Seedling Tray
2. Potting Tray
3. Garden Gloves & Tools
4. Daisies in Pot & Dead Plant in Pot
5. Potting Bench & Stool
6. Watering Can and Flower Pots
7. Plant Markers, Plant Stakes, Garden Staples and Seed Packets in Basket
When the Instructions state “set aside to dry”, that is the time to move on to a step for another accessory – you will have several small projects going on at once! Ideally, you will be painting all items that need to be painted at one time. You may want to place a check mark next to a task in each step as you complete it, so you that you know when you go back to a project where you left off.
Flower & Leaf Punches
I use scrapbooking punches found in Hobby Lobby, Michael’s Crafts and scrapbooking stores. Look for in-scale punches in flower petal and leaf shapes – don’t forget to look in the “Border” and “Corner” punches section. I use colored vellum paper found at scrapbooking & craft stores and rice paper. Cardstock is usually too thick.
PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS
1. Miniature Seedling Tray
(Work on the Seedling Tray and Potting Tray projects at the same time, alternating between the two while the other one is drying.)
You will need:
¼” & 1” wide basswood stripwood
Woodland Scenics or similar Soil Material, or dried used coffee grounds
Tacky Glue
Wood Stain
Paper Clay
Raw Umber Paint
Emory Board or Sandpaper
Corsage Pin
Tweezers
Scissors
Seedling Leaf Punches
Paper Plate
6 small lengths of cloth-covered green wire
Matte Spray Sealer
Use the paper plate for this project. After you shake away excess soil onto the plate, empty your plate into the trash. This will help protect the other projects on which you are working.
1. Cut the basswood strips parts to make the tray approximately 1-1/2” x 1”. Lightly sand all edges of the basswood part and stain all five pieces. Set aside to dry.
2. Glue the narrow pieces to the outside edges of the bottom piece. Set aside to dry.
3. Place a small amount of paper clay in the inside of the tray, push it around to fill the corners. Fill the tray almost to the top. Let dry a few minutes.
4. Paint the paper clay with Raw Umber paint. Set aside to dry.
5. Cover the paper clay with glue, and sprinkle with Soil Material. Lightly press down with your finger, and shake off excess onto the paper plate. Set aside to dry.
6. With corsage pin, poke 6 holes in the paper clay/soil at equal intervals (see photo).
7. Using tweezers to hold the wire, glue 2 seedling leaves to the top of one of the 6 small lengths of cloth-covered green wire. Still using the tweezers, insert the wire stem in one of the 6 holes in the paper clay/soil. You may need to trim the wire stem to a satisfactory length with scissors. Repeat for 4 more wire stems.
8. On the fifth stem, glue two leaves on either side of the stem, pointing up, near the top. This simulates a seedling that hasn’t fully opened yet.
9. Spray with Matte Sealer. Set aside to dry.
2. Miniature Potting Tray
(Work on the Seedling Tray and Potting Tray projects at the same time, alternating between the two while the other one is drying.)
You will need:
¼” & 1” wide basswood stripwood
Tacky Glue
Black Paint
Gloss Varnish (optional)
Emory Board or Sandpaper
Paper Clay
Raw Umber Paint
Woodland Scenics or similar Soil Material, or dried used coffee grounds
Paper Plate
Matte Spray Sealer
Use the paper plate for this project. After you shake away excess soil onto the plate, empty your plate into the trash. This will help protect the other projects on which you are working.
1. Cut the basswood strips parts to make the tray approximately 1-1/2” x 1”. Sand the corners on the two longest side pieces so that they form a soft angle (see photo). Make sure that the angles match.
2. Glue the 3 narrow pieces to the inside edges of the bottom piece. (One side will be open.) Set aside to dry.
3. Sand the bottom edge of the open side. Paint the tray black – it may need two coats of paint. Set aside to dry.
4. Paint the tray with one coat of glossy varnish (optional). Set aside to dry.
5. Place a small amount of paper clay in the inside of the tray, push it around to fill the corners. Fill the tray almost to the top near the back, and slope the clay downwards as it nears the open side. Let dry a few minutes.
6. Paint the paper clay with Raw Umber paint. Set aside to dry.
7. Cover the paper clay with glue, and sprinkle with Soil Material. Lightly press down with your finger, and shake off excess onto the paper plate. Set aside to dry.
8. Spray with Matte Sealer. Set aside to dry.
3. Bonnie Lavish Miniature Garden Gloves & Tools
You will need:
Bonnie Lavish One Inch Scale Miniature Gardening Tools & Gloves Kit
Scissors
Tacky Glue
2 Small Clothespins
Acrylic Paint: Medium Hauser Green, Raw Umber, Brown Iron Oxide and Silver Metallic
Please follow the instructions provided in the kit. Some suggestions are noted below. Please note: be gentle as you handle the tools, as they are a bit delicate.
Gloves
1. After you have glued the thumbs on and let them dry, paint them with your choice of acrylic paint. (On the sample I used Medium Hauser Green.) Set aside to dry.
2. Dry-brush with Brown Iron Oxide and Raw Umber to simulate dirt. Set aside to dry.
Garden Tools
Be gentle while handling these – they are delicate!
1. Paint the upper part and skinny part of the handle with the silver metallic paint. Let the clothes pins hold them while they dry.
2. Dip handles in tacky glue to build them up. Let the clothes pins hold them while they dry.
3. Paint over the tacky glue with your choice of acrylic paint color. (On the samples I used Medium Hauser Green.) Let the clothes pins hold them while they dry.
4. Round the tools slightly as directed in the kit instructions. Glue to soil in potting tray. Dot with glue and sprinkle with more soil, or put enough glue and soil on them to make it look like they are half buried in the soil.
4. Miniature Daisies in Flower Pot/Dead Plant in Pot Project
(Make the Dead Plant while the Daisy Stems are drying.)
You will need:
2 Terra Cotta Pots
Paper Clay
Green Lichen
Dried Reindeer Moss
Soil Material
White Daisy Petal Punches (approximately 1/4” diameter)
Green Star Punches (approximately 1/8” – 3/16” diameter)
Yellow Circle Punches (approximately 1/8” diameter)
Cadmium Yellow Acrylic Paint
Tacky Glue
Corsage Pin
Tweezers
Block of Flower Foam
Foam Pad or Computer Mouse Pad
Paper Plate
Scissors
The paper plate is provided for this project. After you shake away excess soil onto the plate, empty your plate into the trash. This will help protect the other projects on which you are working.
Daisies
1. Using scissors, cut from the CLOTH-COVERED green wire (NOT the dark green wire) 5 or 6 pieces measuring 1-1/2” – 1-3/4” long. The measurements do not need to be exact.
2. Taking one length of wire, dip one end in a small dot of glue and touch to the very CENTER of one of the yellow circle punches. Dip top of circle in Cadmium Yellow paint for a very light coat – just enough to add a little dimension. Insert stem in block of flower foam to dry. Repeat for remaining stems.
3. On the blue foam pad, using the corsage pin, pierce a hole in the very CENTER of a daisy punch. Slide the daisy punch up the corsage pin to enlarge the hole. Remove the daisy punch from the pin. Repeat for the remaining daisy punches, and the star punches.
4. Take one of the stems with the yellow circles on top, and place a dot of glue under the circle. Using tweezers, slide a daisy punch up the stem, until it meets the circle. Be gentle so that you don’t tear the circle off the stem.
5. Place a dot of glue under the daisy punch, and slide a second daisy punch up the stem, until it meets the first. Use your tweezers to adjust the daisy punches so that the petals are evenly spaced.
6. Place a dot of glue under the second daisy punch. Slide the green star punch up the stem, and press gently against the petals. Insert stem in block of floral foam and let dry.
7. Repeat for remaining stems.
8. Fill both pots almost full with paper clay. Cover top of paper clay with tacky glue. Sprinkle glue with soil material, lightly press down with finger, and shake away excess onto paper plate.
9. Using corsage pin, poke 5 – 6 evenly spaced holes into the paper clay/soil in one of the flower pots. Cut the 5 – 6 flower stems to desired length. (Save the wire trimmings for the Seedling Tray project (see above). Dip each stem end in glue and insert in a hole in the paper clay/soil. Glue in a small amount of green lichen for foliage. Set aside to dry.
10. Dead Plant in Pot: Using corsage pin, poke a hole in the paper clay/soil in the other terra cotta pot. Dip the end of the dried reindeer moss in tacky glue, and insert in the hole. Set aside to dry.
5. Miniature Potting Bench & Stool
You will need:
One inch scale unfinished Potting Bench
One inch scale plastic or wooden Kitchen Stool
Paint or Stain for Bench
Paint for Stool
Crackling Medium (optional)
Xacto Knife
Sandpaper
Emery Board
Paint brushes – for painting and dry brushing
Small Rag
American Accents Antique Top Coat
Matte Sealer Spray
American Accents Vintage Red Paint (or your choice of color or water-base wood stain)
Acrylic Paint: Buttermilk, Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Green Umber, Avocado
1. Paint the potting bench with American Accents Vintage Red Paint or with your choice of color – one good coat should be enough, unless you plan to use the Crackling Medium. Follow the directions on the bottle if you would like to try this. Set aside to dry. (You can also stain your bench with water-base wood stain. If you are using stain, make sure you stir it before you start.)
2. Paint the stool with Buttermilk Acrylic paint or in your choice of color. The stool will not take stain, and will need two coats of paint. Set aside to dry.
3. Distress the potting bench using your Xacto knife, emery board, and sandpaper. Concentrate on the surfaces that would normally see the most wear: edges and corners. You can also use the Xacto knife to nick the top surfaces of the shelf, table and slats. See the samples for ideas. Continue until you are pleased with the results – you can make it look as worn as you like!
4. Paint on a coat of the Antique Top Coat (make sure you stir it first). Work in small areas at a time, and wipe off fairly quickly with small white rag provided. Let dry for a few minutes while you follow the next step for the stool.
5. To simulate dirt and wear, dry brush the kitchen stool with some or all of the following paint colors (your preference): Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Green Umber, Avocado. I normally squirt a dime-sized amount of each color in a plastic cup, and take turns with each color using a fan brush. Dip your brush into the paint, then wipe off most of it on a paper towel. Then, lightly and quickly brush on the stool until you are pleased with the results. Remember you can always add more, but it’s hard to take off! Set aside to dry.
6. Using the method described in the previous step, dry brush the potting bench to simulate dirt and wear. Set aside to dry for a few minutes. SAVE YOUR DRY BRUSHING PAINT FOR THE NEXT PROJECT.
7. Make a paint “wash” with Burnt Umber paint and water. Paint this all over the kitchen stool and potting bench. Set both aside to dry.
8. Spray both with Matte Sealer. Set aside to dry.
6. Miniature Watering Can and Flower Pots
You will need:
One inch scale miniature Terra Cotta Pot
One inch scale miniature Broken Pot Shards
One inch scale miniature Rusty Watering Can
Xacto Knife
Emery Board (optional)
Paint brush for dry brushing
Tacky Glue
Acrylic Paint: Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Green Umber, Avocado
1. Using the method described for the potting bench and stool, dry brush the flower pots and broken pot shards to simulate age and dirt. Set aside to dry.
2. Dry brush the Rusty Watering Can with Avocado and/or Green Umber. Set aside to dry.
7. Miniature Plant Markers, Plant Stakes, Garden Staples and Seed Packets in Basket
You will need:
One Inch Scale Miniature Market Basket (Al Chandronnait’s basket is in photo)
One inch scale Terra Cotta Pots
Dark Green Floral Wire (NOT cloth-covered)
Tin Color Floral Wire
Cardstock or Index Card
Flower Seed Packets Kit or Printables
Tacky Glue
Silver Metallic Paint
Needle Nose Pliers
Scissors
Small Scissors
Ruler
1. Plant Markers: Cut tin wire into 2-1/2” lengths, leaving about 6” of the wire uncut. Using needle nose pliers, bend in half around the tip of the pliers (refer to photo or sample). Cut tiny rectangles from index card, measuring 1/4” x 1/8”. Glue 3/32” from top of bend in wire. Repeat for remaining lengths of wire. When dry, paint card metallic silver. Set aside to dry.
2. Plant Stakes: Cut green wire into 1-3/8” lengths with scissors or wire cutters. With one piece of wire, measure up 1” and bend the wire at a perpendicular angle using your pliers. Then, using the needle nose end of the pliers and your fingers, make a small loop perpendicular to the stake. Repeat for remaining pieces of wire.
3. Garden Staples: Using the 6” length of wire left over from Step #1, cut into 1” lengths. Bend in half around the tip of the needle nose pliers (refer to photo or sample).
4. Seed Packets: Cut seed packets out, fold along lines and glue together.
5. Assemble in Basket: Glue items in basket as desired, or refer to photo or class sample. Set aside to dry.
6. Weather Basket: After the glue is dry, if desired you can simulate dirt and wear by dry brushing the basket and contents with Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Green Umber and/or Avocado. You can also paint with a wash of one of these colors.
Finishing the Potting Bench
Glue your finished accessories to your potting bench as desired. You can refer to the photo for ideas. You are finished! Thank you for requesting these instructions, I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and learned some new skills. If you have any suggestions, corrections or comments, please let me know!
Copyright 2011 Kathryn Depew
