SUGAR N' SPICE part one

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THE BASE

The base is a simple 5" x 7" wooden picture frame.   I choose a green color.

Remove everything from the frame.   We will be using the back side of the

frame for our display because it has more working space.  From chipboard

or double thickness of matboard cut a rectangle to fit snuggly in frame.  

Print out the vintage linoleum pattern onto semi-gloss photo paper (Epson's

Premium Photo Paper Semi-gloss used here).  Trim to fit chipboard inset. 

Use quality glue stick (Avery brand is a wise choice) to adhere flooring to

chipboard.  Glue the assembly into back of frame.

                                             Set printer to print pattern 5.28"W x 8.06"H
                                                        Use best printing selection.

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KITCHEN CABINET

This cabinet is a mini version of the one I have in my kitchen which has been
handed down thru my family.  I have omitted the top doors/drawers to make
room for  display.

The Cabinet Base:

Note: All drawers and doors in the base are faux.  You may re-work the

pattern/directions if you desire working ones.

You will need:

¼” sq. stripwood + two Tiny Turnings #3000 (available from your miniature dealer

or look online Note: Tiny Turnings are quality wood turnings that are offered in 4

styles, multi-packed for very reasonable prices with many fun mini-uses besides

the obvious) + smooth matboard + thin cardstock (index-card weight) +

posterboard (.030, approx. 1/32” thick) + 3/32” bass sheetwood + ¼” long crystal

clear bugle beads and seed beads to match + 15 gauge wire + wood glue, tacky

glue, glue stick + paint and stain (Ceramcoat’s antique white #2001 acrylic and

Delta’s Brown Antiquing gel used here)



Instructions:

-For legs, cut four, 2 ⅛” lengths from ¼” square stripwood.  From Tiny Turnings

# 3000 cut four 1” long pieces as shown.

Glue the ends of the 2 ½” x ¼” sq. pieces to top end of turned pieces to form

4 legs.

-From 1/16” smooth matboard cut a front and a back 3 ¼”W x 2 1/16”H; two

sides 1 9/16”W x 2 1/16”H; a bottom per pattern.

- Glue back piece between a pair of prepared legs, top and back edges flush.

-From cardstock cut two side relief pieces 1 9/16”W x 2 ⅛”H.  Use the RELIEF

FOR SIDES pattern as guide to cut out the center of these pieces.

Glue cardstock relief pieces evenly to face of side pieces.

-Glue assembled side pieces to back leg assembly, top edges flush and set in

1/16” from outside edge of legs.

- Glue front legs to sides, top edges flush and legs extending 1/16” out from

sides.
-Cut a bottom per pattern and glue in place to insides of side and back pieces

and legs.

-To prepare front cut out breadboard section as shown.
-Using posterboard cut 2 bin doors, two center drawers and frames for lower

drawers.  Using a pointed stylus score lined-pattern, as shown, into doors and

drawer

-Glue bottom drawer frames to front to form bottom doors.  Glue all drawer/door

pieces in place on face of front piece using glue stick.

-Prepare 6 vintage faux glass handles:  Feed a length of wire through a seed

bead, then a bugle bead, and then another seed bead per diagram.  Hold beads

together with a drop of cyanoacrylate glue.  When glue has set, bend wire ends

down at right angles to beads.  Insert another seed bead on wire ends. 

-Poke holes thru front piece to take wire ends.  Insert wire ends of handles into

holes and bend back wires in back to hold in place.

-Glue front piece in place to bottom piece and sides of legs. 
-Paint and antique as desired.

-Cut a 2-5/16” x 4” top from 3/32” basswood.  Sand smooth and glue to top of

base, back edges flush, overhang to front and centered side to side. 

-Breadboard: From 3/32” bass sheetwood cut a piece 2 ⅛” x 1 ¼” with wood

grain running lengthwise.  Cut another piece 1-1/4” x ⅛ and glue it to front edge

of the first piece using wood glue.  When glue has set, sand smooth and ever

so slightly round off front and side edges.  Check to make sure this breadboard

will fit into the slot allotted to it on base front and if needed, make adjustments

as needed.
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Set printer to print at 5.21"W x 4.85"H

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Set printer to print at 5.05"W x 8.16"H
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Cabinet Top:

-From matboard cut a back piece 3 ¾ “W x 3 ⅜”H, two sides 1”W x 3 ⅜”H,

a sub-top and a shelf 1” deep x 3⅝” W. 

-Glue a long edge of the side pieces to the face of the back piece, outside

edges flush.  Glue the sub-top and the shelf to the face of the back piece and

side pieces, the sub-top flush with top edges and the shelf placed as desired

for what you wish to display…as seen, it is 1⅝” down from top piece. 

-From posterboard cut 3/16”W trim strips.  Use these to frame the outside face

of the side pieces, top and bottom frame pieces first and then side pieces;

from these trim pieces cut a piece to face across the top from side to side,

top edge flush with top of cabinet; Use the same trim pieces to face the front

edges of the side pieces, from top to bottom, outside edges flush; face the front

edges of the shelf, top edges flush.

-From matboard cut a top piece 1 ¼ “x 4”.  Glue it atop the cabinet, back

edges flush and centered side to side.

-From ¼” square stripwood cut a bottom brace to fit from side to side, inside the

cabinet top, glue it to the back and side pieces, bottom edges flush.

-Paint and antique the cabinet top to match the base.

-Glue the top of the cabinet to the cabinet base, back edges flush and

centered side to side.

- Cut two 3/16” slices from a 13/32” colonial moulding wood strip (Lowes) or

similar moulding (check your miniature dealer’s supplies) to act as

feet/brackets.

Paint and antique to match cabinet.  Glue to top and base sections of the cabinet

as seen in photograph.

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Holly Garland

-Using a solid core green paper paint both sides with holly/Christmas

green acrylic paint.  Let dry.  Using a holly shaped paper punch

(there are several on the market that are good scale, check

scrapbooking/craft/miniature suppliers, brick and mortar or online), punch out

leaves from prepared paper.  Place several leaves on the palm of your hand

(left hand if you are right handed) and use a pointed stylus to “draw a line”

down the center of each leaf.  This process will give the leaves dimension. 

This is the holly punch I used:

-Tightly twist brown floral tape into a rope long enough to go across top of

cabinet and drape down each side.  Glue the rope in place on the cabinet.

-Using pointed tweezers pick up leaves and glue to rope, starting at each

end and working to center top, overlapping the leaves as you go. 

-Use red no-hole beads or Woodland Scenic’s Fruit (a scale model

railroad supply) to add clusters of “berries” on holly.

-Print out small gingerbread men onto cardstock.  Use brown watercolor

or water color pencils to color edges and back of the cookies. 

Print out at 6.23"W x .53"H

 Dip the tip of a pointed stylus into Judi Kin’s Diamond Dimensional Glaze (scrapbooking/craft/miniature store purchase with lots of miniature applications)

and trace over frosting on cookies. 

 Add gingerbread boys to garland as desired.
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Gingerbread Houses Etc.

The gingerbread pieces used in Sugar n’ Spice are from my collection.  These

include vintage Hallmark miniature ornaments, craft store finds, and handmade.

The darling gingerbread sleigh and reindeer is an assembled laser kit from

Charlotte Atcher  http://www.hound-dogstudio.com/  She offers a nice variety of

well done gingerbread kits, including, houses, cookies, train, etc.

Look here for some fun gingerbread houses and patterns that can be adopted to

our needs.   http://www.celebrating-christmas.com/

The roofs, door and window top, base, etc. are frosted with Scribbles

Dimensional Paint, Spackle, Gesso, or acrylic snow available such as

Delta’s Fantasy Snow.  The roofs may also be shingled with “cookies”

created by punching out small rounds of desired colors and over lapping

them from top to bottom. 

There are tiny stars, hearts, trees, etc. shapes to be found on paper punches. 

Often these shapes are tiny parts of a bigger design…look at your punches with  

“miniaturist’s eyes”.  Punch them from colored cardstock and glaze for a candy

sheen.    Of course you may choose to use Fimo to create your house and it’s

decorations.  Candy canes are a traditional part of gingerbread houses and

Fimo makes excellent ones…simply roll out a red (or whatever color desired)

and a white snake of the same size; lay them side by side and twist together. 

Continue rolling and twisting until the pattern and size of the cane meet your

needs.  Lay the rolls on a piece of glass or ceramic tile.   Bake according to

package directions.  When cool cut lengths as needed.

Candy canes can also be made from Knit-Cro-Sheen thread.  Cut a piece of

white and red.  Lay them side by side; using your fingertips wipe tacky glue on

them.  Twist them together until you get your desired pattern…hold for a few

seconds until the glue sets.  Keep a damp cloth handy for sticky fingers. 

Martha Stewart has a product called Baker’s Twine in her holiday collection

at Michaels, six spools in three different colors that are already twisted.  You

can add glue to solidify and also twist it finer if desired.

Coat your thread or twine canes with clear nail polish for a shiny finish. 

Be sure and make some extra ones to fill a bowl, as seen on the table in the

opening photo. 

I am including two house printies.  Print them onto cardstock. Cut out, score

and glue sides over tabs and roof over eave tabs.  Glue on printie doors and

windows. Or create you own from snippets of cardstock, remember it is a

gingerbread house so it is best not to perfect.  Glue house onto a cardstock

base.

This house is a version one found in  Dec. 1951 Better Homes & Gardens

The little gingerbread creations are a fun project.  You may find items in your

collections that with a bit of paint, cookies, candy and imagination can be

transformed into gingerbread…don’t overlook Monopoly houses.

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Whew!!!  That is it for right now. In a few days, in Part 2,  I will tell you about

the baking taking place on the lower part of the cabinet.  Then we will be on to

the scrub table and the frosting and decorating going on there. 

Do let me know if you enjoy this project and if you should create any or all of it
how it went together for you.

Joann