Frugal Dolly Finds! Hit Or Miss!

Hey Gang!

So from time to time there are cheap things being sold that can be used for Barbie
and 1/6 scale dolls.  Here are a few things that are out there.  Hopefully you can find them
in your neighborhood if you like them.

First Up Door Ornaments!

These are being sold in Dollar General.  They are doors that are Barbie size!  I am
hoping to find them here but they have put out the Christmas stuff here yet.

Photos above are courtesy of Melissa Poe Chambers.  You can see that they are
Barbie scale! I was told that the decoration is hot glued on.  They can be carefully
removed.

Photo above is courtesy of   Linda Messer Perich the door comes in three colors.
They should repaint well if you need a different color.  I would call these a hit!

Next Up Is Wall Decorations!

I spotted these in the Dollar Store as I was about to check out!  I thought they might 

have been tablecloths.  I found a grass tablecloth last year that worked well and 

thought these might be a good find too.  There were two different pattern.  And the 

way that the packaging was, I couldn't see through to get a good look.  I had to go 

on only the picture on the front. I was hoping that they would make good backdrops.

The graveyard 

Because this are kinda thin, it works better with something behind it. Preferably 

something white.  It work better for the sky if it is something white.

 With a few other props, it is ready to go!

The brick wall.

 

The brick wall is to large for Barbie or 1/6 dolls.

I might find a way I can use it but not as it is.  

Tomb or Cave

So it is kinda of  miss!

OK,Thanks For Looking!

More Backgrounds!

Hey Gang!

I am always on the look for new backgrounds for my dioramas!  

BTW, Walmart has it miniature villages out so It would be a great time to talk 

to the managers about getting the snowy scene background from them!

 Anyway, I was in my local mall, it is not a big my
and is struggling, I notice that the Cheltenham
Mall DSW had gone out of business! I guess it is the
state of affairs now.  Someone had left a few Nike
signs for the trash.  I glanced at them at first because
I didn’t know what they were. Then I really looked at them….then I took them with me!

You saw one of them in the post with Suzie and Terrence!  

There were 6 in total!

Yes, there was some writing on them but when I measured them I realized it could 

be easily cut off and I would still have plenty of design to work with!

I am still look over this years’ calendars to see if there are any scene that would 

be good to keep and looking at 2016 calendars in that same light!

OK, Thanks For Looking!

More Frugal Dolly Finds!

Hey Gang!

So I'm trying to catch the after Christmas sale on items that I can use for doll
and dioramas.  I got a few things and have a few more to get.  These items I
didn't have to pay for. They were going to throw these out.  Two kinds of
branches with berries. 

Small berries!

I got 4 of these

I don't like them as trees so I'm going to take the berries off and use them as
grapes and cherries. Just a little paint will do the trick!

 These are larger berries!  I got 6 of these.

 They will be apples, oranges, tomatoes... and who knows.

 Both of them together so you can see the size.

 Pine Trees! I got 5 of these.

 I'll remove the floral tape and give them a base.

 

Snowy branches!  I got 5 of these.

I had to wait a whole year for these.  There were two backdrops at WalMart that
they used for the small scenes!  They make great outdoor scenes for my dolls!
There were 2 of these.  They are the same and they are 15 inches high and 24
inches wide.  I asked the sales clerk last year to hold them for me this year.
I reminded her at the beginning of the Christmas season.  She gave me the date
that she would be consolidating the shelves and I could pick them up them.
I headed right over when I got the call.

 I couldn't find my cotton batting so I have to use my terry robe for these shots.

 I could raise them and make them taller by putting them on a snow hill.

 I feel cold just looking at them.  Oh, that's right it is cold out.  Never mind!

 With the trees!

Pulled back so you can see the scene.

Backgrounds and Artwork!

In my last post- Experiments And Test Shots!-Updated, I
used a few different backgrounds for my shots. It gave each
set of pictures a different feel and was different from the white
background I sometimes use when I am comparing dolls.

I got some comments about the backgrounds and it was
taking up far too much space to answer the comments,
so I decided to blog about it. Thank you Tracy India,
Karina, dbg of Black Doll Enthusiast and Frannie for
inspiring this post.

Here is what I used and my sources:
Beach scene is a poster I got from Big Lot for $2.99 last
summer. They may still have some. I haven’t been there
in a while. I got that one and









He autographed this one for the family.


Beach is used a lot for St. Malcolm scenes.



the mountain scene one in Tour of the Pacific Rim Dress
Rehearsal. It was some of the best money I’ve spent.


Café is a picture/poster I purchased from Wal-Mart a week
ago for $1.00. I just love it! I have stores worked around
this French Café’.

Now Ms. Leo is cheap and believes in using what is free
or what you already have. The azalea scene and the garden
beach scenes are calendars!


Careful placement of doll and furniture keeps you from
seeing the date and month!


This is a calendar....

this too!

I have even cut the small pictures of what each month is and
used them as calendars or art. In Khadijah’s first Valentine’s
Day and My Sewing Project I used thumbnail month pictures in
the scene. I also use post cards as artwork if I like the pictures.



Artwork is from the back of calendars thumbnails
and postcards.


Finally the brick background is scrapbook paper that I
purchased from Joann’s fabric for .25 a 12 x12 sheet. I
purchased 8 (should got more) and have used them for
everything from Renee and Etienne’s home (all 8),
background for Barbie Basics #17 to the backstage
for Woo and Dallas. It is a must have!



So cute... all he needs is a wall!



Not used in the test shot post but used often is a roll
(like gift wrap) of paper with a blue background and clouds
use for all my sunny day shots! I got that at Michael’s for
about 4.99 and have only used about 3o inches of a 4 foot roll.

Sun comes out after the snow!

Kids play on a sunny day!

So there you have it! Go out and look for interesting
backgrounds for your pictures. Almost anything could be a
background or artwork!