Saturday, December 27, 2008

Canoe Lipstick- with water

Click on the photo to see larger (just discovered that option myself).
Photos with the water added. I used Polyscenics Gloss product. It is white and turns clear when dry. I don't like that it wouldn't settle flat, but in this piece it would not work to use a liquid product. I would have needed an end. I used a metal tip to squeeze the product around the canoe. I had to reapply several times as the product would dry and be sunk in. It did cause a lot of bubbles in the area around the canoe. I was trying to avoid the bubbles, but at least this product dries very clear so the bubbles aren't so noticable.
It is funny to me, I used magnifier to paint the eyes and I can't see the details without the magnifer. LOL
Ultimately I am pleased with it and will be giving it to my parents tomorrow. Will post about their reactions later.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

canoe lipstick almost done

This is the lipstick case I am using. When you open it, it looks no different. Then when you turn it the canoe can barely be seen, until the tube is twisted. Then you see a canoe being paddled toward you.

I still need to add the water, then it will be done.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Canoe in lipstick tube- started

Years ago I made a scene in a lipstick tube. It contained a fairy and some daffodils. When I showed it to my dad, he thought it was cool. He likes the unusual and he made the comment that we would like a canoe scene in a lipstick tube. He wanted to show his friends just for fun. So I am finally making him one.
I started with another tube that was given to me. I had cleaned it out and it was set aside until I was ready to do this project. Only problem was the lipstick had stained the plastic section and I wanted to remove it. I ended up messing that tube up, so I had to purchase a new one. When we looked at the options, we found a larger tube and it was clear, which would have given more room for creating the scene, but it just didn't have the curiosity of a regular lipstick tube. I did buy the bigger clear one and maybe one day will use it.
This tube is very elegant and was very easy to clean out as it was brand new.
I had a plastic tube from my stash that was the same size to use for the base of the water area for the canoe. I trimmed it to the right width and also cut it to fit inside the section that stays in the tube. I added a piece of blue builders foam to help hold the plastic in place as well. This was all painted in desired colors and I added some landscaping in the tube like the shoreline.
Next is painting the canoe and adding water.

Canoe Tin is finished

Although the water is still tacky when touched and it shrank, I decided to complete the landscaping. A river usually has things floating in it so if bits of landscaping end up on the water or settle to the bottom will be okay. I don't want to redo it all right now.
However I will tell my parents that if if becomes a problem will redo the bottom.
The water did get in the area of the paddle and my husband was very sweet to stay up all night and keep it from freezing up.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

1:144 scale canoe tin-update Nov 29

I have painted the canoe charm and also retouched the rest of the tin. I did have to unhinge the paper attached to the lid so I could paint all of the charm. I was able to glue it back with no problems.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

1:144 scale canoe scene - start and progress

My parents collect canoes. They had some small mini tins printed with a canoe scene. They also had some small canoe charms. I decided that I would make them a scene in the tin using one of the charms.
The first charm is too tall to use when the tin is closed if there is any elevation to the bottom. I am thinking I will use the large area for the water area and the lid as a backdrop.
I asked them if they have anything smaller. They do and it is a cool charm in that the paddler's arm moves.
Since the arm moves, I want to be sure it functions that way and my idea is to make it move from the outside so the viewer doesn't have to reach into the scene. I talk about this with my husband and we agree that I should be able to attach a wire to the end of the paddle that will make it move.
The first time we attach a wire using solder we realize that there needs to be a second pivot to this set up. I try bending the soldered wire and it comes off. Although the solder seems to hold, it doesn't hold well enough for too much manipulation.
After repeated application of bent wires, I finally am able to solder a ring to the back of the paddle that clears the canoe properly. Next I add a second wire that is looped through the ring. Previously I had drilled a hole in the side of the tin for the second wire to go out. Once I am satisfied with the alignment of the wires I super-glue the canoe into place.
In this second photo, I have added more paper machie to protect the mechanism from the resin that I will pour to make the water of the scene.
To maintain an open area for the second wire, I used a cut apart straw to cover the wire.
I will trim the outside wire to make a pull of some sort.
I do have to buy some more resin as mine was froze up and discolored. I need to paint the additional paper machie and the canoe.

mini musings

I love miniatures and want to work on them as much as I have time for. The weird thing is that sometimes when I do have the time, I seem to 'waste' it looking for stuff or organizing. Well, I know that needing to find something is crucial to completion but yet until it is found I am not mini-ing. When I organize, it will also help me later so I don't have to spend that precious time searching. Yet, I still feel some loss of mini-time when I do these things. This is my first blog and really I just want to try it out, see if it works for me.