November 11, 2012

please, come in !

well.. actually there's nothing to come in to yet, but you're welcome anyway because the entrance of the Oldtique Store is finished! Had been for a couple of weeks, but needed some finishing touches which I could finally get to.


 
  Below you can see how the entrance comes of of the base. That way when the store's finished I will still be able access it easily and also the inside of the store can be viewed better.
The lantern is a bought led battery-operated one that is mounted to the entranceceiling by a built-in magnet. Which I needed because wires were no option because of the seperable entrance. I did adjust the lantern though because I didn't like the bottom, sawn that off and replaced it with a earringthingy and a globule (from the chain of a nailclipper). The shiny black finish didn't fit with what I had in mind, so I finished the whole with a bit of rust, added 'glass' that I think makes the lantern more real and dusted the glass a bit for it to be able to pass as an older lantern.

42 comments:

  1. That really looks great, I love what you did with the lantern. May I ask what the 'glass' is that you used?

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    1. Thank you so much Alice! Yes, you may certainly ask: I made the 'glass' with glue. Micro Kristal Klear from Microscale is what I used, but if you couldn't find that I think you should be able to do it with every kind of glue that dries up transparant. Actually Micro Kristal Klear is only meant for tiny windows up to 5 millimeters on modelairplanes for example, so these 20 millimeter high 'windows' were way too big. But I really wanted it, so I just tried until I succeeded.

      In both cases you use a toothpick and apply some glue all around, in the case of the lantern not too sparingly. Then you pick up a bit more glue with the toothpick and follow by carefully sliding it over the opening. Don't get discouraged if it doesn't work right away, even when I got the hang of it it often went wrong (holes easily appear and you have to do it again, sometimes over and over again, needing some more glue as well). Don't use too much glue in the slidingstep, as it will create a built up somewhere that can give it a dent or bump. Let it dry as horizontal as possible (takes at least 24 hrs). I hope you understand what I mean, but I will try and make a tutorial of it anyway (maybe with video, have to see if I manage to do that ;) ), makes it clearer I think.

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  2. Your entrance is beautiful, I love it very much! And congrats for the lantern!
    Anne

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  3. So impressive ! You did a fantastic job on this entrance, congratulations !

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  4. I like this entrance. The lantern is amazing.
    Bye Faby

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  5. Your entrance is amazing I love it. The lantern is beautiful very impressive.
    Hugs Maria

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  6. Que fantastica entrada y que precioso farol, enhorabuena.
    besitos ascension

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  7. I love your attention to the smallest of details. The keys and lock are absolutely superb, The lantern has come out great too, I have a couple of these waiting to go up and need to age the glass in this way, would you mind if I asked how you 'dirtied' it up?

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  8. Thank you all for your great words, Maria, Ascension and Janice!

    Janice, about the dirtiing of the glass, it depends: do you have glass in your lanterns? Since I made the 'glass' of Microscale Kristal Klear (see reply Alice), it was easy. The fine dust from clay silt that comes in a Rustall pack I use for rusting I discovered was ideal for 'dirtiing' the 'glass'. It has a sandy kind of colour and I just had to put some dust on the 'glass' and carefully rub it over it, removing most of it and leaving just a veil of dust. And any fine dust should do, very finely grinded chalk or eyeshadow even (if it's without glitteryparticals ;) ). Only, if you have real glass in your lanterns I'm not sure. I would try that with a thin coat of hairspray and then some 'dust' of choice. I need to dirty up a glass bottle, I will try that and if it works, I'll let you know by mail okay?

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  9. Es preciosa!!1
    El farol genial.
    Mil besos...Julia.

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  10. Hello Monique,
    That is wonderful. I swear I feel like I'm looking at a real store entrance. Fantastic job.
    Big hug,
    Giac

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  11. I just love all the detailing you've put into 'just' this entrance!! The key, letterbox and lantern of course, but also the stickers next to the door, letting people know they can pin or pay by credit card here :) And a lot of folk must have walked through that door already cos the Black Hard stone steps leading up to it has gotten a deep satin sheen from all those shoes. I love it all!! I'm holding my breath for what's next

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  12. Silly me forget to mention your excellent pictures and lightning. Set's your work off darn well!

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  13. Tnx so much Giac & Doborah for your great comments, makes feel even more proud of my work and means a lot!

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  14. My gosh, I am awestruck!! Look at the little keys in the door!!

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  15. What a beautiful blog I just have found.

    Greetings, Alexandra.

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  16. Your shop and light looks great. I especially like the aging you did on the light.

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  17. Great entrance for your shop, specially with the lock and keys. The realism is superb!

    Your photos are wonderful, could you post some tips?

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  18. Oops, just spotted your photography tip under Tutorials, Tips&Trics. I'll follow your link, thanks!

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  19. Wow! The entrance looks so real and with all the little details. I am sure this shop will be fabulous. Great work! Hugs, Drora

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  20. Great job, so realistic. I like the credit card sign on the window, great detail. I look forward to seeing more.
    A Big Mini Hug

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  21. Es una entrada magnífica, con muchos detalles.
    Un abrazo

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  22. me gusta mucho como has hecho el farol de la pared , es una gran idea hacer la entrada desmontable

    besitos

    Mari

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  23. oh my, so many new comments, wonderful! Thank you all for your compliments, I take them all in with great pleasure and a smile on my face!

    Idske, about the photography: I didn't even check out my own tutorial ;) how about that? What I did was go outside, put the entrance in a position that the sun was shining at it from the right angle, put some blurred pictures of the inside of an antiquestore behind the entrance, a cardboardcover over the whole and then just tried really hard to get it in a way I had in mind. And a lot of them weren't good at all.. but luckely there were some that I was very happy with. Although I wasn't too happy with a lot of the glass not being as clean as I thought I had made it. But when I discovered that on my laptop, the weather was different and it had been hard enough to get good pictures, so... decided to leave it for now)

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  24. I just happened to come by but I am already fond of your blog!
    Lovely mini's, the minis you choose to make are different, not the common ones you see e-ver-y-where, attention to detail,I just love
    love love it!
    Groetjes
    Gee

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    1. Tnx a lot Gee! Your warm compliments make me blush, but oh so happy! :)

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  25. I love your blog and everything about this current build you are doing :)
    I wanted to let you know that I nominated your blog for an award that has been passed through the mini blogging community lately. It is called the Liebster award and is designated for blogs that have under 200 followers. You can read the nomination post on my blog here;
    http://mamasminis.wordpress.com/2012/11/20/liebster-award/
    Don't feel the need to pass it on, but it is a great way for more of us miniaturists to network together to support each others addictions :D

    Rebecca

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    1. That's so kind of you Rebecca, thank you! I don't really understand how those nominations work, but feel very honored being nominated by you... :)

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  26. Wow, so cute!!!! I love the lantern, it all looks so real!!!!

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  27. Gauw van alles op je mooie en interessante blog bijlezen is er voor mij niet bij ;! Eerder alles goed bekijken en me dan verwonderen over al dat moois met zoveel details :D!! Knap werk, Monique, alle details "kloppen" gewoon!! Verbazingwekkend mooi gedaan.
    Groetjes, Ilona

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    1. dat is lekker, ik heb nooit gereageerd op je ontzettend leuke bericht, sorry Ilona! Bij deze alsnog (onder het mom 'beter laat dan nooit): dank je wel voor je enorme complimenten, erg fijn om te lezen!

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  28. Replies
    1. thank you so much Maria! So sorry I never replied.. somehow I missed your comment or saw it, didn't reply right away and then forgot. But better late than never right?

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  29. Hoi Monique,

    Echt ontzettend leuk om te zien hoe creatief je bent, wat een prachtige resultaten.
    Echt heel bijzonder, en knap gemaakt!

    Groetjes, Inge

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