Dollhouse Styles

Where do you begin when selecting a dollhouse?  I would suggest determining which style you want.  Typically it is best to decide based on your current taste and how you decorate in your full scale house.  Are you country, modern, colonial, medieval, Victorian or oriental in your decor style?  Also keep in mind if you are looking for a replica, a character-themed house, a kit, or custom-made.  Do you want a half inch or an inch to scale house?  As a warning an inch to scale dollhouse takes up lots of space unless it is collapsable.  Here are some ideas of some for-sale dollhouses and some that will probably never leave a museum case.  Perhaps one day I will check out Colleen Moore's famous Fairy Castle located in Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry (around 9 feet tall).

Christian Art

They say a picture is worth 1000 words.  Art tells a story.  It can take you to another time and place.  What better kind of art can you find than something that brings you closer to Jesus?  Here are a few examples that would look great as a room or foyer focal point.

Egg-citing Eggs

We are nearing Easter so time to start thinking about decorating eggs.  The cheap quick route would be a simple kit with dye tablets, stickers and or sleeves.  To go up a notch, one can hand paint their eggs and add ribbon.  Still better try to look at some elaborate Russian decorative eggs and make a replica. Using wooden or porcelain eggs with a layer of modge podge or protective lacquer will assure for use beyond one season.  Are the wheels turning yet?

Fruit arrangements

I can remember seeing a pricey fruit arrangement and thinking to myself how easy it would be to make.  Although these centerpieces are fairly simple to make, it is time consuming.  This should not be a deterrent because they are a healthy, colorful and sweet party delight.  Most fruit arrangements center around fruit balled or cut out with cookie cutters on skewers in a bed of fresh greenery, floral foam and a themed pot. 
More interesting to me are the arrangements that are made into an occasional theme itself without getting into the super detailed carving.  See some of the ones I like below.

Resurrection Eggs

To assist those wishing to make Resurrection Eggs, I have included some pictures with a Template that includes my original Resurrection Egg Poem to be used when opening the eggs along with reading corresponding Scriptures.

Resurrection Eggs (to be read with 12 objects in 12 plastic eggs)

1 Smell this perfume rich and sweet; Mary poured it on Jesus’ feet. 
(Matthew 26:6-7)

2 Hear these coins clink that I hold; for 30 silver pieces Christ was sold. 
(Matthew 26:14-15)

3  Wave this palm leaf green and bright, the crowds did also to worship Christ. 
 (John 12:12-13)

4 Taste this bread, crisp with no yeast; Jesus shared with his friends one last feast.
(Matthew 26:26-28)

5 Look at these thorns, pointed and brown, which made our Savior’s earthly crown. 
(John 19:1-3)

6 Feel this cross both rugged and rough; Our Lord carried it, bruised and crushed.
 (John 19:16-17)

7 This nail is sharp and cold to touch; it pierced the hands and feet of Jesus.
(John 19:18-19)

8 Shake these dice, give them a throw; the soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ robe. 
(Luke 23:34)

9 This sponge of vinegar smells strong; it was given to Christ to drink upon.
(John 19:29-30)

10 Take in the aroma of fragrant cloves; the body of Christ was embalmed in those. 
(John 19:38-40)

11Hold this stone hard and gray; it covered the tomb where Jesus laid. 
(Matthew 27:59-60)
12 Feel this linen so soft and smooth.  Jesus arose and his grave clothes were proof. 
(John 20:1-8)

To begin, I painted a cardboard egg carton and modge-podged lettering and stickers on the top as decoration.

Next I stenciled decorative plastic eggs with numbers 1-12 and filled them with the appropriate items: Perfume sample, 3 dimes, a leaf, oyster cracker, toothpicks or thorns, cross from necklace or other, nail, dice, sponge dipped in vinegar, cloves, stone, linen or gauze.

Finally I printed and copied out my Template to be cut, and modge-podged/glued inside the egg carton.  The circles to go where the eggs are placed, and the rectangles on the inside top, 2 left and 2 right.

Lent--Countdown to Easter

One of my favorite Christmas traditions I have is the countdown via advent calendar.  The anticipation for the holiday reached a huge climax after days of opening the little windows and waiting for number 24. In the same way, I believe Easter is more meaningful with an organized countdown during lent. Lent is typically the 40 days before Easter and is a time for reflection of the suffering and resurrection of Christ. There are many creative traditions to adopt for this time of meditation including adding a thorn to Jesus crown, a coin for almsgiving, or opening an egg with a scripture, these are ways to make Easter a season and to focus on the Savior.

 

I created my own Lenten Meditation called the Lent Event.  The Template may be copied.  Each day one line of the poem is read along with a scripture.  You may cut out the colorful corresponding pictures to add to the 40 day countdown page.  Here are the words of the poem:

The Lent Event R Kohn 2013

1 A donkey untied gave Jesus a ride. 

2 Palm leaves touted while people shouted. 

3 Tables tossed as Christ cleaned His house. 

4 Children praised when the Sick were raised.

5  The Fig tree was booed for it had no fruit. 

6 Christ wished to defend his own like a hen. 

7 Perfume was poured as a gift to the Lord. 

8  With silver coins paid, Judas betrayed.

9 A towel to clean Christ used on friend’s feet.

10 Bread was broken, as Christ’s body a token.

11 The Cup of Wine, for His Blood divine. 

12 They finished their food and all sang a tune. 

13 An Olive grove, the place He strove. 

14 His sweat turned to blood, while Christ spoke to God. 

15 Friends sawing Zs, fall to sleep. 

16 A torch in the night, things did not feel right. 

17 A kiss from a friend, brought Him to his end. 

18 Peter had fear and sliced a man’s ear. 

19 He warmed by the fire, to see what transpired. 

20 Three times denied, then a rooster cried. 

21 Wash hands in water, the guilt may not bother. 

22 A whip with lead, Christ’s back was shred. 

23 A purple robe, guards made a show. 

24 Thorns formed a crown, on His head pressed down.

25  A scepter-reed, in jest bowed knees.

26 A cross large and rough, to carry was tough.

27 Women cried tears, they followed near. 

28 Skull Hill in vision, this was His mission.

29 Nails went in, though He did not sin.

 30 Dice were thrown, to win His robe.

31 Up went the sign, His title defined. 

32 The sun ceased light, darkness veiled sight. 

33 A sponge was raised, with vinegar to taste.

34 In went the spear, the fluid was clear.

35 The curtain rent, where only priests went. 

36 The earth quaked, saints rose from the grave. 

37 They wrapped him in linen, this was a given.

38 A Rock was rolled, the tomb enclosed. 

39 Spices were fixed, to embalm Jesus with. 

40 An angel appeared, to say “He’s not here.” 

To finalize your countdown, you can rehab a perpetual calendar with paint and modge podge.