The Leaky Cauldron.....Wood and Slate and a Fireplace

I have decided to only have false internal doors in Diagon Alley as the kits I have chosen are simply too small for stairs in any form. So I trawled Michelle's Blog to find the fabulous posts she has written describing using balsa for making doors and how to get obtain distressed paint effects. Michelle's blog is a mine of information regarding techniques and materials and she is very generous with her advice. 

What is really good about Michelle is that she is always willing to share her mistakes so that others don't go down the wrong path. 

I had a good read and have started with these.....

....made from sheet balsa. The doors are not individual planks but all one piece that I have marked out using large darning needles. The door surrounds have been cut separately and then glued on top. I have yet to add the grain and worm holes. One is a little too tall, but can be cut down, and the other is a little too quirky but I am quite pleased with this first attempt.
I will now follow Michelle's example and make a couple using separated balsa planks with my new delivery of balsa sheets that arrived yesterday from BalsaMart. I also bought a new tool from them for cutting. It's called a Razor saw and I wish I had known of this type of tool ages ago. It's perfect for cutting balsa from all angles and it is a hand saw rather than the type with a handle. So easy to use and the wood cuts cleanly.

 When I was drooling over Sab's wonderful new house and reading through various posts, the product "gesso" was mentioned as a medium for finishing. Sab said it was a great way to cover walls so when I was doing my weekly Hobbyland browse I saw these two products and brought them home to try out.
I thought I would trial them on this fireplace I bought from Ashwood Designs

 I used the Textures paste to try and create a sandstone effect and then before it dried I drew in the stone lines. I have then added a couple of paint washes over the paste. The paste went on very easily and you do not have to use very much at all. It is easy to mess with too, making it like a stucco or stippling.

 Paint washes are still a bit hit and miss for me. I find it hard not to simply end up with a patchwork of colours rather than blending them together. So far this is two coats and it looks a bit like desert camouflage but I hope it will improve! 

I have bricked the chimney and hearth using Peter Clark's brick cards,which you cut out yourself, and the mantle will be 'oak'.

 Again this is distressed balsa and I will add sides to make it look like a proper oak timber. Still a way to go but it has turned out better than some of my previous efforts!

 I have also finished the slate floor and I am really pleased with my first attempts at grouting. I have always been put off using 'real' bricks and slate because of the grouting you have to do to finish them off properly but it was much easier than I had expected. Messy, yes but not difficult. I used normal DIY powder floor grout that I found in the garage, probably left by previous owners because I can't remember us ever using it! it mixed up well and then I simply pasted it over the tiles and wiped off. And wiped off. And wiped off!!!

I didn't worry too much about the tiles not going right up to the sides as there will be skirting board and furniture to add which will cover the grout next to the walls.

 I have also received a package from Tony Hooper who makes the most marvellous metal work and accessories. I have chosen some from his black cast iron range. They have lovely details and look really solid. I especially like the little lock with a false key which is a great finishing touch.

And this little pile is what will be keeping me busy for the next week! The wall and ceiling beams, and all the interior skirtings. I cut them all out and they will now have to be distressed and stained. Really time consuming but hopefully worth it. As these rooms are quite small I have gone for much thinner beams than I have used before, giving the idea that the beams are buried within the walls.
I am also going to try out some LED lighting within this project which I hope to hide behind the ceiling beams. That will be a challenge as I have never found lighting houses very easy to do. The 'Must Do' list keeps growing as usual so I had better get on with something!
Have a creative Sunday!