G)ecorate a 12th scale GRoom “Box for Christmas ‘The recommended maximum box size is 35cm/14” x 25cm/10" x 25cm/10", The size can be adjusted according to the furniture you have and the height of your tree. You will need very basic equipment: glue, paint, craft knife, tweezers etc. and some snippets of ribbon/twine, off cuts, littl lids, shapes to wrap as presents under the tree. Batteries if using a battery box, ‘Adding more of your own collection of Christmas minis will give you an individual room. | added an “exterior” lamp. + Foameore or mount board shect for false wall + Tinsel and bead trim; brass loops or fine wire © 12thscale window frame © Quilling strips for paper garlands . Fireplace, ideally with glowing coals . Battery box or SWP transformer (Small World «Wallpaper and carpet Products - see footnotes) + Felt and fringe for 2 Christmas stockings * Small patterned and/or plain Christmas paper see Advent project 1 . Christmas tree « ae ) * Exterior scene to fit entire back wall —you may Coloured tree lights prefer to use your own photo of a favourite place.Instructions ‘Assembly ond finish. Before you start there are some decisions to make, | Feline assistance not essential! If you are using a ready made box or constructing a new one from MDF or foam core (see notes on ‘wall paper’) you need to decide on the outer appearance. Assemble the box if necessary but do not glue the lid on. Use the lid to keep the walls in place while the glue dries. Remove it for other processes. If you are using 2 ready assembled box and it is feasible to release the lid please do so. | used 2 coats of satin a stiff brush for fh walnut quick dry varnish the 2" coat to make a wood effect. You could use emulsion paint if you prefer a plain finish or a decorative paper over a sealing coat. Seal the inner walls of a new box with varnish or thinned emulsion, The ceiling/underside of lid will need painting or sealing and papering. | used white emulsion as this reflects light well The false wall: Cut this from the sheet of foam core or mount board using a metal ruler and exacto/craft knife ensuring a snug fit across the back of the box ~ it will stand away from the actual back by a distance to be decided later. Decide where you want the window and fireplace to be in relation to the tree, My photo is a suggestion but it is easy to reverse this layout. Now use the window as a template to cut away the foam WinssWera fiieplere SI GreMGeReM| core/board for the aperture. It needs to be a snug fit but remember there will be the added thickness False wall cut to fit and placed for trio of the wall paper so at this stage it needs to slot in quite easily. Retain all foam core off cuts. ‘Window and fire place: Decide on your finish if using bare wood — stain or leave natural, seal or paint. | used the same finish as for the exterior. If you are using the fireplace illustrated (Streets Ahead) pull out the grid in front of the fire area ~ use a hair dryer to soften the glue if it doesn’t budge easily. Paint the fire back matt black and use a metallic paint ( | used pewter) on the grid or do that black as well. Don’t replace it yet. Allow to dry thoroughly before moving on. Otherwise decorate an existing fireplace as you wish. Wallpaper: If using a similar design to that illustrated trim from top and bottom to place the ‘frieze’ at the height you want it. | lined mine up to be level with the mantle piece. Cut to fit one side, retain the excess. NB — you do not need to take it right to the back as there will be at least a 2cm/1” gap behind the false wallThe exterior scene: Print your chosen scene bigger than the window and seal with krylon or a similar sealant. Use a matte medium quality paper—not gloss photographic paper. Position and paste it to the back wall of the box, smoothing carefully. Inserting the false wall: ‘The papered and windowed wall is ready to place. Decision time again: do you want to add anything else behind it? added another light; you may want a tree or a Santa figure, burglar — whatever takes your fancy. You need to allow space for this before placing the wall Push the wall in — a good fit will not need glue and this gives you flexibility for future changes. If you really want to glue it wait until after the next stages. ‘Wiring in the lights and Remove the plugs trom the tire and lights. Separate the twin wires. Burn ott some ot the white plastic coating by holding them in a flame for a couple seconds to expose about 2cm/1” off all the wires. Decide on the position of your tree and make a hole behind it in the false wall as close to the bottom as possible. Drill a hole in the back of the fireplace bottom and thread the glowing coals wires through. Glue the coals in place. Make another hole in the false wall and near to the low corner for the coals wire. At this stage you can cut, peel and stick the carpet in place being careful not to overlap where any perspex front may be. Wind the lights onto the tree ~ | darkened ‘the white wire with a green marker pen because | am picky like that! Trail the tinsel and beads round the tree and glue a star or something to the top. If using the grid push it carefully back into place in front of the glowing coals . Position the tree, threading the wires through the hole and the fireplace, trailing the wires along the base of the side wall and through the back hole. Position the fireplace, securing it to the wall with a bit of double sided sticky tape or a sticky pad. If you have a brass pin pen pusher partially insert a pin at each side to hang the stockings where you want them. If you plan to add any further lights such as a candle or table lamp now is the time to make the appropriate holes. Pull the wires through so that they reach the battery box connector or the holes for the rear wall connector. ing up time: ‘Twist together 1 light wire and 1 coal wire to make 2 separate twists. Add any other lights and wind as before. Fold over the twisted wires so you have 2 secure little bunches. Bind them with a small strip of self adhesive foil.‘The red and black stripped wires from the battery connector are now to be attached to the outer switch. Wind and bind these wires as before to the matching metal spoke if you are not planning to solder. Solder if brave! TF and fold bock exBese™ ‘Pl the double wires split he double wices Test your lights: the connection is made simply by depressing each of the 2 switches and inserting your wire bunches. When both are inserted the lights will be on, Squeeze either of the black or red switches and release one wire bunch lights go off. If nothing happens check all your connections. When everything is working place the connector across the gap you made for the wires. The metal plates will rest on the base of the hole you have made. Screw or glue the switched connector in place. The pretty bits: Paper garlands Use a2 different coloured quilling strips — glue the very end of one strip to the other and squeeze until dry. Hold the joined ends against a tooth pick or knitting needle and wind the strips tightly around it — hold in, place for a minute or so and then withdraw the pick/ needle holding on to the unglued ends. Pull the coil gently until itis about the length of a side wall. i aay Now glue the unattached ends - they may well not be in line but this doesn’t matter — it is the curls you want. Glue the ends in place where you want them at the top of the wall but remember the ceiling has to go on. Repeat for the other walls, shortening and dangling as you wish. You could also use the quilling paper to make chains if you are patient.Christmas stockings: Cut 2 from folded red felt placing the straight back of the template on the fold. Use fabric glue or a white glue. Glue the top over and leave to dry. Glue the front edges together trying not to overlap. The felt is thick enough to hold just on the cut edges. Poke a pencil or pen in to help make the rounded shape while the glue dries. Apply the white fringing/bunka to the folded down top. Insert a brass pin or tiny piece of wire with the loop just out of the top — think about the angle of hanging. Ifyou have used push pins in the fire place simply hang up your socks! If not just use a dab of super glue. Presents: Use the foam core off cuts and any other little shapes to make different shapes and sizes of presents. Wrap, tie and arrange around the tree Now you can add anything you like! Pop the lid on to keep the dust out and a Perspex front if using. Christmas stocking template Easywire system from www.smallworldproducts.com Compiled, written and formatted by Sally Watson www.sallycatminiatures.com Text and photographs © Sally Watson 2014 PS | still have a few of the components for this available for sale at lower than retail prices plus P&P: lights, trees, wallpaper, carpet, fireplaces. For details contact me at spwatson@ntiworld.com