Monday, September 28, 2015

Doll Size S'mores!!!!!!!!!!



This week we are finally getting the s'mores finished! I know this was a long process but I didn't want to make any of the videos any longer than they already were. I hope this was worth the wait.



So we are starting by making some roasting sticks for our s'mores. Since we use the metal variety at our house I started with those. 18 gauge stem wire seems like a good weight and looks in scale. By adding the clay to make a handle it is more substantial and easier to handle.

For the wooden variety an 1/8th inch dowel looks about right and is a good balance between the correct visual weight and still having some strength to it.

For the marshmallows that go on the sticks we are using the same Model Magic clay that we used last week for the ones to go with the bag. That way these still retain the softness of the real thing. It is up to you how much color you add via chalks and paints to make yours look gently roasted or totally burnt. Remember there is a kid like me in every group that just has to start their marshmallow on fire.

Now the fun part begins, we are going to build the s'mores. Start with the baked half graham crackers from last week. Place one textured side down on your work surface and using the same clay we used for the chocolate bars form the blob of melty chocolate on the less textured side. Now use another half cracker to smash a ball of white polymer clay until it looks like the marshmallow would look in your s'more. Now use a blade to remove the marshmallow unit from your work surface and stick the two halves together. Give them a little squeeze, add some chalk to the white clay and set them on a paper plate for baking.

There that is all there is to it! The dolls can now pig out on s'mores around the campfire.



Now I am going to go make some real s'mores why don't you join me and we can eat some gooey goodness to celebrate fall.


Monday, September 21, 2015

Doll Size S'more Fixin's


So I decided that it would be best (at least for my schedule) to give you the clay portion in two parts. I know this drags the project out a lot longer but it does keep the individual videos shorter and frankly I just didn't have enough time to get any more done this week.



Making marshmallows is super easy just roll a little rounded cylinder of clay. I prefer the Model Magic by Crayola for this because it is easy to work with, it air dries and it stays just a bit soft so you get the feel of the real thing.

My real marshmallows were just a bit over 1” in both height and diameter so I decided that a measurement of 3/8” would be fine for the doll size ones. You have some lee way on these just try to get them close to the same size. Keep some of the clay (well wrapped) for next week when we are going to be making some on roasting sticks.

For the graham crackers you just need a light tan color of polymer clay. Since we have the paper version from the printable set we can use that to size our clay ones. Then texture and brush with some brown chalk and bake. Be sure to make some of the half size graham crackers if you are going to be making the s'mores next week. For those we will need the baked half crackers as a base.

The candy bars are again sized by using the paper printable ones. I used a double pointed knitting needle to make the typical markings on the top of mine. Bake them off and they are done. And because we used the printable chocolate bars to size our the clay ones can fit in the wrappers we made last week. Save some of the same clay (unbaked) for the s'mores next week.


So wasn't that fun and easy. Be sure to come back next week to see how we make the finished s'mores.

Monday, September 14, 2015

Doll S'more Ingredients


Okay, so this was supposed to be up last week and I do apologize for it not being. I actually did have it filmed but I must have set something wrong on my video camera because it just didn't turn out. I made the decision to re-do the entire video rather than put up something that I was truly unhappy with. I also decided to divide the video into two videos- the paper printables in one and all the clay work in a second one. There is just so much to do in each of these parts and I felt that trying to rush through to make a reasonable length video wasn't going to teach you what I want you to take away from the project. So this week we are doing all the paper printable work and next week we will dig out the clay and make that part.




Once again I am pulling out on of Ann's free projects that are available to those that subscribe to her newsletter. All you have to do is go over to Paper Minis and sign up for the newsletter. Super simple and it is free, it only comes once a week and you get see all the wonderful kits she has as well as photos people have sent her of the things they have made from her kits.

We are making up 3 of Ann's projects this week so be sure to print off all three.

I decided to start with the chocolate bars mostly because they are easy but also because they have a few steps and could be drying while I worked on other parts. I printed the chocolate bar page out on cardstock weight paper so they would have some body. Next week I am going to show you how to make chocolate bars from polymer clay so these are optional. I also wanted to use them to put inside the wrappers of the bars I wanted to seal up.

I printed the sheet of chocolate bar wrappers on regular printer paper. I didn't want them to be heavy at all. These are the more modern version of the candy bar wrappers and if you want to make yours look more like the ones from the 50's you might want to trim the wrappers to make them a bit shorter and then wrap your chocolate bars in foil before you slide them into the wrappers. I am not sure what the graphic looked like back then but you would at least get the feel of the old time bars. (this is just in case you purchased the new American Girl doll from the 50's and want to keep her there)

The wrappers are really easy just be sure to not use too much glue. You really just need a tiny bit of glue at the edge of the paper on each of the places we glue these.

The candy bars themselves are easiest to manage with a glue stick.

The marshmallow bag is one of the coolest ideas I have seen in a long time. I had in the past tried to figure out how to make a plastic bag for something and could never come up with a workable idea. The way Ann does this one is really simple and I can't figure out why it eluded me for all this time. I find it easier to tape the label on first and then cut the bag to size and assemble. Ann does provide a sheet of directions with this project to make it easier for you.

Next up was the graham cracker box and some graham crackers. These go together just like most of the printables we have made in the past. If these will be played with a lot by children you might think about making the “bricks” of graham crackers over wooden blocks to make them a bit more strudy.


The last step is to use a clear finish to seal the printables. This does several things. It makes them shiny so they look more realistic. It adds a bit of strength to the finished pieces. And just as importantly it covers up any dots of glue you might have gotten on them in the process of assembly. Just don't over do the finish and don't go too shiny. I used a satin finish and I think that is just about right.