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Miniature House Tips Miniature-house materials are everywhere. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-116

Michele Beschen (left) and Margaret Blakesley share miniature tips.

Margaret Blakesley’s parents built her a miniature house when she was five, and she’s been working on it herself since she was 12. The miniature maven visited with Michele Beschen and B. Original viewers to share some of her tips of the trade.

Scroll down for expert advice on creating your own marvelous miniatures from Michele Beschen and Margaret Blakesley.

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Miniatures are Everywhere

When you work with miniatures, you start seeing design elements everywhere. Here are some inspirations from Michele Beschen and miniature-maker Margaret Blakesley:

• Cut up cardboard egg cartons (figure A) to make faux stone for your home’s exterior (figure B).
  

  Figure A

  Figure B

  
  

  Figure C

• Cut up plastic berry boxes from the grocery and paint the mesh black. The patterns make great leading for old-fashioned windows.

• If you want to add a conservatory, look for a square-framed birdcage. Use wire cutters to remove one side of the cage, and attach it to your house (figure C).

• Use high-tech tools to research old-fashioned looks. When Margaret Blakesley wants to duplicate a specific historical period, she goes online to find patterns and prints she uses to create wallpapers and artwork.

• Prowl the woodworking store. This is a great way to find small-scale trims and details that can become flooring and other architectural details in your miniature.

• Create stucco with textured paintable wallpaper.

Working with miniatures give you a great opportunity to flex your creative muscles. Get started today!