The Divas are driving me up a wall – and I mean that
figuratively and literally!
Well, since the last time I blogged, I have moved and so of
course, the divas have too. We have much bigger digs and we are just loving it.
Also since the last time we chatted, two new girls have joined us. There is
Anabelle, who is an Orange and Spice Blythe and there is Hyacinth, who is a
factory girl.
So with all of this going on, lots has changed and lots still
needs to be done on the girls’ house.
The literal “up the wall” is that the house is now 3 stories
tall on one side and 2 on the other. I am hoping for it to eventually be 4
stories tall on each side.
The figural driving me up the wall is that the girls are
yelling that I am not building fast enough. Rebecca and Ramona have bedrooms
that are pretty much complete. I just have finishing touches like wall décor
and such to add.
Raleigh’s bedroom is built, but she has been complaining of a
stiff neck from sleeping in her chair
Hyacinth and Annabelle have been standing in the closet because they have no rooms or
furniture of any kind.
I understand their complaints, but when I have asked for
their help, the divas have flatly refused siting the possibility of breaking
their nails or messing up their hair. HEAVEN FORBID!!!
The way the girls have been acting, you would think I had
done nothing at all on the house, when in fact I have gotten the bathroom and
kitchen pretty much done.
I had to scrap my idea of making a shower. I couldn’t find
the materials I had in mind to create the “glass” walls. I also had visions of
making a toilet, but couldn’t figure out what to use. Instead, I bought a set
on eBay. For the time being, I have left
the shower has is because it had a purple backdrop. I may eventually change it
out to “faux” tiles, like I used on the bathroom walls.
The mirror portion of
the sink was already white, so that worked. The only change I made to that part
was that I replaced the cardboard strips of printed toiletries with tiles and I
put glass bottles of nail art stuff on the shelves along with Barbie
accessories. The sink cabinet was BRIGHT pink, so I spray painted it. I may
change out the cabinet handles at some point.
The toilet was also glaring pink, so I painted it as well. I
learned a valuable lesson about spray painting; never do it in hot humid
weather. The weather caused the paint to bubble, wrinkle and just plain look
yucky. I am going to put some things on the toilet tank cover to hide the
imperfections. Yes, girls, I know it
does not look pretty and I will fix it. Give me a break my darling divas!
I did a few more things in the kitchen as well. I had a bright pink shelf that had been part of a Barbie refrigerator. I painted it white, as well. I found a perfect magnet in the shape of a drip coffee maker. I put it on the new shelves, along with some coffee cups. I am going to either make or buy a microwave to put on the shelves as well. I add a rack of copper utensils near the stove and a wall clock made from a couple of buttons.
The living room was the next that I built. I used black foam
core instead of the white. I put white felt on the floor for carpet.
Remember
the chandelier Christmas ornament I found? Well here it is hanging from the
ceiling. Just wish it gave of some light because this room is very dark. I need
to find a way to brighten up a bit.
I found another great ornament to use in
the room as a decorative piece. Doesn’t it look so chic? The divas adore it as
it reminds them of some of their modeling gigs in Paris.
Above the sofa, I hung
a decorative mirror that was on clearance at a craft store. The lamp started
its life as an air freshener that I bought at the dollar store. Once it was
empty, I washed it out, filled the glass base with faux pearls and painted the
shade with black nail polish. This room still needs a lot of work, but it is at
least a start.
The next floor up is Raleigh’s bedroom. I covered the walls
with contact paper. Her floor will eventually have carpeting, but I have
haven’t gotten that far. The hutch in her room was a gift, so I don’t know much
about it. The great chair and ottoman were from a swap and the wicker jar in
the corner once held potpourri. This
room is certainly far from finished. I haven’t decided whether to purchase or
make a bed. Either I will see the perfect one in completed form or find some
doodad that inspires me.
The “wall” theme of this post has made me realize that I
have used a different wall treatment on every room I have built thus far. The
bathroom consists of upper walls I printed on computer paper and the faux tiles
I printed on photo paper. The kitchen is done in scrapbook paper. Rebecca and
Ramona’s rooms are both done in wrapping paper, but one came on a roll and one
was flat, folded sheets. I prefer the rolls, btw, because the fold lines are
almost impossible to get out. The living room walls were just a matter of using
a different color foam board. Raleigh’s room is contact paper. Of course the
black foam board was the easiest, but aside from that, my favorite is the
contact paper in Raleigh’s room. Because of the nature of the contact paper, I
did apply it before I put the room box together. I think it would have been a
mess trying to apply it afterwards. I had to go slowly when applying it, but it
looks great once I got it up. I know I am using rolled wrapping paper for the
girls’ craft room, because I have already purchased it. I have no idea what I
am doing for Anabelle or Hyacinth’s rooms. Shhhh! don’t tell them that or I
will never hear the end of it! I am sure something will turn up to inspire me,
just as it has in the other rooms.
The girls are going on vacation! I am taking them with me
when I travel to New England to visit my family and friends. I am going to try
and help them with a travel journal, but we may be having too much fun to
remember to keep it up. It is going to delay construction on the house, but for
once the divas aren’t complaining. They are all looking forward to coming along
for my visit home.
Anabelle is packed and ready to hit the road. If your girls would like a suitcase like hers, you can find one in my Etsy shop, TheBlackOnyxBoutique
