Centre of attention

The Dolls House World team -

by Joan Key

All through history the fireplace has been the central part of a household. Whether it was just a pile of logs in the centre of the room or a pair of very ornate firedogs set in an elegant Adam marble surround, it played an important part in keeping the family together. 

Here's how to create a fireplace that will be the centre of attention in your mini room. See the You Will Need list at foot of page.

Fireplace 

Find a cheap, ready-made fireplace with a very smooth surface so there is no need for any sanding. 

I thought for a change I would make a stone fireplace and used a Sand Stone Effect paint for the main part, two fairly thin coats giving a good finish. 

There are lots of nooks and crannies so I decided it would be easier to fit some thin black card to the hearth. I varnished some black card, cut it to fit and painted the edges of the hearth with black acrylic.

Candles 

Place a small amount of PVA glue onto a cocktail stick and roll a strip of copy paper 1in wide by 8in long onto it, leaving a pointed end of the cocktail stick about 3in long for the wick. Secure paper with a dab of glue. 

Add a few drips of glue to look as if the wax that has run. Paint with acrylic paint and varnish when dry. Paint the wick black. Trim off spare end. Repeat this process with narrower pieces of paper to make shorter candles. Glue into place and surround with small stones, glued and varnished. 

Lamps

Wrap copy paper around 2in of cocktail stick until it fits snugly into the holes in the beads. Glue two together the larger one at the top. Paint with acrylic paint. 

Cut two shades as per pattern below; varnish. 

When dry decorate with gold felt tip. Overlap and glue join. 

Cut a circle 3⁄4in in diameter. Make a hole in the centre and push cocktail stick through this, holding in place with a little glue. Glue around the edge of the disc and centre the shade over this disc. 

Glue a piece of mirror card to some mount card and cut a 2in square. Score for 1⁄2in around the edges with a sharp knife at 8in intervals. 

You will need:

Fireplace:
Deco stone effect paint thin black card
Varnish
Black acrylic paint 
Candles and stones:
Copy paper 
Cocktail sticks 
Acrylic paint 
Gloss varnish 
Natural stones (available from craft fairs or aquarium shops) 

Lamp bases:
Two wooden beads approximately 3⁄4in diameter and two slightly smaller
Two cocktail sticks 
Copy paper 
Acrylic paint 

Shade:
Thin black card 
Varnish
Gold felt tip 

Mirror:
Mount board
Mount card