dp.Stores.CraftyTime.33.20 – originally ran in the Aug. 13, 2020 edition of the Shelton-Mason County Journal. Reprinted 6/24/2021.
Crafty Time
By Dave Pierik, Shelton-Mason County Journal
Fun with Stores!
Happy Tree City needs downtown buildings. You’re never too old to dream stuff up, let’s make some!
Tools: ruler, compass & markers, scissors, paintbrushes.
Materials: Cardboard boxes, masking tape, school glue, ordinary sand, paper sign designs, thin clear plastic (from window envelopes), and acrylic paint.
1. Templates
Measure and cut a 6” cardboard square. Customize windows as you see fit to make a storefront template. Measure and cut ¾” wide x 1 ½” tall doors. Using your template, trace and cut as many walls as desired. Glue the walls to a 7” x 6” base allowing 1” sidewalk in front, and clamp with masking tape until dry. Glue doors on. Cut windows out &/or trace pencil lines using your template.
2. Awnings
Measure and cut three pieces of cardboard, 1 ½” wide x 2” tall. Fold each neatly in half and check the angle you want with a test fit on the building. Trace the support shape until it fits right, then use it as a template and mark and cut six of those. Turn the building on its back, storefront facing up, and glue the awnings in place, clamping with masking tape. Let dry.
3. Flock with sand
Cut a hole in the base large enough for your hand to reach in. Glue a 6” square for the roof, adjusting to fit. Trace the pencil lines of the windows, seams and edges with lines of glue. While the glue is wet, drop handfuls of sand onto the glue and gently shake off the excess. Let dry. This process is called flocking and it is a wonderfully easy and cheap way to add strength, texture and detail to fine scale models.
4. Paint and detail
To create the illusion of three buildings, paint each a different color, with black between. Paint the side and back windows silver, the doors brown, the sidewalk grey, the roof black. Paint silver dots for door handles. Use an old brush to paint glue to the inside edges of the windows, then place the clear plastic from the inside. Paint glue evenly across the front of each awning and place each sign.
5. Let’s go shopping!
Happy Tree City feels more complete with Toys-O-Rama, Grocery-Mart and the Happy Tree Times. But it needs more, so we will continue next week. Until then, keep crafting. You’re never too old!
A wave of reconstruction has followed the giant kraken attack of late last year. The Happy Tree Times, Toys-O-Rama and Grocery Mart have all reopened in the new Apple Street buildings. The Happy Tree Café, Super Duds Fashion and a Post Office in the Old Town buildings will be having an open house Friday from 11-1pm. Refreshments and live entertainment will be available.
–Happy Tree Times
For more tips and information (including the Happy Tree signs art featured here), please email dave@masoncounty.com with your feedback!
Crafty Time With Dave 