Windows

In most dioramas you can get away with not having windows BUT they do help give a room that authentic look. At the moment most of my dioramas do not have windows these are permanent fixtures and once the fronts go on they will have them.

Now when you start to think about windows the first step is what type of window do you want? Will you make it or buy one? Does it need to be two sided, look good outside as well as in?

If your going to make one there are some pretty good tutorials already out there

Johanna has done one on both doors and windows
http://members.boardhost.com/DollDivas/msg/archive/1365621344.html

Kerstin has also done a great tutorial
http://members.boardhost.com/DollDivas/msg/archive/1364939976.html


As to buying windows....

Houseworks make 1:6 scale (Barbie) windows and doors (the doors are a little short and don't really work for Fashion Royalty)
http://houseworksltd.com/index.asp?listid=97&cpid=PLAYSCALE

With a little work you can remove the windows from a Barbie doll house but this can very pretty time consuming and they often brake (normally in the last corner just when you think you have managed it!)

 Love this Sindy window I think it will look great in my beach house

Some things might not start life as a window.... but it is now!

Picture frames can be useful and they come in many sizes and colours, once you have removed the back the window is ready to go.

 Picture frames don't necessarily need to be thin around the edges

Pedigree made windows and doors for Sindy and these can still be found on e.bay. I just checked out ebay to see if there was a link to any for sale at the moment and there are not none but do keep checking as they are great windows.

 It opens

Don't dismiss doll house windows as you can sometimes put two or three together or use a large window.

Windows can come from the oddest places, these windows come from the foam inserts when I brought a new rubbish bin (I covered them with self adhesive vinyl)

 Photo frame board

 Light switch covers

 Vent covers.. these are great for modern rooms

A lid

If the room in a modern design a piece of plain unframed Perspex can work very well too.

 Frosted 'glass' make good bathroom windows

 Anything you can get light through can be a window

 This window covers two floors and looks out over the airport

My window box

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Just a little extra
At this time of the year there are many leaflets from magazine company's offering discounts for buying year long subscriptions.. maybe as gifts? The pictures are normally pretty much 1:6 scale

 Cut out the pictures but leave the edge on the spine side.

 Fold the edge over

 and you have a pile of magazines

Next week we will be looking at window dressing

Just as a foot note, this weeks 'how too' was put together all in the one day...research, making the windows, writing the post, running back and forth to my doll room in the PORING rain and it's FREEZING!!! But by far the biggest obstacle was that the cats are in and so is the litter box (nuff said!) Plus, Izzabelle who runs a mile if anyone comes near LOVES playing on the computer!!! It's actually Amy's computer and is a touch screen Izzi love to change the channels, delete what I've written or stand on the keyboard a write a few notes of her own!