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Props Diorama/Furniture Making for BJD, Any tips/suggestions?

Feb 7, 2021

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    1. There are many lovely miniature and diorama creators and I envy so much. There is one person in particular who makes dioramas for dolls... I would like a fully customized diorama that is my style but it would be crazy expensive and I don't think it is worth it. I have no problem spending tons of money for my hobbies, but for this I just can't bring myself to do it when the process looks fairly simple and not as demanding in skill.
      I am thinking of making props, a diorama, furniture, etc, as it seems fairly easy. Well, easier than doing faceups, sculpting, sewing clothes, etc... so I am thinking about making a diorama for Lati/Linachouchou/other small dolls. Before I go out and blow a ton of money on supplies (honestly DIY and crafting is so expensive, a lot of the time it's not really the "cheaper" route), I thought I would compile a list of my plans and open them up for criticism. Does anyone have experience doing this? If not, I hope we can try to do this together. If you do, I welcome any pointers, tips, alternatives, suggestions, corrections and changes! Please, they would be appreciated so so so much!! Hopefully we can help each other. Sorry if this is all already discussed, I searched the forum several times and couldn't find much condensed info.

      Firstly, this is the no-saw method, as a saw is quite costly (even a small one) and often requires a certain type of space that not everyone has. Plus it's very intimidating for me...

      For everything:
      Utility knife (anyone know a better knife to cut wood, etc..?)
      Glue (I think Elmers glue or Gorilla wood glue)
      Pencil and ruler for measuring/sketching

      Techniques:
      Cutting with a knife, score a straight line with the knife and then keep cutting the same spot over and over again.
      Basic cut, glue, and sewing skills.

      1: The room base
      -I will use foamboard (let me know if there are any better alternatives) for the base of the floor and walls

      2. The room base's cover
      -Maybe gluing large basswood sheets under and outside of the foamboard to protect it and give it some weight.
      -Basswood for indoor flooring (I heard it's good b/c the fine grain and low density is easy to cut through compared to plywood), I will cut into strips and organize them in a "brick pattern" to make the flooring.
      A mix of acrylic paints and water to stain the flooring
      Polycrylic varnish to seal the paint
      -Paper for the wallpaper (I still have not found good paper to use, any suggestions are welcome)! Ideally something that looks nicer than construction paper. I don't want to use paint for the inner walls as I think it'll look too rough and messy
      Sand paper to make it all smooth

      3. Furniture
      Pre-made furnitures are usually not the perfect color, design, or size for our BJDs, so I will try to make my own.
      -Basswood, a variety of thicknesses and sizes. I heard 1/8 inch can be cut with a knife but any thicker needs a saw. So 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, etc... Can anyone confirm or deny? Anyone can cut 1/4 sheets without a saw?
      Various basswood sheets, and sticks for furniture legs, etc. Will make bed, shelves, bookcases, chairs, tables, etc...
      For the chair, I am thinking about using twine/cord for the seat part, like this
      (Skip to 2:25)

      Acrylic paints and water to stain them or just acrylic paint for painting
      Polycrylic varnish to seal
      Sand paper, sanding the wood itself and between layers of paint and varnish.
      I would start off by measuring my BJD, and how tall/wide I want the furniture to be for them. Then draw a rough sketch with measurements that has the perfect dimensions. Make the outer part first. Then I'll work inwards as I can measure how big the drawers should be after the outer part has been constructed.
      Wire and pliers or beads for drawer handles

      clips to hold wood if stacking and glue double sheets
      some perfectly straight object that the furniture can lean on so it can all dry perfectly straight at a 90° angle?

      4. Decorations, props
      -String and patterned paper to make garlands. Maybe a couple small beaded hanging decorations.
      -Fabric and stuffing to make blankets and pillows. Just using basic stitches because that's all I know.
      Example:
      -Fabric for curtains
      -Printer if I can find or make some cute prints or books for my BJDs.

      -Mini fake grass sheets/flooring I saw people use for dolls... does anyone know where you can get those?
      -Anyone know where to get mini flowers/leaves/foliage for decoration as well? I'm still on the search

      Finally, I will throw in my Re-ment, miniatures, small toys, and BJDs to decorate!

      I do not recommend jumbo popsicle sticks. I tried them for a previous project and they were so inconsistent (curved, not straight at all in any dimensions!) ) and impossible to cut through despite being so thin. Maybe someone has a better experience with them?
       
      #1 maiyufi, Feb 7, 2021
      Last edited: Feb 7, 2021
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    2. For wallpaper you could look at places like JoAnnes, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby's scrapbooking sections; you can buy single sheets for like a dollar each with neat designs.
       
      #2 Shanfriend, Feb 7, 2021
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    3. Oh you will have a lot of fun making little dioramas, it's habit forming! I make money out of a combination of mdf, thin plywood and basswood, mainly for structural sturdiness.
      [​IMG]PXL_20210203_234149672.PORTRAIT[/url] by Anja Asenjo, on Flickr[/IMG]
      PXL_20210203_234149672.PORTRAIT
      This particular room is 12x12x 12. Bottom and back are wood painting panels, the sides are basswood, assembled with 8 wood screws. The floor was painted dark brown, and the floorboards are veneer strips laid with gorilla glue them sealed. For furnishings, I have found a lot of ready made items that can be easily repurposed for this size in the unfinished wood section of hobby stores.
      Hope this helps!
       
      #3 anjamd, Feb 7, 2021
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    4. if I may suggest, the square to spare is a wonderful yt channel about miniature furniture making! Could be helpful for both ideas and execution :)
       
      #4 micchix, Feb 7, 2021
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    5. The nice thing about diorama making is that it doesn't have to be expensive, you can literally make everything out of garbage if you want to. Basswood and foamboard give a nicer finish, but you can experiment with cardboad and recycled materials with less of a supply commitment. Bentley house miniatures on youtube has a nice series on a cardboard house (with several free templates!) that I'd recommend checking out, it's 1/12th scale but the principals apply to pretty much anything. Beyond that, I would suggest adding wire as an expansion to your basic supply list, for metal components, it could diversify what you can make.
       
      #5 eldi, Feb 7, 2021
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    6. ohh but I want something that looks nice and would rather spend more to make something I really love rather than something that just takes up space. No offense, but the cardboard dioramas don't really look good
       
      #6 maiyufi, Feb 8, 2021
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    7. I second checking out Bentley House Miniatures. She does an excellent job of taking cardboard and making it not look like cardboard. Lots of wonderful tips and tricks there.
       
      #7 phoenyxashe, Feb 8, 2021
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    8. I saw it and it's not what I am looking for, I don't think cardboard dioramas are for me
       
      #8 maiyufi, Feb 8, 2021
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    9. Do you perhaps have pictures of what you want to do?ˋ

      I am not convinced that using recycled materials does not give you the results you want. Maybe not in the beginning...you will have a learning curve, that's for sure.

      You can get tiny moss and gras and such from modeltrain supply.
       
      #9 Ipledreamer, Feb 9, 2021
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    10. I agree, I too am not convinced that recycled materials like cardboard will get the result I want.

      In terms of technique/design, I am looking to make something like Nerea Pozo's work, but with different colors/styles. I choose her as an example because I think the general idea of her work seems to be attainable and fairly simple, while still looking nice. Just not a fan of the colors/some style choices she makes, and a custom one would cost way too much for what its worth
      In terms of color/style, I am looking to make something similar to Hanabira工房's work. But Hanabira's work is too hardcore and way too many materials so I am not actually following the stuff in their videos, its just a rough stylistic example.

      Roughly, it'd be like a simplified version between this Login • Instagram and this Login • Instagram
       
      #10 maiyufi, Feb 9, 2021
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    11. To be honest, I think you can very much achieve that with recycled materials/cardboard. Have you checked out MyFroggyStuff? She does a lot of roomboxes similar in shape to those. Just change the colours and fabric patterns, there you have it.

      One example: Doll Roombox | Barbie room, Barbie bedroom, Doll house plans

      Start little by little, and you will get there. Or save up and get something custom-made.

      Another route would be to buy a 3D-printer and design yourself. But you have to learn that as well if you have such specific requirements. And you still have to work on the surfaces when printing is done.
       
      #11 Ipledreamer, Feb 9, 2021
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    12. I don't want a cardboard look though. It doesn't look good and I'm not aiming for FroggyStuff's work. I want wooden furniture and flooring. I don't want a 3D printer either. I'm not sure why people are suggesting a completely different route that's not what I'm looking for
      I can afford a custom diorama. I simply choose not to pay for it because I truthfully don't think its worth the cost when you think of how simple it really is.

      I appreciate the comments but please lets keep this thread relevant. I welcome as many tips and suggestions that are relevant, but I am not looking to completely change mediums to make something cheap that looks entirely different via 3D printing or cardboard as they don't look good at all to me and are not what I am trying to achieve... I have experience crafting and doing everything I listed, except for cutting wood, which is why I think this is something I can do. I don't like the look of cardboard or 3D printing at all, and yes I have already seen these YouTubers. So please stop suggesting materials that create an entirely different look. I am not interested in forgoing wood furniture/flooring. I am interested in tips/recommendations that are in the same field as what I have discussed. I think people interpreted my thread wrong? When I said DIY was expensive, I wasn't saying it because I wanted the cheapest possible way to make something. I was just saying it as a general complaint that nothing comes cheap. Sorry, cardboard dioramas/furniture from all these Tubers look pretty bad.
       
      #12 maiyufi, Feb 10, 2021
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    13. Check your local hardware supply for iron on veneer rolls, it comes in different widths and easily cut with scissors or x-acto knife. It is excellent as flooring, very easily applied, and gives a very realistic finish. Additionally, it can give a high-end look to basswood or MDF items bc it has a much finer grain.
      Also, an xacto saw and miter box will be your best friend while building furniture, frames, etc!
       
      #13 anjamd, Feb 10, 2021
      Last edited: Feb 10, 2021
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    14. If basswood is too difficult to cut through for your thicker pieces, balsa wood is softer but also easier to damage.

      I'd also look into a dremel as an alternative to a saw. It can have cutting wheels that will work for "sawing" small furniture pieces, but it will also have other attachments to help with sanding, detailing, engraving, etc.

      For wallpaper, scrapbook paper will have a finer texture than construction paper, and it comes in patterns that can mimic wallpaper or other texures like brick and wood. If you have high-resolution images and a good printer, you could also print out a wallpaper pattern.

      I would add to a general list a material for windows, if your room design is enclosed on 3 or more sides it's usually helpful to let in some extra light. They look more realistic with a "pane" inside, imo.

      I've seen the grass sheeting on amazon, in springtime at Joann and dollar tree (in the "fairy garden" section), and at some card shops that have tabletop stuff. You can also get the shakers of flock & clump foliage at any hobby shop that includes model railway supplies.
       
      #14 eldi, Feb 10, 2021
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    15. #15 tinyseams, Feb 12, 2021
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    16. You can use a small hand saw for some things. They are inexpensive and because of using softer wood, I'd get the ones with finer teeth. You can have a lumber store cut certain things for you if you need it, like for walls and floor of your room box.

      My problem is I don't have the space for what I want lol! I can't fit the Malfoys house in my bedroom.
       
      #16 Fushia Lace, Apr 13, 2021
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    17. Ohh veneer rolls, that's a good idea, thank you. A miter saw!!!! Yesss I forgot, I need that!!!
      Oh yes I heard about balsa for this kind of thing is easy to cut but some people say it doesn't look good and looks cheaper compared to plywood or basswood. But I will try to get some for the smaller things.
      a Dremel works for this? A Dremel scroll saw or something else?

      The scrapbook paper variety in my local craft stores is so bad, they are so tacky and not great patterns. But thank you for letting me know that scrapbook paper has better quality, I will look into purchasing scrapbook paper from overseas!

      Actually the window is a great thing to mention, thank you for bringing it up! Originally, I was not sure if I should add one because 1). extra wood cutting which is the most difficult part for me and 2). I want lots of furniture which would block windows anyway. The way my irl room light is arranged, almost no light would come that way even if I put a window (hard to explain in words). But I was thinking about adding a curtain with pretty fabric so it feels like there is a window without having one.
      I saw something like that on Youtube, I think it was a Dremel scroll saw like this: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Dremel-...ZG7j9CEMBREW1QYsz58aAob3EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
      But I am kind of intimidated by it. I work only on low floor tables via squatting or short periods of seiza (due to sitting disability/severe nerve pain) so I am not sure how or if it it will attach to my traditional floor tables, kind of scary, and not the cheapest. But I am seriously considering getting one, I'll have to do more research about those things. I'm not very knowledgable or familiar with electronic things. It definitely is way less intimidating and cheaper than those real massive saws. Is it really that easy?
      What kind of hand saw? I've only seen hand saws used for narrow planks or sticks, but not for wide sheets. I think they'd be good for legs, but will they work for wood sheets? I think I'll think about getting one for the legs/narrower wood pieces though. Sadly, the store cutting things for my project is not really possible
       
      #17 maiyufi, Apr 13, 2021
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    18. Hi Maiyufi, so excited to see what you build!

      I'm currently finishing up my first dollhouse, so I'll relay to you some materials I needed that I didn't see on your list:

      **- Miter saw
      **- A non-water based glue - the reason is because water-based glues will cause thin pieces of wood to warp. If you try using Elmer's glue to glue on thin shingles or siding... you're gonna have a bad time, lol! I recommend Quick Grip glue for things like shingles and siding. Contact cement also works well. But beware... it's very... permanent, lol! Once you put a piece down on the contact cement, it's ON there. You can't really move it!
      - Wood filler, to fill in the gaps between pieces. I recommend white wood filler if you plan on painting it. If you plan on staining, get regular stainable filler.
      **- Latex primer - you want to prime the walls and furniture for two reasons. 1, to prevent the acids in the wood from seeping through and yellowing the outer color/wallpaper, and 2, to help the colored paint adhere better and more smoothly.
      - Digital calipers - you need this to make sure your measurements are accurate. These are useful for quickly determining the measurements of things that your normal ruler can't easily measure.
      **- Foam brushes - best to use these to paint large pieces. It gives a smoother finish than large bristle brushes, and they're cheap enough to throw away without feeling bad afterwards. :)
      - Dowel rods - Use these to make the legs of beds/chairs. There are round or square dowels in many different sizes, so it's fun to play around with scale here. You can usually buy individual ones for way cheaper at craft stores or hardware stores. When buying dowel rods online, you usually can only purchase them in bulk. :/ So I recommend going to a store if you want to save some money.
      **- Angled tweezers - these are a MUST have for applying tiny pieces with glue. It's such a life saver. It's basically impossible to apply little door handles or tiny little mullions to a window without tweezers.
      - Syringes - You will need these to apply glue/wood filler to those super hard-to-reach places.
      - A magnetic gluing jig - Useful for gluing things at 90 degree angles. Kinda pricy though, if you’re only using it for one project.
      - Latex house paint - yup, indoor house paint! It's actually the paint of choice from most dollhouse enthusiasts, because it's so much cheaper by the ounce than normal craft paint. What I like about it is that you can pick out really nice colors from actual interior design magazines, and base your diorama off those nice color palettes. :) You can buy those "sampler" sizes for a couple bucks at the hardware store. So cheap!

      **The things that I’ve starred are things that I think are must haves. The other things are nice to have and will make your life easier, but you could probably get away without if you need to keep to a budget.

      Edit: I forgot, you’ll also want to get wallpaper paste if you plan on wallpapering the diorama! Regular glue will cause the paper to buckle and warp. Paste will allow you to smooth out any bubbles. I found this dollhouse all purpose paste that looks like it’ll work for wallpaper, siding, and shingles!
       
      #18 Sheyda, Apr 13, 2021
      Last edited: Apr 13, 2021
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    19. That Dremel scroll saw you mentioned looks really nice! It says it clamps to a a table so it seems it would work for you. I am a very inexperienced wood worker and I love to use the scroll saw. I use a sewing machine almost daily so my sewing skill transfers really well. I think it is easy, you can cut as slow as you want. You just have to read instructions and learn how to install the blades properly. I have learned from watching youtube videos too.
      Also you might find a scroll saw at a yard sale or craigs list for less but then you have to see if it works properly.
       
      #19 tinyseams, Apr 14, 2021
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    20. Julie Warren on you tube maybe worth a look. She works in 1/12 scale but most things can be scaled up. Her videos and explanations of the cutting and assembling of the furniture are some of the clearest I have seen and although you may not want to work in 1/12 scale they could act as a springboard for your own designs. She works in wood not cardboard.
       
      #20 Valentia, Apr 19, 2021
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