Winter Projects: Part Five

 

Peanut butter got the sticker residue off when the rubbing alcohol failed.  During the process (which smelled a lot better) I realized those roof beds are meant to be a pop up tent.  Still leaves Chelsea in danger of falling to her doom, so I removed the little bed.

For play purposes, imaginary tent walls are fine, and I can rig something temporary if I need for a photo story.  Jeremiah and Polly demonstrate the cozy tent. They forgot bedding!

I found a looking-up-at-trees picture in my crafting supplies.  Much better that the black-and-white roses, since it's outdoorsy.  Dumb entertainment center.  Those little windows on either side of the bathroom indentation make me giggle.

The only sticker I replaced was the rear license plate.  It doesn't match the front one, but in both Ohio and Barbieville, it doesn't have to. 

The back seat holds at least two comfortably, including the car seat (formerly a Ferris wheel seat in Chelsea's Carnival Playset.) Luna could squish in the middle if she was so inclined.

Luna demonstrates the other silly window.

Off we go to the toilet store!  As soon as Jeanie installs that, the camper van will be done!

Winter Projects: Part Four

 You didn't think there would be a part four, did you?  I sure didn't! 

I was beginning to wonder if the snow and cold would ever pass.

At least my neighbors had some fun with it.  

But Goodwill came through for me again.  This is a Barbie 3 in 1 Dream Camper.  

Normally, I turn my nose up at the newer Barbie campers because... yeah, lets go camping and fold down all the walls and stick the kindergartener up in the sky.  But I figure this one was like five bucks and it can just be a van if I want.

Like this.  That's meant to be Chelsea's bed.  Someone else is meant to sleep below it, on the roof, presumably to catch the poor kid when she rolls over.

 The headlight and tail light stickers were reasonably intact.  A few drops of Krazy Glue fixed the curled corners on one of them and one of the rear view mirrors.  The rest of the stickers needed to go.

It did come with some of its accessories like this hidden boat.

The cab pops off so Barbie doesn't have to pack up the whole campsite just to hike a trail.  We already saw where the boat is stored.  The wading pool goes in the big window and the kitchenette just was crammed in the back.  All of these are intact and usable.

I also found a couple tubes of something in the rear bathroom.  A blue drinking glass and a orphan boot were rattling around under the driver's seat.  No picture of them since they weren't bravely clinging to their proper spot!

Here's the rear bathroom.  Missing toilet means I gotta buy some Sour Flush candy.  I really like the cute lil shower but I'll have to pretend they have something to protect their privacy in here.  Maybe like a folding room divider... hmmm...  

The cardboard insert between rooms is good.

On that side, anyway.  I've deeply offended at the idea of an entire entertainment center in a camper. The TV and radio in my 1970's camper are smaller and more suited for roughing it.  There is none in the Star Traveler.  Well, maybe a radio on the dashboard.

Out comes the contact paper.

After a liberal use of rubbing alcohol in hope of removing sticker residue, it's drying off.  I used the black-and-white roses to cover the entertainment center side of the cardboard insert.  If I have to cover the sticker areas on the exterior, I'll use the same.  

 

Winter Projects: Part Three

 

Didn't even make to February.  I was outta food and climbing the walls, so I braved the cold.

Ambulance is done and patio almost there.

This is what I'm dealing with.  Ugly.

Dollar Tree to the rescue!  This small sheet of peel-and-stick wallpaper (aka contact paper) and roll of duct tape are more than enough to finish the job.

Oven door now looks like an oven door.  I might replace it later with something reflective.

I forgot to point out last time that I found a bit of cardboard to put behind the shelf.  

That pink is a perfect match!

I really wanted to focus on the pink flowers. It was challenging to work around the birds, but I managed.  There is one spot, but I doubt anyone will notice.

I covered the last remaining bit of the other wallpaper.

Iris is trying to get Jimin or Sally to give her a drink out of the minifridge.

This will work great with my picnic stuff! 

Ambulance is retired to the dolly parking lot. 

Patio is too tall for my folding-set shelf. 

But not as tall as the Hogwarts Express Diner!

Who made this mess on my project table?

Winter Projects: Part Two

 These projects don't seem like they're going to last through the bleak after-holiday spell before spring.  

This is how we left things.  Both are in pretty good shape.

I used my concrete-looking contact paper on the cardboard inserts and to cover a damaged sticker "window".  A bit of spare carboard replaced the missing insert, which research tells me was a menu.  

I like the look on the white walls. Not so much on the pink.  I can understand cement lower walls with the upper part finished, but the opposite hurts my brain. I'm thinking stained glass instead.

I used floral contact paper on the interior side of the inserts.  I didn't cover the one inside the minifridge because it doesn't bother me.  It's inside-the-fridge stuff like drinks.

The only sticker on this side that needs replacing is on the oven door. 

The window over the minifridge is supposed to be a carry-out or drive-through.

Bonus points if you recognize the floral pattern as the one I used in the dollhouse kitchen and part of the pantry.  (Kitchen then traded spots with the dining room.)  

The oven door is weird.  Looking at how the wall is molded, it's just that - an oven door.  But according to the sticker, it's got another door on it and three different control pads.  This also hurts my brain.  According to my research, this was not a mistake by the original owner.  This really is the sticker intended to go here.  I thought maybe it went on one of the missing bits.  

I will just do what I did in the Star Traveler... shiny to look like an oven door window, which is what it should be anyway.  That will have to wait, like the stained glass, until Winter Storm Fern finishes rampaging through my area.

Done for now with patio grill.  

On to the ambulance.  

The gift shop shelves behind the waiting room TV were all curled up and wrinkled.

I am really not a fan of this driver's seat.  But given the architecture of the ambulance, it has to be short. Even with a made-to-move body, Jeremiah has to contort his legs sideways to reach the wheel.  He can't reach the pedals!  I'll have to pretend the gas and brakes are hand-controlled.  

Thinking about some kind of curtain between the driver and doctor space.

The cardboard on the exam-room side has a bit of damage in one corner, but nothing major, so I allowed them to keep their medicine cabinet. Might come in handy for doctoring.

Covered the gift-shop space with the floral pattern.  I'll replace it later if I find something appropriate.  

But honestly, I'll likely use it like this.  Poor Jeremiah, stretching them long legs after trying to drive.

All things considered, I'm almost done.

I need to pick up some "stained glass" and "oven door glass".

I have fabric and glue if I decide to do a curtain.

I do still need to figure out the reception desk situation.  

Hogwart's Express Playset

 If you do not have a passing familiarity with the Harry Potter franchise, please seek out your favorite Potterhead to explain anything that might confuse you.  Also there will be spoilers if you are new to the Wizarding World.

Taking a break from my winter projects to open my other new toy.  When I bought Jeff, I noticed the price on the Hogwarts Express had gone up a good bit, so held off to research similar (cheaper) options.  Anything I found that met my criteria cost even more!

I was never happy with my DIYs for a diner... even had to turn Sunburst Diner into a cafe during my Barbie Soap Opera.  When I saw this, my first thought was DINER BOOTH!  That might seem strange to you, but I'm a strange woman... as you well know.  

But that's for Walmart's "My Life As" dolls, you say.  The scale is way off, you say. Look how small Snape and Bellatrix are next to it, you say.  I've had a lot of experience with using this scale for my Barbies.  It does work with a little ingenuity and imagination.  

Anyway.  Here my volunteers stand beside the freshly opened playset.  It really is coincidence that I grabbed a couple of Harry Potter characters.  They were the two dolls closest to my work table. 

The white cardboard under the window opens to be a backdrop.  I'll be keeping this, although usually folded down so my dolls can make use of that window. 

The big picture was enclosed in the backdrop.  It's meant to slide behind the table window. 

This other stuff was in a Hogwarts envelope.  There's a cardboard rug, instruction booklet, stickers, and the boxes for goodies from the trolley.

Also Harry's first letter, its envelope, and two train tickets.  These are large for my dolls, but could work as wall art.  We shall see. Snape's toes for scale.

Sticker in the frame and Hogwarts outside the window.  The opposite side of that window card is a night view, for if they take the midnight train to Hogwarts.  Hedwig says "get me outta this dang plastic".

 The big blue box and plastic hold even more goodies.  I popped the trolley together and put up curtains.  Snape and Bellatrix noticed the height of the tabletop, but I told them I have a plan for that problem.  More on it later. The table folds down against the wall.  Because reasons. 

The little balcony thing on the rear was easy to install.  That lantern has a working light which I will never use.  The batteries will be removed so they don't corrode. I also remove batteries from the headlight and interior lamp.  

 

Photo is sideways because I am lazy.

It was at this point that I said "Where's Scabbers? He's supposed to be in this set."  Found him in the trash, right where the little traitor belongs.  Which reminds me... if we've got Harry's first letter, why is Crookshanks there?  Chronologically confused much? 

Pocahontas is 18 inches tall. She's a lot skinner than the intended dolls, but will serve to demonstrate the size of the pets.  Crookshanks is supposed to be a big boy.  Not a lion cub! I'm debating if he'll work as a Barbie pet.  I've had some huge cats in my time.

Even as skinny as she is, Pocahontas still takes up more than half the seat.  Snape and Bellatrix share easily.  This is one of the benefits of using larger-scale items with Barbies.  This picture makes me giggle.  Like they're Pokey's kids and Bellatrix says "Feet on the floor, Mom!  Gawd!"

Like the children they resemble in that photo, the table-height problem can be resolved by sitting on a suitcase or stack of pillows.  Come story time, I'll probably make risers out of Lego and use camera tricks to hide them.

The table folds back and the benches become a bed.  No blanket, though, unless you rip the curtains down.  The gray bolt behind the seat back is one of the two that hold the smokestack on.  Smokestack is off here because I was removing the batteries.

My dolls are very happy with this playset.  What they can't use will have a home, probably with my favorite Potterhead.  I'm not fussed about keeping the set complete.  Not a collector.  These are toys.  Play with them!  Or maybe I can use the pets to ward off home invaders (Crookshanks and Hedwig are heavy!)