This post previously posted before my website was attacked. Here it is back to the best I can get it.
This project drew me in because it is a shop in an ice cream container. I had wanted to do one of those before. This type of project is one of my favorite things to make in miniature – A project in an everyday object.
The project was offered by KitKat Miniatures. Sadly, she is not offering them anymore. But there might be someone out there who still hasn’t finished theirs and maybe needs a few tips.
It’s been a while since I assembled much of this project. It has only been this year that I did the food. Most of the furniture was assembled last year. I took it on a mini vacation with friends who were doing craft projects. Each of us doing our own thing.
I attended Kathy’s class and got some done. However being on zooms when other people are working on the same project is very energizing. I did the container that way.
Kathy’s instructions are quite good. I loved that she included the electric element. I wired up the ceiling fan and the excess wire on the top side, I glued under a piece of paper. That’s my way of help wires stay where I want them.
I decided the switch must be accessible from outside the lid. I cut a hole in the side that fit the switch. This hole is just below the lid.
Then I needed to come up with a way to hold it in place. I added tabs to hold the wires against the inside wall on either side of the switch. The wires just slide behind the tabs. This way the entire electric system could be removed when the ceiling was removed.
That was helpful. However moving the switch to turn on and off was not stable from the outside. I decided to add a piece of foam core that pushes against the switch and the opposite wall. It is not glued in place and won’t be so that the electric is easy to access, including removing the roof. Both ends were rounded so the piece is tight but not pushing out to make it not round.
Another modification I made was to the Take Out window. It is high for the dolls that Pat Hamilton made. I cut this down initially and made it too low. So I fixed that. Then after placing the soda jerk doll, I decided to cut it down again, just not as much. I cut it to the horizontal trim on the outside.
Side steps that were provided didn’t allow the dolls to stand on the step in combination with the window counter. I added foam core pieces to make the steps deeper and one extra step. Although they still can’t but if they hung onto the counter they could. I tend to over-think things.
The front opening is beautiful plants that I carefully trimmed around. I highly recommend patience and small sharp pointed scissors.
The awnings are printed and I did my best to make them curve and be dimensional. The side one was easier I believe because it was narrower.
Accessories
The clear glass items are 3D resin printed. They have a frosty look. Kathy outlines how to make them clear, but I didn’t have the same materials available. Instead I used UV resin on the exteriors. That’s the kind that requires a UV lamp to cure. I have one that is for doing nails.
Compare the glasses vs the raft they are on.
For the soda drinks I used a micro tip sponge brush and alcohol marker to color the inside of the glass. Then I added the ice and drops of gloss sealer. The cherry and straw were added before that dried. The outside was the UV gel resin I painted on and cured with the UV light.
Included in the kit were plastic bristles for straws and clear round no hole beads /marbles for ice. There were all sorts of glassware for a soda and for ice cream dishes. More than I could fit.
Plates were 3D printed, as were waffles, ice cream cones and ice cream scoops ready for bowls and cups. There were cups to be made with paper. Plus red marbles for the cherries. For toppings, I used various colors and then applied a gloss sealer for shiny. The flatware was laser cut cardstock. The placemats were paper cutouts. The napkin holders were made using aluminum foil, paper tissue and a block of wood.
The counter was the perfect place to display a variety of the foods included in this amazing kit.
The counter was made from a wood kit (included) with printed paper for the outer side. The stools were a laser cut kit which I used the chrome marker on the base.
Chrome Marker – Highly Recommend
For the blender and the soda fountain, I used a chrome marker. We got a set on that river place.
See the difference the marker (right) vs a silver paint (left) I had. I add the a gel UV gloss over the blue on the blender.
Another view comparing the silver vs chrome.
Here’s the soda fountain. Opps! the Soda Jerk broke one of the levers the first day.
See a difference in the chrome of the machine vs the foil used for the napkin holder
It was much harder to get a good solid coat of the chrome on this larger piece. The set did contain different tip sizes so that would help but not totally.
What to do with my extra cups I didn’t use, even with making extra? I put them under the counter. It is really hard to see them as have to look beyond the Soda Jerk, but they are there.
Extra dishes and cups under the counter
Ice Cream – You Scream – Freezer
I really love this ice cream freezer. For the ice cream I used a material called Light and Fluffy. I colored it with paint and then carefully scooped into the buckets. It did shrink, some more than others which I suspect is due to having more paint added (for coloring). But it was easy enough to fill in with more. Although not too much later since I did mix these colors. If it was a custom color (two mixed together plus the fluffy), would be important to keep some mixed available for later after it dried.
The foil on this ice cream freezer is aluminum foil. I didn’t have the chrome marker at the time. But the buckets inside – those edges were done with the chrome marker.
Table and Chairs
These table and chairs were included with the kit. They are 3D printed and they are perfect for the shop. When I was ready to paint them, I decided it would be fun to use more than one color and I went with the color of the lid and pink. The seat cushion is a darker purple.
3D printed tables and chairs included with the kit
Dolls
Initially, I ordered 5 dolls from Pat Hamilton. She makes some wonderful dolls for our scale and it is great that she is working with other artists like Kathy for ones that go with their projects. Once I was ready to put the dolls in place I was not sure who got to go where.
I often convince myself I don’t need to wait to do a step. In this case, it was because I wanted to glue things in place like the counter and table/chairs. This can get me in big trouble. But for this is was only tiny, minor spots on the floor and one broken chair leg that I replaced with a sprue.
Also in my rush to get things glued in place including the dolls, I didn’t get pictures of all the dolls before putting them in place.
After reviewing the dolls I had and what I had seats for, I decided to order more dolls from Pat. She very graciously sold me more. I only needed to gently move one table and two chairs.
That’s Lydia in the lemonade yellow dress. Isn’t she cute?
Lydia is with her friend Paris. She loves pink and her black cat Leon. Her shirt reminds her of him.
In the back by the ice cream freezer is Mark and Mandy. They were late arrivals so I took their picture before placement. I just love the print on the dresses.
Mark and Mandy before going inside.
Mark and Mandy about to induldge their sweet tooth.
At the counter we have Jack and Jenny. They are just getting their food so haven’t sat down yet.
Jenny can’t wait to enjoy the waffle sundae. Check out the ice cream cones on her dress. She wore it to the right place.
Jack in the back about dig in.
Exterior landscaping
To make it easy on myself for once, I picked out a sheet of paper stone. This paper is embossed and I got it from Stewart Dollhouse Creations, but it can be found on ebay and etsy in bulk. I trimmed to the size of the base I cut long ago to fit in a clear plastic ornament container. The base doesn’t fit exact to allow for room to get it in and out of my container.
Embossed stone paper was a quick ground cover
Next, I added a foam core layer to keep the ice cream container in position. I didn’t cut a full circle as I was using a piece I had and the cut out will be hidden.
I would like to tell you that my next step was the wood trim around the base, but it was not. Since I would change that step were I to do this project again, I will show you what I would do next. (Not what I did next.)
I sanded the pink foam smooth with sandpaper.
Sanding the pink foam to shape
Then I added a row of veneer. My adhesive veener is not wide enough, so I cut another piece to fit. This is how wide it is relative to my base. It is not adhered yet.
Wood veneer is an easy cover for the foam.
Cutting the narrow band before applying means the extra can used on another project one day.
I actually adhered the wide band first.
To adhere the veneer, I used a small iron tool. It did get hot enough to melt the foam, so it was a touchy situation because I wanted it to adhere but not melt the foam underneath.
I applied the narrower band to the bottom. That way I could trim away the excess. Although I did trim it before adhereing to the pink foam.
Easy trimmings
I also had some minor problems with gaps between the stone paper and the wood veneer. To fill those, I used the light and fluffy sculpting paste and painted over later.
light and fluffy fills the gap
To finish off the base, I painted it. Then immediately realized I needed to fill in some gaps between the two rows of veneer. I used the sculpting paste again and sanded it smooth.
light and fluffy stuff to the rescue with gaps
Once all was smooth and painted lavendar again, I drew the letters on with pencil. Then painted over with white paint. It is a good idea to plan for the part that is most likely to show. So the name in the front was done first.
To center it, I used an old technique my father taught me which is to write out the words you want to center. I also do it about the size of what I might write although that is not always practical depending on the project. Then place a slash after ever two letters or spaces. So it would look like this Sp/ri/nk/es/ S/un/da/e /Sh/op/. Then count the slashes. Whichever letter or space is the same number as the slashes is the center. So in this case was 10 slashes and slash between “Su” was the center. Then start off writing/painting that letter or letters to the right. Allow space to draw the other letters aproximate size.
That is where the pencil came in handy. I could gently erase if it was too wide or tall. Now, I could have taken this further and spaced out the entire words I applied but I winged the others. For a long title, one can determine the spacing by quarters or even eighths.
The lettering is similar to what was printed on the project.
Meanwhile, to landscape the project, I added simple bits of green medium coarse foam.
I also assembled the topiary kit that was a free gift with purchase.
Topiary Kit
It was easy to do with one problem. That problem was with the material I selelcted to use for the ball. It contained spikes. I think it was shredded from a foam with a backing. I’m pretty sure Kathy may have included greenery to cover with, but I wanted it to be more bushy, so was using my own.
Spikes did not look good.
Thankfully glue is forgiving when it is still wet, so I wiped it all off and started with something finer.
Lastly, I added the dolls on the benches and then glued them in place. It is all coming together now.
The lighting is perfect for seeing what is happening inside. I just love the ceiling fan that was included in the kit.
Without the light it would be most difficult to see inside since there is only two openings.
Calories: 0 (when eaten with friends)
Rich & Creamy
Harry: This ice cream is so-o good! Belinda: Agreed! I am so glad we stopped by.
Missy: Would you like to sit down? Sarah: No thanks, my food is ready inside now. Great chatting with you.
Inside the container from above. I nearly forgot to add the wall art.
Overall the kit is a winner and now marked as one of my favorites. It took me some time to get it all done, but that was me being me. Over-thinking or getting ahead of myself, or just letting things intimidate me. It is funny to me how that a latter time can solve some of those issues easily.
Happy miniaturing!
Preble