So, back in June…holy moly, has it been THAT long ago?…back in June, I posted about using a heated blade to alter pieces of the Sears Kenmore Kitchen set to use in my new kitchen diorama box.  Long story short, the dio is still not finished, but it IS getting closer!  I had hoped to have it completed before blogging about the process, but at this rate, it could be next Spring before I get it done (I hope not!).  This post will take you along on the first part of the journey.  I hope the latter part won’t be too far off.

The dio box itself was built by my dh and is about the same size as the one he built for The Mini Guinea.  I had him make the kitchen box a wee bit wider but the same height and depth.  Here’s a shot of the box before I painted.  You can see the OSS diva DASHA is thrilled to be getting her own kitchen.  The only question she had for me is, “Where are the chef and staff?”  Silly DASHA.  The cabinet on the floor was removed from the sink unit because I want a window over the sink.  Who wants to stare at a blank wall while washing dishes or peeling potatoes?  And, as you can see, the cabinet would be pressing against DASHA’s nose if the cabinet had not been removed.  My dh would say that “no one” will notice that.  You’d think that after nearly 30 years with me he’d realize that “I” would notice, and that’s all that really matters.

Once I figured out where I wanted the units and the height (you can see a riser in the photo), dh cut the window hole.  I used a purchased dollhouse window that actually operates, so the hole was cut specifically for that item.  The molding near the top of the box adds interest and will also support the ceiling.  I painted everything white and printed off a background so that DASHA would have some scenery to gaze at whilst scrubbing pots and pans.  She has assured me that she has no intention of doing any of the aforementioned tasks, but I pay the bills around here, so she will have to pull on a pair of rubber gloves and get busy!

Next on the agenda was finishing the risers to get the base cabs and counter-tops to a realistic height for the leggy FR ladies.  A support shelf for the separate upper cabinet was needed, so dh obliged.

The corner area posed a bit of a challenge.  Not only did I want it angled to compliment the upper cabinet, I also wanted a drawer bank included.  Needless to say, hubby was NOT thrilled.  But, trooper that he is, he endeavored to do my bidding, and I think it turned out fabulously for a first time ever attempt!  I gave him permission to make two drawers fixed and two that actually functioned.  This enabled him to fudge a bit with the carpentry, and that was fine with me as long as the end product gave me the look I wanted.

The next step was putting up the wallpaper.  I used scrapbook paper with a retro feel.  And since my major appliances are vintage toys and pink (how AWESOME is that), I chose a paper in shades of pink that would coordinate with the pale blue on the cabinet doors.  I also added the retro dollhouse flooring in a black diamond on white pattern.  I also removed the doors from the Kenmore fridge unit so I could use it as a pantry.  They were easy to pop out of place.  No plastic surgery required.The risers have now been base coated, but that is where this chapter of the kitchen box saga ends.  It has been at a standstill now for a few weeks.  I need to detail the drawers and do a wee bit of tweaking before I can continue with photos and another post.  Hopefully, I can get to that soon!  Stay with me, ya’ll!

Until next time with OSS…