Building "Ten Cent City"...recreating 1950's little houses

Post by **Howard** » Wed Jan 23, 2019 11:27 am

Pete R.Oehmen wrote:Wonderful creation Howard. Thank you for the resource of the sand information. Those trees are the exact tree that I'm looking for repairs. Can you please share the source for me? Thank you, Pete

here's the source for the stems...https://www.etsy.com/shop/papertales?re ... p_redirect
go to the store and search "vintage green tinsel bumpy stems"...they should come right up...

Post by **Laurie** » Wed Jan 23, 2019 5:45 pm

It looks so nice Howard. Thanks for sharing the site with the trees; I just ordered mine, although it’s probably the only authentic item in my version of your houses.

Post by **Lynn** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 6:23 pm

Here's my January Ten Cent City house.

Thanks for a great project Howard!!

Post by **PutzinVT** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 7:15 pm

Lynn:

Can you share the name of the sand your using.

Also, does anyone have a link to the original houses these are based one.

Steve

Post by **Lynn** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 8:31 pm

Hi Steve

The sand is activa 10 pack scenic sand in vivid colors 1 oz.

I didn't care for the white that came with this set so I used studio his and hers ceremony sand.

I wonder has anyone dyed sand, possibly the ceremony sand could be dyed.

Post by **Howard** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 9:24 pm

lynn...

perfect color choice...red, white and green...it shouts "Christmas"...going to look into the sands you mentioned...the grains of your sand look closer to the finish on the four vintage houses i have...i believe the finish on them to be ground glass...grains about like sugar or finer...may see if i can find ground glass in colors...

yes...sand can be dyed/colored...i made a small batch of gray a couple of weeks ago...(why?...it's a long story and won't bore anyone with the details)...i looked on the internet and found videos and instructions...they were using ink...can't remember the brand or type right now but will look up and post what i found...

i colored sand used ordinary craft paint...mixed it in with the sand until all the grains were thoroughly covered...spread out on a plastic tray and let dry...after drying i crumbled, crushed and sifted the dyed sand...it worked...it reminded me of making coconut...a lot of work...when there are so many colors of dyed sand already available...

howard...

Post by **PutzinVT** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 9:53 pm

Thank you both for the info.

I've had good luck on a few of my older houses w/ coloring sand with paint like Howard talked about.
My Flat Iron Repo was coated with that.

Pretty much the colors are limit less.

Steve

Post by **Laurie** » Fri Jan 25, 2019 3:33 pm

Lynn, the house looks wonderful. Did you put sand on the chimney also?

Howard; I’d like to see the original houses also.

Post by **Lynn** » Fri Jan 25, 2019 3:46 pm

Hi Laurie, yes the chimney is sand the same as I used for the house.

This sand is really fine. I am going to try and mix in a little of some fine glass glitter for the next house I make.