Rita’s Brookfield
(Butterfly Cottage)
If an “old woman” can live in a shoe, certainly one can live in a
“Butterfly Cottage”.
I made the stained glass window from a book that I found with a variety
of windows.
All you have to do is use colored pencils to create the illusion.
The windows that were in the kit were clear.
I found some I hadn’t used with a kit I bashed and
they worked well.
I had to add the little divider to finish the top pane.
The fronts of the flower boxes were reversed and added under the
windows.
The butterflies were printed from some butterfly tubes.
This is the upstairs.
First is the bathroom.
The two large butterflies are computer printouts.
The border was also created on the computer, by repeating a tube to make
a line.
The large butterfly above the stairs was cut from a butterfly print
fabric.
A large butterfly is perched on the banister.
There was no banister in the kit,
but I was afraid the “old woman” would tumble down the stairs,
so I had to create the banister from leftover bits and pieces.
The bed room will have butterflies added as the room is furnished.
The border around the kitchen is a butterfly print
ribbon.
I also used the ribbon to trim the curtains.
The bathroom border was also carried
into the living room.
One butterfly cut from
fabric was added to the curtain for accent.
Since these steps were narrow I couldn’t add a
banister to the outer edge.
Instead I used a thin dowel to create a wall
banister.
I attached flat wooden beads to act as anchors.
Here is the completed house.
I did not add the gingerbread trim.
These added depth that the original
ones I printed didn’t.
This “old woman” also has a butterfly bike.
I love it!!!!
I have finished the landscaping for this house.
This is the front yard.
There is a nameplate on the right.
It is surrounded by pieces of coal--the trademark
for my houses.
The flag is displayed on the corner of the house.
Here are the plants on the left
and right side of the house.
I used a variety of dried flowers to create the borders.
The
butterflies are various sizes.
Here you can see some of
the details.
I have taken liberties with
the sizes since this is a fantasy cottage.
This picture of the finished front shows the placement of some of the
butterflies.
There is a puppy peeking out of
the partially opened door.
I will be furnishing this house with the furniture that came with the
kit,
as well as other punch out
furniture that I have sheets of.
I’ll probably have to do
some scratch pieces as well.
We’ll see where
it all goes.
BUTTERFLY COTTAGE FURNISHINGS
Here are the various pieces that will be used to furnish
the bedroom.
They were all made from punch outs, from scratch or
from pieces of other ready made “stuff”.
I’ll start with the punch-our pieces that came with the house.
I used a cardboard back to give support to the batting.
I wrapped it like a gift and secured it to the base of the bed.
I then added another piece of fabric which covered the whole bed.
It was glued to the wooden sides. I then
added ruffling to finish the sides.
I used the same ruffling to trim the pillow, which was just a
rectangle
folded and glued shut after it was stuffed with batting.
The large butterfly was cut from a piece of fabric and glued to the
center of the bed.
The little butterflies on the head board were printed and cut from tubes
in Paint Shop Pro.
The dresser was also a punch out from
the house kit.
I used actual little mirrors a more realistic effect.
Silver metallic trim outlines the mirror and a butterfly is
perched on the corner.
The butterflies are the same as the bed head board.
Sequins and beads made the drawer pulls.
The hairbrush is a bit of a chenille stem and a piece of thin wood.
The emery board is cut from an actual one.
A small plant and bead bottles finish the dresser top.
The chest for the foot of the bed is
the bottom of an unfinished Michael’s hutch.
I made a padded seat exactly as I did for the bed mattress.
Knobs and butterfly matches the dresser.
The night stand is made from scratch
with wood scraps.
The legs are the dowels that are used to put wheels on wooden cars,
trucks, etc.
The lamp is just simply 2 beads and of course,
a picture of my favorite entertainer, Eddie Miles,
www.eddiemileseta.com
finishes the accessories.
The throw rugs are pieces of a wash cloth.
(They are one of the favorite things we use
regularly.)
The butterfly pictures on the wall are the ends of
address labels.
They are just stuck to a square woodsie and you
have instant little picture.
I have just finished another room in the Butterfly Cottage.
Below are the furnishings for the living room.
They are either made from scratch or are punch out pieces.
The couch is a punch out piece that came with the kit.
I extended the back to make the piece taller.
It is upholstered with a butterfly fabric.
The pillows were attached to give the couch more comfort when sitting.
The appliqués on the pillows were cut from the fabric as an accent.
A gathered eyelet lace gave it a more finished look.
The side chair and ottoman were made from scratch.
The rounded back was a punch-out left over from a window trim.
The gathered skirt conceals the base which is a square frame made from
scraps.
A woodsie was padded and covered with fabric for the seat.
The same principal was used for the pillow which made a cushion back,
like those on the couch.
The ottoman was a round left over from the trim of a punch out window.
It was padded with a bit of batting and covered with matching fabric.
It was then glued to a piece of dowel.
The same eyelet trim finished this piece.
The like pair of tables, again were built using scrap rounds mounted on
a triangle of scraps
(much like the actual tables that are offered in stores to be covered by
similar table cloths).
The vase is a deformed pearl bead and the lamp is made of beads also.
I achieved the hurricane look by adding a clear straw to the top for the
chimney.
The last table is a small rectangle of wood glued to some beads for
legs.
The lamp is beads and a toothpaste cap for a shade.
A concocted candle sits on the corner.
The area rug is what else--a ribbed wash cloth to which I glued
butterfly appliqués in each corner carrying out the butterfly theme.
This is the left side of the living room, underneath the stairs,
and below is the right side of the room..
Here you get a better picture of the appliqués on the rug.
The large butterfly above the couch is cut from a piece of fabric.
The little one is also a cut out glued to a woodsie. (Instant framed
picture.)
The butterfly above the table is one of those 3 dimensional ones
that can be found in many craft stores where the floral accents are.
Moving right along.
The bathroom is now finished.
Here are the components for this room.
They are all from a punch out sheet from Dura-craft.
To finish the hamper and give it more of that look,
I glued a piece of fabric to the front which gave it a kind of wicker
look.
The shelf just had some towels, and assorted bottles added.
Tiny sea shells add a decorative touch to the top.
The toilet has a butterfly decorated tissue box on the back
(a small wooden block with butterfly trim glued to the sides) .
I used a tiny spring finding for the handle.
A little sea shell with a cut pony bead makes the soap dish with soap.
The faucet is a bent nail. This works so well. The head of
the nail just glues to the rim of the tub.
Tiny beads make the handles.
A butterfly trim accents the top of the tub.
The mirrored cabinet goes above the sink.
It has the same spring finding for the handle, as does the sink.
A butterfly perches on one corner.
There are 2 views of the sink to show some of the detail.
Again a shell and pony bead piece make the soap dish and soap.
The side view show a ring with a towel. (An easy way to hang the
towel.)
Here you can see a better view of the bent nail faucet.
The rug is what else--one of our famous $1.00 washcloth finds at an
outlet store.
I cut the butterfly from fabric and glued it to the center of the rug.
This is the completed bathroom. You can see butterflies abound.
The last room of the cottage is now complete.
The appliances and furnishings are again built from
a Dura craft punch out sheet.
I love the look of the handles on the stove and refrigerator.
The sink and cabinet were accented with a left over piece of the trim
that was used for a border in the kitchen.
A bent nail made the faucet on the sink and beads made the water taps
and door pulls.
A plate of cookies, a salt and pepper shaker (earring backs),
a cutting board and some bottles are on the top of the cabinet.
The cookies are punch outs of pressed foam.
Tan foam with brown paint dabs make very realistic chocolate chip
cookies.
They are served on a button plate.
The stove has lock washer burners with a couple of pots and pans on the
surface.
There is a loaf of bread baking in the oven.
I found a picture on the internet and glued it to the back of the oven
front.
I used a piece of clear plastic in the door window and it looks quite
real.
The refrigerator has a trim on the top and
a butterfly sitting on it.
The smell of the baking bread probably lured him in.
The shelf that goes above the cupboard has some button dishes,
soda straw cut glasses and a few wooden bowls.
The table and chairs are also decorated with butterflies made for a
paint program tube.
The apples on the table are holly berry cuttings from a Christmas
garland.
The kitchen runner is what else--a washcloth cutting.
Below are the right, center and left photos of the finished kitchen.
This completes the Butterfly Cottage.
I hope you enjoyed the fantasy of one very pleased and happy creator.
This is not the end of the story.
Soon to follow will be the adventure of the "biker" who actually moves
into the cottage!