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This one is for the little girl in all of US!
I actually got to do some fun stuff in the craft/doll room this week. A doll club friend asked for some help setting up a 'Christmas Party' diorama for our holiday party.
The party was held at a local library (one I had nver been to,) so with a rough idea of how we might set something up and a bunch of questions and answers as to exactly what the theme was to be...it was settled a winter wonderland type formal party setting with a dance floor, band, photo op spot, and just some winter lusciousness.
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This was a temporary setup of how an acrylic lighted dance floor might look with a backdrop of trees and lights.
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After the first run with the lights, I decided to really put them in a straight line...the haphazard look wasn't working. I coated the acrylic plastic with washable kids glue clear and then 'basically decoupaged some snowflake tissue on to it. It worked pretty well. I'm hoping I will be able to soak it off later. I may use it for a doll story.
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My goal was to use as much stuff as I already had. I did purchase the tissue 2 packages at $1.47,. glue was like $2.76. I mounted the wood beams (painted silver acrylic) and double stick taped them to a piece of foam core. The measurements of the floor are 24" x 18". The lights were plug in and began at the far end of the stage, you can see the stage footlights reflected on my backdrop.
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I had hoped the tables at the library would be as deep as my work table (30")
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I covered a hunk of packaging styrofoam...the thick dense white stuff around fragile electronics. I covered this with my trusty matte silver poster board. I poked holes through the edge of the foam and inserted the lights up from bottom...roughly 1" apart.
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This is my old trusty mini stage from gosh my 2017 Halloween Bash...it looked rough...so I also covered this and made a similar footlight of the poster board. Everything was applied with double stick foam tape.
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Another necessity was to have some seating. Since it was too cold to spray paint all my dollar store chairs...I covered them with some tissue squares and tape. A sweet tie of ribbon across the back. Tables had a cohesive table cloth square and a simple tree for a centerpiece.
I did not do this photp---it was an inspiration photo backdrop on Pinterest (real size). I could not find the original source, and it's been used a million times. My friend really liked the idea of a photo op-spot for the dolls everyone would bring to the meeting.
I used the wall backdrops with trees and lights and my trusty cake pillars. These are actually the ones for the Grandview with all kinds of velcro which I utilized to stabilize the dome which is a baseball cap drying frame I've had for years. I did buy 4 sprigs of white berries for 1/2 price at $1.00 each. The glass balls I had on hand from past projects and the battery lights---two strings
Meanwhile the dance floor is hopping, and the band plays on.
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This was a very popular spot for couple shots.
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This couple was waiting their turn in the gazebo.
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Stunning dress on this doll and he's pretty sharp, too.
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These girls were waiting for their turns...for Christmas cards for MOM. Custom dresses on an early Midge and a Handkerchief design on Barbie.
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Here's an over view of the bar area...left- where a group of characters showed up to party. Santa was first up to the modified 'Gloria' bar. The Ugly sweater crew showed up looking adorable!.
The dance floor is to the right. Two more pillars support a rod with my mirror ball lights I've also had for years and never used but for the Billie Holiday Special last Spring. The 18" floor just fit with the snow and trees in front of the white backdrops.
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Everyone placed their dolls where they wanted to party---um this girl must have started very early and was definitely a 'bargirl' and carried her chair everywhere.
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To the left of the bar were a bunch of tables ...the Serious shoppers landed here.
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They also had theatre tickets for after the party.
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The more sedate crowd, Silkstone party girls, were all decked out and enjoying the ambiance.
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Custom dresses on the two on the right.
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Great couples dressed for serious partying.
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The entire event was video'd by our trusty photographer.
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Zara on the violin, Jin on the guitars,
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Tres on Drums, while Sonnie is on Sax and clarinet.
An Barbie Advent calendar doll enjoyed the song sets, too.
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Gregory is ready with the French horn and horns.
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And look who popped in to do some Holiday music...
"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..."
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Ella backs him up...and oh, they sounded great.
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"The weather outside is frightful...."
A couple of very vintage dolls enjoyed the great band vibes.
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The whole display went up in less than two hours, and down in 20 minutes with lots of help.
Four 5'tables 21" wide....and we made it work! A total of 20-feet of lit diorama filled with dolls!
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I really should have snuck some Mistletoe in there...
who wouldn't love to KISS a guy in a pink tuxedo!
Happy Holidays...a great time was had by ALL!
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Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi
Sandi: What a blast. Those are some beautiful dolls and costumes. That must be so much fun with a lot of thought and time put into it all. Love your Ken and Barbie under the gazebo. They would get first prize from me. Merry Christmas my friend. ..xxoJudy
ReplyDeleteThanks Judy, it was fun, but I found myself worn out..and ended up doing minimal in our home for the holidays. We did get the tree up...but photos and stories, just don't exist...maybe next year. Happy New Year and thanks for visiting! Sandi
DeleteYou are so clever! What great fun -- you had to have had a ball putting this together (no pun intended!)
ReplyDeleteIt was lots of fun, I'm going to try and unload the boxes ---this week. Just ran out of gas this year...but Christmas was still full of family fun! Hugs and Happy New Year! Sandi
DeleteThat turned out Fabulous!!! You are so madly Creative my Friend. That Frank Sinatra Doll looks just like him!!! I liked the Sax Player Doll's Hair.
ReplyDeleteHi, Dawn...thanks so much---yes, that Sax guy is Sonnie, and I got him at the doll convention as a table prize in 2022. He is very expressive and yes, gorgeous. He may be the third in the Colette, Gerard triangle to move their story forward.
DeleteBeautiful post
ReplyDeleteThanks so much...Rajani.
DeletePlease read my post
ReplyDeleteI'm content in my personal beliefs and am no longer exploring. But best wishes to you and your blog. Sandi
DeleteHappy New Year! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteOh, and same to you Maristella. Let us hope the New Year brings us all some peace. Sandi
Delete