Detailing the Exterior

I decided to lighten the colors of the exterior just a shade and I like it much better. The first thing I did to the roof was to variegate the color for a rain runoff, weathered look. I dry brushed on a lighter color blue and added a silver wash to make it look weather beaten.

I needed to add a base to the house so I could keep the steps from getting torn off when I turned it around so I used plywood sub-flooring and added a little chunky wooden "concrete" wall to it so my house could set into the base but still be lifted off for getting to the wiring if needed. I glued the steps to the base instead of the house.


I will probably have to cut a hole in the side of the base to reach the light switch with my finger so the house won't have to be tipped to turn on the lights. I can do that.

The next thing I did was to put down some brick and stone (cardboard) walks with grout, add moss sheets for grass and a little moss between the bricks, then I started thinking about bushes, flowers and vines. I have to remember not to glue anything to the base AND the sides of the house together. I will have to make the vines on the house just look like they are growing out of the ground.

So I got my greenery cut and made some bushes and climbers for the outside of the house.

I used a hot glue gun to fasten the greenery to the base and the walls. I hate hot glue guns... I always get burned. Now I have a blister under my thumb.    :(  I guess I need a glue gun safety class.

I wanted to add little surprise touches to the house. I want to add a light to the porch, maybe a mailbox and some house numbers... I thought of a little bird nest and some birds near the chimney and... it may be the project that never ends but I want to eventually put plexi-glass walls on the back to keep the dust out so it can be displayed. I could make them sliding into a frame instead of hinged... you see how this can be dragged out.

To make a stopping point to my project, I'm going to do a grand tour of the house while I get started on another project. So - tour coming up!