Today, I worked on the front iron storm door for my dollhouse. I previously made a similar door for The Rosedale Dollhouse and liked it so much that I wanted to create one for this project as well. I decided to add "iron works" to the glass panes of the door. This task turned out to be more challenging than I expected, taking several days to complete.
To start, I mixed black paint with metallic gold and copper to create a paint that resembles iron. Adjust the amount of gold to achieve your preferred shade. Store the paint in an airtight food container, as you will need it for touch-ups later, and custom mixes can't be color-matched.
Next, I replaced the door windows that came with the kit because they had silk screening, which wouldn't work for my "iron works." I found a sheet of clear acetate at a craft store, similar to the original windows. I'm glad I bought it when I did, as I've had trouble finding more since. Using the original windows as templates, I cut out my new ones. I then painted and assembled the door as usual. The metallic paint gives it an iron-like appearance. The tricky part was creating the "iron works." I took some pipe cleaners and removed all the fuzz using tweezers. I shaped them into my desired design for the window pane, which required a lot of trial and error and dry fitting. Tweezers were helpful for shaping along with my hands. After shaping, I painted the pipe cleaners with the same paint used on the door to ensure they matched. I glued the "iron works" into the window openings, applying glue where they met the sides rather than on the glass itself.
To improve the look of the interior windows, I covered them with wax paper, giving the panes a milky hue that conceals any glue or imperfections in the "iron works." I used a glue stick to attach the wax paper to the interior glass; other glues may show through. This covering not only hides flaws but also enhances visibility while allowing light in. Working with wax paper was challenging since it creases easily and those creases are permanent. It was difficult to dry fit it before getting it right. Make sure not to sandwich the wax paper between door parts during assembly; doing so makes replacement difficult if needed. Instead, apply it after assembling the door. You can also use gift tissue paper for a similar effect in various colors.
For my iron design, I used one whole piece of pipe cleaner for a main S shape and two smaller pieces for side swirls. After everything dried, I touched up the paint with a fine brush. The first door panel was tough, but making the second one was easier since I just had to replicate the design. These pieces are handmade, so there will be slight variations. Keep both panels together while working on the second one to ensure consistent swirl heights.
I plan to add raised nail sets later but can't do so now because they would interfere with sanding. It's important to sand these doors significantly so they fit properly in their openings, especially since I'll be hinging them later. The hard part is done; now it's time for finishing touches!
