Michael's Arts & Crafts Unfinished Miniature Cupboards Offer Versatily for Miniaturists

Every miniaturist has purchased at least one of the unfinished wooden cupboards from Michael's Arts & Crafts. The little cupboards are just right for one inch scale dollhouses and scenes and at a price of one dollar we just can't pass them up. However after the purchase is made and the cupboard is in the house waiting to be finished the problem begins.

There are several basic cupboard designs and depending on which design you buy it may determine the use for your cupboard. Some of the cupboards are open and serve well as bookcases. Other cupboards have doors on hinges. The doors may be the full length of the cupboard or they may just be small doors on either the top or bottom of the cupboard. Some even have open doors on the top and solid doors on the bottom.

Many miniaturists choose to "bash" the cupboards changing them to fit their needs. I choose to work with the cupboards as they are changing only their appearance by adding paint, finish and some accessories.

I love to apply faux finishes to the cupboards. They are immediately changed from a very inexpensive piece of dollhouse furniture to a much more acceptable piece of furniture. Oftentimes I apply a faux finish to the body of the cupboard and leave the trim natural. I apply a spray acrylic finish to the painted cupboard. If the cupboard has open doors I will cut a thin piece of clear acrylic to fit the opening. The finished appearance is very nice.

Some of the cupboards I only apply a spray acrylic finish on. The wood looks very nice with just this small amount of work. I then add accessories to create a kitchen cupboard, sewing room cupboard or other specific theme. Again, if there are open doors I do add a think acrylic pane of "glass" to the doors after the cupboard has been given a coat of finish.

Painting the cupboard with one color of acrylic paint is another easy and effective way to change the appearance of the cupboard. By painting the cupboard one color you can coordinate the cupboard to fit into the scene or room that you will be using it in. After the cupboard is painted with a coat of acrylic paint I sand it with a small piece of brown paper bag and then give it another coat of paint. I repeat this process until I am satisfied with the finish. I again add a pane of thin acrylic to any open doors. I fill the cupboard with items to fit into the room or scene. The doors may be left open or closed for a surprise by viewers.

These little cupboards are fun to work with. The possibilities are endless. The low cost of these cupboards make them a great resource to fill empty spaces in dollhouses or scenes.