I wasn’t a huge fan of cartoons when I was young, but the ones I did like were: The Littles, whenever I got a sneak peak inside Jerry’s mouse-hole on Tom & Jerry, & Smurfs – lol, yeah – I loved matchbox bathtubs, sardine-can beds, & mushroom umbrellas… 🙂

This craft woke up that “inner child” in me… 🙂

I felt like the old toy-fixer-upper-guy in Toy Story 2 who was brought in to make Woody look as good as new – minus the magnifying glass attached to my eye, lol! 🙂

This project completely consumed me for a week – and led to a complete overhaul of my craft “stuff”. I needed to be able to SEE everything and have quick access while I was in “create mode”…

Ended up with quite a few empty containers once I was done! If anybody wants ’em, let me know…

While it did lead to better organization and being more efficient with the space I have, the “timing” of it contributed toward some of the chaotic-ness of our Christmas prep. Perhaps this year I’ll do this kind of stuff BEFORE December, lol?

Back to the doorstop. Originally, I wanted it to be a miniature garden for Mike’s mom because SHE IS gardens around here… But when I learned my 3 boys DID NOT enjoy “miniature creativity” like I did, that “garden idea” grew in me & it morphed into a wee bit more, lol…

In hindsight, I can see it is a completely non-practical gift. Certainly won’t hold up to little fingers or attention from pets… BUT GOSH WAS IT FUN! 🙂

It’s jam-packed with hidden meanings, too. Things I still haven’t sat down with Grandma to tell her. I guess this post will be my record as I study the pics – and I pray I make the same time commitment to share it with her. 🙂

So here goes – a description in words & pics:

Recycled bubble wrap helped level out my surface. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on LEVEL ground. (Psalms 143:10 NIV84)

Brick “bonnet” was the same as our other denim covered doorstops – just a unique front piece…

I added ruffle from some old curtains around the back/bottom of the bonnet because the added bubble wrap caused the bonnet to be too short…

I knew I wanted the top layer(s) removable – so the 2 parts are attached with velcro pieces.

Had fun shopping in the “dollhouse” section of a local craft store – the seed box, veggies/crate, garden tools, & flower pot were purchased. Then with matchsticks, pencils, rocks, moss, canning lids, & hot glue (and burnt finger tips from making the tool holder) the rest was formed…

This other side was attached to a piece of cardboad wrapped in quilt scrap material from a friend. This is the sewing/food prep side – two other hobbies that are big parts of Grandma… Made another matchstick table with pencil legs to hold the miniature sewing machine we bought. The piece of material that is being “sewn” is a piece of scrap material that Grandma used when she made comforter covers for the boys many years ago. 🙂

Bought the milk jugs/carrier, and couldn’t resist making one fallen over with milk (White-Out) spilling out. What kitchen doesn’t have an accident every now & then…?

Made the round table from a canning lid & small allen wrenches, covered with a piece of denim & an old doily as a tablecloth with strings woven through. I think my favorite part is the teeny tiny wedge added under a foot on the table to make it sturdy. Struck me as funny that this craft mimicked my “real-life”. No matter how hard I try, perfection is impossible! Always reminding myself of Paul’s words: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10 NIV84) Yes, even with wobbly miniature tables, I can practice being content with what I have, and rely on the Lord to inspire solutions or reveal an alternate route…so glad He incorporates our mistakes into His plan! 🙂