🌿How to Make Miniature Garden Accessories🌹 

I knew you would 'get it', Ara. Smiling from ear to ear, my friend. xoxo

Don’t you own this channel?

Oh, @Aunty Mammalia...like you, I am newly emerging into the lighter realms, and am so grateful for companions along the way: let's thrive together, my friend! xoxo

All the teensy tiny thingies, Donna! They have stolen my heart, girl. xoxo

Dear Robyn...we all need quiet moments to rejuvenate the Spirit. It means the world to me that you found a bit of peace here. May you find that these moments appear just when you need them most. Watching the birds and squirrels frolic outside my window helps to calm my internal tempest. We're surrounded by reminders of the miracle of creation, although I often ignore them. Let's keep putting one foot in front of the other, in spite of the darkness. Better days lie ahead. 😘

Hi Heather, Thank you for your lovely reply. Yes we all must look for the good in our lives and not let the chaos that is happening affect us. Have a great day. It is 7.30am here in Perth, Australia and after my early morning walk, am now having a cuppa to start the day. Will now have to check out your other videos. Take care. Cheers Robyn ❤️😊

What a lovely thing to say, my friend. Thank you. I hope you enjoy the project as much as I did!

I'm so glad! Thank you, Hazel. May your day be filled with unexpected moments of grace, my friend. xoxo

Hi Elizabeth! Hee hee! I love it...this was quite the adventure, girl. Still basking! xoxo

Oh, I'm glad you found it useful, Zaki. Thank you. The world of designing printables is a whole different animal, my friend. If I ever feel as though I've mastered it, I may share the process.

Dear @Aurinko ja Kuu - it makes me happy that you sense the deeper messages. Creativity is such a wonderful way to share our hearts. xoxo

Such a lovely response to the video, Linda. Thank you!😍

Dear Rosie 🌹- thank YOU for sharing the experience with me! xoxo

Dear Sue: firstly, thank YOU for your thoughtful message here - everyone likes to know that their work is appreciated! Glad it's not boring - I do worry about that sometimes! xoxo

Heather Tracy I think I speak for many when I say I can’t get enough of your work. I don’t think you have the capacity to be boring.

@@Witchat1and70 The Darling Man might just beg to differ, girl - but Thank You for being so very kind, my friend. 😅😘🌹

Heather Tracy 😂

Oh, and I can't wait to share it with you @therettavad! Working on final stages as we speak! xoxo

What a kind remark, my friend. I hope you enjoy the process as much as I have. 😘

Oh, Faye...I am so happy right now. I know that focusing on the Cricut Maker may be a bit 'narrow', but I am SO excited about the possibilities it holds for us I can't help myself...personally, I have found that my Creativity has skyrocketed since working with it - not to mention my productivity....stuff that used to take days of painstaking fussy cutting is now completed in a couple of hours - WOW! xoxo

That passage, detailing the dawning of hope and the renewal of life just GETS me, every single time, Shirley...it says it all. Thank you for dreaming with me! xoxo

Oh, @Tracey S: this is so good to hear! They will treasure your work forever....xoxo

You're so welcome! Thank YOU, Sarah! xoxo

Hi Joni! Thank you for finding me, my friend - and thank you for your kindness. xoxo

Oh, dear Daphne...your words bring such contentment to my rusty old heart: this new direction - the minis + the Maker has filled me with such Creative Joy, I can't even begin to describe the sense of renewal and excitement that is coursing through my veins, girl. So blessed - beyond imagining! To bring together the long years of grunge-study with this newfound love of minis is a dream come true. As to the 'queen' business? Pffft! I'm perfectly content to just putter along with my messy ways! All the best to you and yours, my friend: today and always. xoxo

Hee hee! Yay! xoxo

Oh, my goodness! Goosebumps! It thrills me to learn that you find real value here, my friend: thank you from the bottom of my heart! xoxo

Oh, that's such a sweet thing to say, Jan: thank you for being YOU, girl! xoxo

Whoa! That is just about the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me, girl. To help other folks explore creativity, and have a fabulous time doing it is my Mission, darling. This message of encouragement will be forever cherished. Thank you, @Gothic Mom. 😘

@@Thicketworks Well, thank you! I just went to the"Foundling" page too. (As well as FB) so Im hooked💀💀

Totally! That's a great idea.

Das Tinchen Geht mir ganz genau so. Könnte ich stundenlang zusehen. Und zuHÖREN 😉

@@ElisabethHeinemann Jaaa! Sie ist einfach genial! 👍❤

Ihr seid beide so nett, meine Freunde. Danke. xoxo

Dear Tinchen: I wonder if you know how much it means to me to see your lovely encouragement here? I hope you realize the light that you shine: it's bright and beautiful! xoxo

@@Thicketworks ❤❤❤

Oh, obrigado, meu amigo: esse é um velho truque de modelagem em escala - eu simplesmente amo o quão rápido ele funciona! xoxo

Thank YOU: if it weren't for you, none of this would mean much, my friend. xoxo

Awesome, Brittany! Love your spirit, girl. You can use this free online conversion tool to turn the svg's into a PDF, if you like: cloudconvert.com/svg-to-pdf xoxo

Dear @Sister Kyoya - Firstly, considering how difficult it must be to sustain keyboarding for the duration of your incredible message: Thank you. Thank you for making the effort, for investing the time and for sharing such details about your life and circumstances with me. The richness of your language is a joy to read - and it brought me right there with you, as you struggled to cut pieces for your beloved minis, as you fought to hold onto your creativity in the face of challenges that no one should have to face. My respect is immense for your fortitude, your tenacity and your dedication to Making. As you know, I tend to wax a bit Evangelical when it comes to the Cricut Maker...this is in spite of the fact that I intensely dislike the corporate policies of Provocraft, and have nothing but contempt for the way they have disregarded their loyal users over the years. Regardless of the nonsense at the company level, the Maker IS like having a another person (or even a TEAM of people) to help us. The 'grunt work' is handled, and we get to focus on designing, assembling or sewing, finishes, etc. I've alienated quite a few of the folks who feel excluded by my insistence on the intense power and possibility of this technology, and it's a bit painful to watch them go...BUT, the reality is that I am here to serve creativity, and the Maker is the most powerful creative tool that us 'little people' can get our hands on. No, it's not cheap. And yes, it's worth going without a few luxuries to obtain it...because, as you so eloquently put it: "the possibilities are endless". I'm thrilled to know that you are fluent in Adobe Illustrator - there will be NO stopping you. The combination of vector design skills + the Maker will carry you SO far, girl. I hear precisely the same level of excitement from you that I feel myself: I literally have difficulty sleeping, eating, doing ANYTHING but designing and building with the Maker - it is the center of my creative Universe, and it will keep me busy for the rest of my life. I hear YOUR creative vistas opening up as you contemplate the vast alteration in your workflow that will take place once October rolls around! I am SO excited and happy for you - and I'm so grateful to have heard from you today. Thank you.

About the Baking Soda issue: YES! You can substitute Baking Powder - and I wouldn't be surprised if other inert powders would work as well - so, use your best judgement, experiment with what you have available, and find your best solution, my friend. 😘💗🌹

​@@Thicketworks Sorry for the late reply, I kept forgetting to check back to see if you commented. Two days ago my Hubby asked me to price the Maker so he would know what sort of budget we were looking for. I automatically came to this video to grab the link to the blog post to make sure I would have all the supplies for this project. :D I am STILL drooling over it. I've been madly doing research as to the wider range of things the Maker can do and I'm completely amazed. Still shocked at how many people *don't* seem to use it for miniatures! Seriously, why not?? I told my husband that I could likely spend the amount for the Maker just buying shaped hole punches to make miniature plants. Even outfits for the tiny 11cm bodies still run about $25 each plus shipping from Japan. So in the long run the Maker is a bargain in my mind. Plus I can finally use the supplies I have on hand. My fabric room is getting out of control. XD The last couple of days my mind has been starting to race over all the projects I can do. Many of which I gave up on years ago because the tedious nature of a lot of them when it simply came to cutting out. It is also giving me new uses for old graphics I drew and could envision the projects but redoing them by hand was not acceptable to my OCD, leaving them trapped in a digital format. One of them was a remake of a bunny I drew as a kid one day when I decided to make my own paper doll. She ended up with a couple of friends as well as a Halloween and Christmas backdrops/sets, accessories, and a few extra clothes. I'm not really a card maker but I did them as a card design on Zazzle because it was the only place it made sense at the time. Learning about the versatility of the Maker and SVG files in general for crafting, it seems as if I have the right format to finally make them a reality. And with an SVG file it could be used for more than just making cards. Personally I'd love to make some other projects with one of the bunny's pet sheep. xD I have absolutely lived in Illustrator since I got it many years ago. I tried Inkscape first but just couldn't wrap my mind around how to make it work. I literally could not figure out how to draw a single line. But not even 5 minutes in Illustrator and I was drawing up a storm. My OCD tends to get so bad that I had virtually stopped drawing by hand because images weren't matching what was in my head. Illustrator fixed all that. I love Illustrator's ease of use and accuracy so much I use it for drafting sewing patterns. I am beyond thrilled that I can now design tiny furniture and anything else my heart desires. I did some graphics last year as I was designing some logos for a couple of my miniature shop signs I want to work on but was hugely frustrated at trying to figure out how to cut the small pieces by hand and still have it look right. At times like that my OCD really hates me. It often pops up in my sewing too. Once I was doing a stitch & stuff type project (sew two pieces of fabric together, slit the back fabric, stuff it & stitch the seam back together to make a raised design) and in my head my OCD was screaming at me that my stitches were 'huge!' :| The reality was I was using the holes *between* the fabric threads as my spacing. Literally one thread spacing. I couldn't even see where my stitches were because they disappeared into the fabric. On my bad days marking and cutting out patterns is just as horrid. I absolutely love crafting and sewing but my OCD sure doesn't make it easy, even if my results blow my family members away. I'm still trying to fathom what it will be like with the Maker and not having my OCD make me so miserable that I struggle to continue while getting projects done at lightening speed. XD There was even a felt project I wanted to do as a kid from a Christmas ornament craft book but could never figure out for the life of me how to cut out the pieces accurately. I keep getting shocked when I suddenly stop and remember another old project that the Maker would allow me to do. I am overwhelmingly happy. Thank you so much for you doing what you do. I couldn't ever say thank you enough for helping me realize how much of an asset a cutting machine is, and that it isn't just something for people who need it for a business. I was so excited today about getting it (still don't know the specifics of when yet) that I made mat templates for myself in Illustrator so I can start putting my projects together. LOL! I have quite a lot of doll clothes that can be easily converted and mostly need the layout rearranged. Even if I have to wait a few weeks, I surely won't be bored. :D Still though, the waiting is hard. xD I do have one small question about the SVG files: Does the Maker use the vector paths as the cut lines or the image outline? I noticed in the garden set SVG that there was stroke width/line weight on the pieces and just wasn't sure what the Maker paid attention to.

@@Thicketworks Thank you for that info! I wasn't sure if it was just the powder aspect that was doing most of the 'work' but I assumed there was a bit of a chemical reaction. Great to know that something else can be substituted. I actually was curious about super fine brown rice flour (I grind & sift mine at home) because even with the finest sifting it still has a bit of a grit feel to it. :D Still thinking if there is a non-food equivalent to that level of grit but I'm still pondering it. I just think superfine grit would be handy. I should look to see if there is something like that in model railroading supply places. Or just buy another superfine sieve and use it on sand. :)

@@JChiibs Yes! This is precisely what I am trying to convey: our vistas grow exponentially when we allow the prospect of digital designing + cutting tech + hand finishing! Design Space, (the application used to run the Maker) defaults to the vector paths for cut lines (any stroke is ignored), but for Print Then Cut images, one can set a 'bleed', therefore extending the colorization beyond the cut line. I hope this answers your question!

Well, thank you, my friend! Creating this set of tiny tools brought me many hours of happiness...it makes me glad to know you like the project - that's very kind of you. xoxo

@@Thicketworks XOXO

They might be mine, too! (shhhh! don't let the others minis hear us!😊) xoxo

¡Oh, gracias, Aurelia! Tal trabajo de amor, querida. ¡Abrazos!

What a lovely thing to say - thank you!

Oh, thank you, darling Monica! Hugs! xoxo

Heather!!!! That's the amazing thing about the Maker - it makes it possible to design and prototype in RECORD time - oh my goodness - SO exciting, girl! xoxo

Oh, I'm so happy you like the wheelbarrow, Sarah - that was SUCH fun to create! And you are very welcome, my friend. I LOVE to share! xoxo

Gracias Cristina, mi amiga! 😍🌹😘

Hi Rob - and thank you, my friend. xoxo

Hey, @Chimp Alien Baby! (love your handle!) thank YOU for being awesome! xoxo

Yay! Thanks, Neta. xoxo

I am so grateful to GET to share the magic, Dianne...thank YOU! xoxo

Hey there, @melisseus! I like to think of the superglue / baking soda as either Pauper's Bondo or Paper Welding! Magic stuff, my friend. And I'm glad you enjoyed the variety of pieces: so fun! xoxo

Oh, that's fantastic, Naomi! I'm thrilled you're gonna make 'em! Yay! xoxo

Awww - thank you, Diana! xoxo

Anastasia! This was SUPER fun to do...and it thrills me that you like it, darling: Thank you! BIG HUGS! xoxo

It's Jo! Hello, darling! I can't tell you how much your kind message means to me: thank you from the bottom of my rusty old heart, girl! xoxo

How do I do it? I have no freaking idea, woman! Aside from passion, crazed desire, infinite stubbornness, and a crazy dream! Vacation? Um, nope. I live for this! Get that darned machine up n running poste haste! Huge hugs, my dear friend. xoxo

Excellent! That's the whole point, Joanne - developing resources that will be of real use to folks! Yay! xoxo

Oh, I love those ideas, Maria! You always have such a lovely imagination...thank you, girl. xoxo

Robbin!!! This was SO intensely absorbing and delightful to design, I can't even tell you - words fail. Suffice to say: I learned a LOT, and am filled with ever more fascinating (to me, anyway) ideas that I cannot WAIT to share! Hold onto your Magic, girl: it's your Birthright! xoxo

And you are so sweet, Zenda! Thank you for the fantastic support! 😍

Yay! This was SO much fun. I can't wait to explore more tiny tools - there is SO much to create! xoxo

Oh, that is so very kind of you, Ruth - thank you, my friend. xoxo

Oh, making these little guys is a TON of fun, Elizabeth! xoxo

Ha! Girl, I don't blame you, and I'll gladly TAKE the blame - because: DUH! You need this creative power in your life! xoxo

@@Thicketworks lol thank you ;) for taking the blame ;D 💜💜💜

You are welcome anytime, my friend. Looking forward to the lemonade and snacks...Oh, I love The Little Prince, too! Your daughter was fortunate to have such a loving parent...It makes me very happy that you feel inspired to create The Secret Garden! xoxo

The fact that you choose to watch, even though you don't have a Maker is so kind, Elizabeth: thank you, girl. That means SO much. And, omg - a meditation CD? Yikes - scary beans, Missy! (but bless you for the kindness!) xoxo

Heather Tracy 🙏🏼😘

I am SO very pleased that you think so, Carolyn: thank you! xoxo

Thank you, my friend. You absolutely CAN use PVA if you choose. A couple of caveats: the items will not become as rigid and durable, and they will not have resistance to moisture. If those issues don't concern one, then use PVA, by all means. xoxo

@@Thicketworks Thanks Heather, great reply and you're right, PVA doesn't give you the hard shell that superglue does so it might not be suitable in all cases. All the best and take care :)

Hi Rosemary! This was such a delight, my friend. I'm thrilled you like it! xoxo

Hello, Anastasia! It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance...thank you for the lovely message: greatly appreciated, my friend. Let's make fun stuff! xoxo

The human imagination is our playground, Margaret! I'm so excited that you are here to play, too! xoxo

Oh, grazie mille, amica mio. Ho veramente amato ogni minuto! baci baci

So fun, Cindy! Pure creative bliss, girl. xoxo

@@Thicketworks I love miniatures and you make magic xoxo

Well, that's a lovely thing to say, Annette: thank you! I hope you enjoy the process as much as I did, my friend. xoxo

Hi Susan! One of the wonderful things about the maker is that the cuts are so darn accurate - making it so enjoyable to put together a 'kit' like this...I'm so happy that you enjoyed this little romp, my friend. xoxo

So sorry about your arm, girl! Praying for a quick recovery for you. Loving the sound of your project - beautiful ideas!

Oh, I DO glue myself to EVERYTHING, Donna: I just don't find it particularly appealing to FILM that aspect! 😅😜You have NO idea what a mess I make and what a mess I AM! Hugs! xoxo

Oh, thank you, @DM_ Momma - I had such fun with this. xoxo

Yay! Thank YOU, Denise - it delights me no end to share the fun! xoxo

Your greenhouse project sounds delicious. Glad to hear that you might find this little collection useful! This is roughly 1:12 scale - at least, that was the intention. The items should look at home in a 1:12 scale environment.

Ara is AH-Mazing. She just appeals to me in so many ways: her skills, her humor, her twisted vision, and her sheer generosity. Thank you for subscribing, @Miagothful! xoxo

That's an excellent question, @Sylvio Paquet - and the answer is: I'm not sure. While I know it will stand up to extreme heat, I've not tested it with prolonged exposure to rain or freezing. I suspect that in order to render chipboard truly impervious to the elements, impregnating it with resin might be a more durable option.

Well, I guess there's one way to find out. I'll have an answer in the fall 😀

Here is a direct link to the zip file: thicketworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Thicketworks-Secret-Garden-Tools.zip

Hello, @Foxiepaws ACAnderson ! It's a pleasure to hear from you today. Thank you so much for subscribing: Ara is amazing. Electronic cutting machines in general are total game changers for making minis in just about ANY scale, but the Cricut Maker is the Creme de la Creme - because it is SO powerful and can cut through the thinnest fabrics or 2.5 mm Balsa Wood. The superglue hardening process is MAGIC! xoxo

This process was SO fun, Sandra. Thank you for watching, my friend. xoxo

Dear Lord, girl - thank you for the head's up! Not to make an excuse, but, DANG, I was finishing up that post at 4 am, after pulling an all nighter to finish the edit, so making a mistake like that was almost inevitable...😉 I appreciate you letting me know, AndreaJane - the link is corrected now, my friend. Thanks again for the head's up, and I hope you have fun with the project. xoxo

Hi Debbie! These are SO fun to make...I understand the frustration of not having an electronic cutter - there were many years that I yearned for one before I finally bit the bullet and dove in. Unfortunately, I'm not (currently) in a position to create kits, but it is certainly something I'm considering for the future. In the meanwhile you may want to look into whether or not there is a Maker Space in your town - Maker Spaces are incredible community resources, and they often have some type of electronic cutter available for use. There is often a small fee required, but it's also possible that someone associated with the Maker Space would be willing to cut the files for you, perhaps in exchange for a completed set of the Mini Garden Tools?

Hi Lori. Thank you for your kindness, my friend. Here is the direct link to the blog post: thicketworks.com/miniature-garden-tools/ Once you are on the post, click the large text that says: "Free Secret Garden Accessories SVG Bundle © 2019" This will trigger a popup dialog box that prompts you to download the .zip file. There are certain files that mobile devices have difficulty with. If you are able to access the site via a laptop or PC you should have success. Thank you for inquiring about my shop. You can find all of my published commercial svg files here: www.etsy.com/shop/ThicketworksStudio/ Thanks again, and I hope you enjoy the project. xoxo