1. Hobbies & Games

Discuss in my forum

Make Miniature Plants and Flowers for Dolls House, Railroad and Model Scenes

Use These Instructions to Make a Range of Plants and Flowers in Several Scales.

By , About.com Guide

Miniature plants and flowers are useful decorations for scenes in all model and dollhouse scales. They can help set a time reference, and add to the background and color theme. The instructions for these plants use simple techniques and mainly feature petals punched with common craft punches.

1. Make Miniature Roses

Miniature glass vase for a dolls house with an arrangement of pink paper roses.Photo ©2008 Lesley Shepherd, Licensed to About.com Inc.

Miniature roses are a staple for floral displays, landscape displays for railroads, villages, and dolls houses, and useful as decorations for special gifts and cakes.

2. Make Miniature Tulips

Tiny reproductions of rare tulips; viridiflora and Silver Standard in dolls house scale.Photo copyright 2009 Lesley Shepherd, Licensed to About.com Inc.

Make designer or cottage tulips using simple paper punches and these instructions. These are more detailed than the roses, but you can get good results and create a range of tulip colors and shapes.[/p]

3. Make Tiny Crocus for Spring Model Scenes

Dollhouse scale paper crocus in a flower pot.Photo © 2012 Lesley Shepherd

The tiny crocus are shown here in 1:12 scale but you can make them smaller or larger if you can find an appropriate sized paper punch. As with the other plants on this list, you can mimic your choice of varieties if you carefully observe the characteristics of real crocus.

4. Make Miniature Pussy Willow Branches

1:12 scale realistic dollhouse miniature pussy willow branches set into a bead vasePhoto Copyright 2011 Lesley Shepherd

Most people who see these can't believe their eyes. The tiny pussy willows, made from flocking, are extremely realistic. These branches are wonderful in a range of spring scenes, or combined with the miniature birds nest

5. Make Miniature Lilies

Dolls house scale lilies arranged in a printable miniature jug.Photo copyright 2009 Lesley Shepherd, Licensed to About.com Inc.

Lilies can be made for miniature gardens, or as flowers for arrangements or bouquets. With an almost endless color range, lilies can be adapted for a range of color schemes and period arrangements. They are simple to make using assorted common paper punches.

The jug shown here as a flower container is available as a printable in several dolls house scales

6. Make Miniature Water Lilies

Waterlily flowers are glued to the edges of leaves ready to place in a dollhouse scale fish pond.Photo © 2011 Lesley Shepherd
Water lilies add color to ponds, fish pools and lakes. They are easy to make with curved scissors or a simple 'daisy' type paper punch.

7. Make Miniature Flag Iris

Dollhouse flag iris planted beside a miniature fish pond made from florist's foam.Photo © 2011 Lesley Shepherd
You can use a simple daisy punch or teardrop punch to make flag iris from paper, paint and wire. I use a one inch punch for 1:12 scale iris, and have made them as small as 1/48 scale with smaller punches. Daisy punches also work for making lilies and Calla lilies.

8. Make Miniature Calla Lily Plants and Flowers

Dollhouse scale calla lily planted in a miniature pot.Photo © 2011 Lesley Shepherd

Calla lilies are easily made from paper and wire using a tear drop or daisy shaped punch or hand cut petals. They can be made in a range of colors and are easily made in smaller scales for railroad landscaping alongside house or water features.

9. Make Miniature Marigolds and Cockscomb Flowers

Finished marigold and cockscomb flowers shown with a miniature sugar skull for the Day of the DeadPhoto copyright 2009 Lesley Shepherd, Licensed to About.com Inc.

Make miniature marigolds (Cempazuchitl) and cockscomb flowers for dolls house floral arrangements or to decorate tiny Day of the Dead shrines. These flowers are made from tissue paper, thread and wire.

10. Make a Scale Miniature Chrysanthemum

Tiny potted plants can be used for dolls house scenes, or made in smaller scales for a floral display in a model railroad or village scene. They can also be used as fridge magnets, or given to friends with no space for full size plants.

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.

A part of The New York Times Company.