Cabin at Boondocks

So this project was for a friend who I promised something special when this Covid thing was over.  Well, its not over and not sure it will ever be, but wanted to give her something anyway.  They own a resort on Bull Shoals Lake, in the city of Midway.  This is replica (sorta) of one of their cabins.  

I have taken some artistic license here as it is just a façade and not a whole cabin.  Each one of the cabins come with its own grill and trash can that we have incorporated.  They also have a few resident cats on the property which you will see on this porch.  All their  lawn furniture is cedar and I came as close to the original design as I could.  This picture is taken from her deck.  They sat this little replica on the rail with the lake behind it.  Such a pretty sky on this day!  

I will show you where it all began.  We started with a card stock pattern.  And a base purchased at Michaels  and painted to look at like concrete as the base of their cabins are concrete.  

Next came the foam core walls from the pattern.  

Then the siding was cut from wood pieces like popsicle sticks but different.  Not as wide and square on the ends.  Each one is cut and then painted...oh yes....painted twice to cover.  Then they are placed on the foam core and over lapped like the siding on their cabins.

Progress! 

Corner supports are put into place and the door and trim is painted.

They have metal wainscoting and I used the inside of a cardboard box painted with silver paint to replicate it.  I also found some cool oars to hand on the wall.  I finished off the top of the wainscoting with a sill or small shelf.  

The roof was next.  The shingles were cut from sand paper and over lapped like a shingled roof would be.  You will notice that the side walls are angled for the pitch of the roof.  

Now the railing for the deck of the cabin.  You can see I already started adding some detail.  It is hard not to add detail as you go.  You get anxious for the fun stuff and the building is not that...!  I found this cute trash can at Hobby Lobby and it is just like the ones they have at each cabin including the black trash can liner.  They don't have wreaths on the door but maybe they should have.

Then came adding detail to the inside.  A couple of  shelves made of bass wood and painted red for some pop.  I have never been inside one of the cabins so I used a bit of artistic license and tried to give them what they might need in a cabin.  

We have crackers to snack on, a sandwich and chips (sandwich is made of craft foam and paper for lettuce and lunchmeat that is dampened and formed and painted to resemble the real thing.  Chips are dried green pepper seeds.)  We also have some marshmallows and roasting forks.  Ah, a Baby Ruth made of clay and the wrapper is a printable, as are the boxes.  Soda cans and bottles are also form Hobby Lobby as are the plates and silverware.  The glasses are tops of pens. 

The tackle box is made of bass wood and sanded to round the edges. Inside is a tray that is not very visible here but it has small hooks made from jewelry wire and beads make great lures.  The rod is made from a chop stick and jewelry wire and the reel is a bit of wood that is carved and covered with thread.  A bit of wire to make the handle.  Electricians tape makes the handle of the rod.  The lantern I also found at Hobby Lobby.  I stained the top of the shelf with some antiquing stain. 

You can see here the curtain that is a real thin material that is checked.  It is glued to form the gathers and then glued to the window trim.  You can see the beginning of the fern plant made with the aid of a paper punch and a wooden planter.  

The chair is made from craft sticks and is burned to try and match the finish they have one the real one.

The grill is made from an plastic ornament also from Hobby Lobby.  Some small wooden sticks that come in a package, a little larger then tooth picks make up the legs, painted with silver paint and buttons make the wheels.  The rock is from my yard!  and the greenery is cut from leaves that are found in the bridal department at Hobby Lobby.  I owe a lot of my finds to Hobby Lobby. They have wire in them and are pliable.  I found the beer glass on Amazon and used a lot of them in my gasthaus in the beer garden and on the bar.  The charcoal is also a printable with seed beads in it for the charcoal.  The handles on the drill are staples and I used one as a hook to hold the lid in place.  There is also one on the top to lift the lid.  Tie wire is used for the grill.  The steaks are made of clay. 

 

 The stool is made from craft sticks and small wooden dowels. 

The fern is made with paper punch and you can see the flower petals in the background.  You can see how they are made in the tutorial on this blog.

The plant hanger is a jewelry finding, bent to form the shape and painted black.  Pots are made of clay that I put holes in to accept the wire hangers.  Here is the fern in place on the shelf.

And there you have it.  Months and months of work but so much fun. From start to finish.