Make your own attractive dollhouse tiles

Grab that piece of old cedar and make your own dollhouse shingles. Follow these quick and easy steps:

First, start with a 1 ½-inch-wide, ½-inch-thick piece of cedar that is at least a foot long for ease of handling.

Second, using your bandsaw, every ¾ inch, make a 1 inch deep cut across the width of 1 and 1/2 inches along the long side of the foot. Your piece will look like a long, thick comb.

Next. at the top outside edge of each 1-inch cut, make a V-groove with a V-groove bit to get an angled effect for each shingle. Imagine a beveled edge on each tooth of the comb.

Finally, using your bandsaw again, rip 1/8-inch strips across the entire length of the foot for a thin comb effect. A single point fence will help keep the thickness to 1/8 inch. A coarse tooth saw blade will help to get that rough sawn look.

And now, your shingles are ready to use. Simply cut them to the required length, layer them to get your desired look, and hot glue them into place.

To add character and a more weathered look to your home, apply a paint wash by diluting shades of brown or gray acrylic paint and brushing it onto the shingles. Add more detail by painting grain on some of the shingles with a very fine brush and applying another wash. This overlap of washes provides depth. For more contrast, spray an adhesive in several spots and apply some faux green moss for an aged effect.