September 3, 2013 Tuesday

WOOD TOY NEWSDave Szczepanek creates Custom Sweetheart Sleep and Armoire Lofts.In this issue of Wood Toy News we visit with Dave Szczepanek from Avon, Indiana USA as he shows us his creative skills applied to the Sweetheart Sleep Loft and Armoire Plan Set for 18” Dolls.

This Sweetheart Sleep Loft & Armoire Duo was a special request from Dave’s client. His special detailing has created a beautiful set of heirlooms.

To meet his client’s needs Dave used 3/4” thick Poplar for main frame structures and 3/4” Cherry wood for the accent and shelves. He also made some slight modifications to make these custom doll furniture pieces a little more special.

Dave sent ToymakingPlans.com a detailed PDF file highlighting the modifications and custom details he added to the plan set. Dave’s PDF is available to read at the end of this article. Dave documents his custom building tips and tricks. You won’t want to miss reading it!

Sweetheart Armoire Sweetheart Sleep Loft

Dave meets his Clients’ needs with a big smile!

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Sweetheart Sleep LoftThe Sweetheart Sleep Loft is designed for 18" Dolls like American Girl and Journey Girl.

Dave’s client, a mom of three girls, requested that the top accent pieces be crafted of cherry wood.

Using natural stains and a couple coats of polyurethane gives the Sleep Loft more dimension and elegance. The foot holes on the right of the Sleep Loft act as a ladder climber to the bed on top. Also, when you look inside the Sleep Loft cherry wood is once again used for the shelves.

One of the modifications to the plans were to make three heart cutouts in the back panel instead of one. Each heart represents the three sisters that will be using this play set for many years to come.

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Wood Toy News September 3, 2013 Tuesday

In the photos to the far right you can see that in addition to the shelves on the right side of the Sleep Loft, the left side has a corner desk. In the pictures to the near right the Sleep Loft bed and bed side show the Miller Dowel locations to anchor top accent pieces, the head and foot of the loft bed and the bed base.

More modifications were made to the plans to carry out the three sisters theme by making three chairs instead of two. That way all three sisters can play together at the same time.

The next detail to point out would be the corner desk inside the Sleep Loft. Again, to add something a little special the Cherry wood was used along with a Maple heart inlay pictured in the far right photos.

Miller Dowel

Corner Desk

Corner Desk

Sleep Loft Bed and Front

Dave added heart inlays to chairs.

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Wood Toy News September 3, 2013 Tuesday

Sweetheart ArmoireNext we move onto the Sweetheart Armoire which continues the three heart theme as pictured to the right.

To create the details on the front of the armoire doors 3 large and 3 small walnut plugs were used as stems to the three heart clover. Cherry wood hearts were used over the door hinge sides and as overlap on the left door. Walnut Miller Dowels were used to anchor the hinge bar.

For durability purposes Dave adds three hinges to the doors to insure many years of play. He modifies the plan set by making a simple rip cut to create the side panel. Then a fill-in piece is added to the top and bottom of the side panel. Three 3/4” x 3/4” hinges are glued and Miller Dowled to the door.

Dave’s artistic custom design is tasteful and practical while adding a charming touch.

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Above: Dave uses the hanger design from the plan set as a spring board for designing his own custom hangers.

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Wood Toy News September 3, 2013 Tuesday

Small holes were drilled to the back of both doors, 1-1/8” small pegs are added and glued in place. This gives a place for jewelry to be hung for the dolls.

Note: You’ll want to make sure not to drill all the way through the doors and that the pegs will not interfere with shelving when doors are completely shut.

Magnetic catches are attached to the doors and main frame of Armoire to insure a secure fit when closed.

Pegs have been added by Dave for storing all that special doll jewelry. The client was pleasantly surprised.

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Wood Toy News September 3, 2013 Tuesday

The storage compartment at the bottom of the Armoire is a very unique feature. All girls love secret compartments! Earth Magnets were used for a secure closure. Holes were drilled, magnet inserted and epoxied in place, wood plugs were inserted and then sanded down.

Note: Always double-check alignment of magnets when securing them in place. The will insure a stronger hold when doors are closed.

Below: View of the Armoire top showing Miller Dowel locations. Top surface was sanded (120, 220, & 400) then Cherry accent pieces were added.

Custom hinged storage added play value and a pleasant surprise or Dave’s Client!

Dave’s custom flip-top storage is a great addition. Top view of Armoire showing storage tray.

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Wood Toy News September 3, 2013 Tuesday

Realistic wood hanger patterns are provided in the plan set. Dave modified the patterns by adding wire hooks.

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Dave has provided a fun and free 18 page PDF of his building tips. To see Dave’s PDF just keep reading. It’s directly after this article.

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Wood Toy News September 3, 2013 Tuesday

The two completed sets make quite a statement. The high level of craftsmanship and finish have transformed the original plans into a fine example of professional craftsmanship.

Continue to next page to readDave’s original article submission ...

Sweetheart Armoire

Sweetheart Sleep Loft

Sweetheart Sleep Loft & Armoire Wood Toy Plan Set for 18” Dolls like American Girl & Journey Girl.

Dave can be contacted at:szczepanek1643@sbcglobal.net

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Wood Toy News September 3, 2013 Tuesday

Hi, my name is Cindy. My best friend Dana was to make the presentation but she is out of town. So I am happy to introduce you to the latest Sweetheart Sleep Loft and Armoire using the designs by Toymaking Plans Inc. These sleep lofts were created for three sisters using the Toymaking Plans as requested by their Mother. You will see some slight modifications especially created for the three sisters. The shop used ¾ inch thick poplar for main frame structures and ¾ inch cherry wood for the accent and shelves.

So I thought you might be interested in seeing how they came out. First, Cindy will introduce you to the Sweetheart Sleep Loft and then later we can look at the Sweetheart Armoire Loft with her.

Here is Cindy standing in front of the Sweetheart Loft. Since the loft would be shared by three sisters, the one heart window in the back was altered to three small hearts. This three heart theme represents the three sisters. Let’s take a walk around the loft to see the three hearts on the back wall.

We can take a look at the side panel. This way you can see the cherry wood accent pieces creating the top of the loft. Titebond III Glue and Miller Dowels were used to secure both top and side pieces.

The accent pieces along the top were crafted using cherry wood as requested by the Mother of the three girls. As stated above, the basic wall pieces were cut from 1 x 12 poplar boards. Both woods were stained using natural stain and then finished with several coats of polyurethane. Now inside the loft we used cherry wood again for the shelves and the desk. Cindy is showing the shelves that were installed in this loft. The shop added this added front return piece on the left side.

ADDED FRONT

RETURN PIECE

Cindy wanted to show you how the cherry accent piece came out for the top of the sleep loft. And, here is a better view of the cherry wood shelves. You can see the Walnut Miller Dowels used to anchor top accent pieces and the two front returns used on the Sleep Loft.

Here are the chairs for the Sleep Loft, two required per plans.

As a surprise for the three sisters, we made 3 chairs for the loft instead of the two shown in the plans. We did this so that each girl with her doll can dream and laugh.

Now Cindy would like to show you the desk for the Sleep Loft. We tried to do something special for the girls on this darker piece of cherry wood. To get the width, we had to butt glue two pieces of cherry together. After glue dried and panel was sanded then we cut to size and rounded the desk top. Then the shop added the Maple heart inlay you see in the picture. Apparently, Cindy likes the maple heart in the desk top. Let’s take a closer look at the inlay.

Here is a closer look at construction of the chairs with their cherry inlay heats. Glue and dowels only.

Here is a picture of the Sleep Loft top showing the Miller Dowel locations to anchor the top plate to the side walls or panels.

The completed Toymaking Plans Sweetheart Sleep Loft. Thanks to the Lewman’s for the great plan and details. Next, Cindy wants to show you the Toymaking Plans Sleep Armoire. Something different was added to them for the girls?

Cindy wants to know how you like the three heart theme again. Walnut plugs 3 large, 3 small were used as stems to the three heart clover. Per the plans, cherry hearts were used over the door hinge sides and as overlap on the left door. Walnut Miller Dowels were used to anchor the hinge bar. You will see another picture of the hinge method used later in this article.

Close up picture of the front doors to the Sweetheart Armoire Loft.

More to see inside! But before we do, let Cindy show you the door hinge bar and hinges.

3 LARGE

WALNUT PLUGS

3 SMALL

WALNUT PLUGS

Cindy is standing next to the hinges on the door. Reason we did this was to make a simple rip cut to create the side panel. Then a fill-in piece was added to the top and bottom of the side panel. Added three hinges (wonder why three?} for durability over the years. The hinge bar is then a ¾ by ¾ bar glue and Miller Doweled to the door.

That offset hinge that Toymaking Plans indicated on the plans and slightly modified here creates an opportunity. So see what Cindy has to show you when she opens the door. Hope you like the next feature in this great plan from Toymaking Plans.

THIS IS A SMALL FILL PIECE

GLUED TO SIDE PANEL

THIS IS A SMALL FILL PIECE

GLUED TO SIDE PANEL

STRAIGHT RIP CUT

HINGE BAR

Cindy has found a place to hang jewelry, hat or scarf when she is not wearing them. The shop found these 1 1/8 inch small pegs at Michael’s (Lara Crafts, Micro Peg 1 1/18 in.). Drilled a small hole and made sure depth of hole did not drill through and ruin the doors. Also made sure pegs did not hit shelves. Pegs and magnetic catches were the last things to be installed on door.

NOTES FROM THE SHOP: No need to mortise the hinges neither into hinge bar nor into side

panel. The thickness of the hinge gave us enough clearance for the door to open without

rounding anything. Thickness of hinge bar is same thickness of fit up pieces used on side

panel.

Hinges were installed on the doors first, then fitted into place on the glued up armoire frame.

We used the front accent piece to shape the top of the doors leaving some length to the bottom,

if needed. Likewise the widths of the doors were slightly oversized. When fitting the doors into

place the final trim and planing can be done for a nice fit.

BRASS HINGES FROM

MENARDS STORE

Sorry Cindy, this is

Dana’s jewelry!!!

Cindy wanted to give you a closer look at the jewelry pegs. Plus you can see the simple router accent to the hearts.

When Cindy opens the other side you can see what the pegs without jewelry ……………..

Cindy is pointing out the small pegs that were installed. Yep, three again! You can see the magnetic catch plate mounted to the door and another look at the hinge bar.

Now we can take a look at the overall inside of the Sweetheart Armoire Loft.

SMALL PEGS

HINGE BAR

Now, Cindy has a storage place located at the bottom of the Armoire. Earth magnets (2) were used. They were epoxied into a pre-drilled hole allowing for a 1/8 inch wood plug over them. Trimmed sawed them down and then sanded the lid. Had to make sure magnetic poles were aligned to assure closure. The shop always check fit-up of lid with hinges installs before locating holes for earth magnets.

Used non-mortising hinges purchased from Menards for the lid to the compartment.

LOCATION OF

EARTH MAGNET

LOCATION OF

EARTH MAGNET

View of the loft top showing Miller Dowel locations. Holes were pre-drilled before making final Miller Dowel hole using their bit (and before installing the accent pieces, otherwise you would not be able to install Miller Dowel and trim sawing off.) Top surface was sanded (120, 220, & 400) then cherry accent pieces added.

Just a note: Top piece fit up was somewhat critical. So the top piece was slightly oversized in length. After gluing the side and back panels along with bottom storage, the top panel was placed and trimmed to fit snugly and tightly with the side panels.

WALNUT MILLER DOWEL

We made 12 hangers for the girls. The shop used oak, gunstock stain, and brass cup hooks to make the hangers.

One daughter will be get one of the Sweetheart Lofts for their birthday and the other will go to

the third daughter. The first daughter just received the Little Princess Bed and Settee. Thanks

again for the great detail plans from Toymaking Plans Inc. and the Lewman Family. Cindy will

be saying good-bye for now and hopefully you will see her again.