A-Frame Cabin

In Michigan, where I come from, it is not uncommon to see small, A-frame cabins in the woods. The slanted roofs that extend to the ground keep the snow from accumulating and the fallen snow cradles the house creating insulation.

I’ve been in a few and they are always warm and cozy. Most have furniture that is rough cut and hand-crafted and have a small upper loft. I’ve seen several with swing-open windows.

Rolife has its own little dwelling with its A-Frame Cabin.

This kit is a little different than other Rolife kits. It takes a little more finesse. Since it is triangular in shape and tapers at the top I’ve discovered that using tweezers makes it much easier to place interior objects like cups, pillows, posters, wall decor, the white rug, a guitar and other upper room objects.

Check out the side windows and clever framing and the flip-open from the bottom full window on the top.

I absolutely love the shingled roof and two tall trees and the planter on the extended window lower frame.

There is so much stuff filling both the upper and lower floors. Take a look at the wooden table with four chairs, the wine bottles, a fireplace, an overhead bed and the railing runs halfway around the cabin that sits on a wooden slat base.

The door with a screen is cool as are the welcoming floor mat, a pile of fire wood, an outside stoupe with books, kettle and hanging banners. The lower floor also has a ceiling to floor awning open window.

See what I mean by being packed! Definitely tweezers territory. There’s so much in such a small space!

Let’s take a look at what the A-Frame Cabin kit comes in: a simple thick cardboard box with a flip-lid and tabs in partially covered by a sleeve with photos and specs. There are lighting specs (no batteries included). The kit is primarily made of plywood, paper and plastic (most of which is 3D printed).

Recommended for those 14 years old and older the kit takes approximately 3 to 4 hours to build and consists of 336 pieces. It’s taking me longer since my eyesight and dexterity aren’t what they used to be. Break out the tweezers, magnifying glass and strong light!

Included in the kit are several part bags, a good selection of plywood slats with punch-out parts (that are numbered to coincide with the Instructions). Inside the Instructions are 3D rendered full-color illustrations of the different construction stages. Be careful-remove and use only the parts you need for each stage. There are a lot of small parts that could easily be lost or misplaced.

Also inside are stickers, paper fold objects, an Icon Illustration guide, Product Safety Precautions and a lighting bag with a Phillips-head screwdriver and tweezers included.

Here is photo of the other tools I like to keep on hand. With my clumsy fingers liquid glue and a brush come in handy. Parts have small tabs and sometimes I break off a few. Oops!

I started off carefully looking over the Instructions and then made sure all the electrical and other parts and slats were there-they were.

This kit was a challenge for me because of the small parts. I’ve partially finished it and I’m in no hurry to complete it. It’s better to take my time and get it right. No sense getting myself frustrated.

The kit is meant to be fun and relaxing. It’s also great for eye-to-hand coordination, dexterity, critical thinking, organization and cooperation skills. Make it a family product. Kids love adults giving them attention and teaching them things.

If you’d like to see more Rolife kits click here. For photos and a video of the A-Frame Cabin click here. And take a look at all the other kits Robotime has by clicking here.

Jeremiah 29:11-14For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Tiki Surf Shop

I’ve lived in Florida most of my life. For a time I lived in California. I’ve seen lots of surfers and surf shops.

I’m no surfer. I’m lucky I can keep my balance when walking let alone trying to balance on a surf board.

Surfing has it’s own culture and mystique. Serious surfers are almost like religious fanatics when it comes to riding the ‘big waves’.

Get ready to hit the waves with Lumibricks four articulated beach figures as they take in the waves, sun and summertime fun.

What better way to enjoy the surf and ride the waves than in front of Lumibricks’ Tiki Surf Shop complete with everything a surfer could ever want?

So hang ten, wax up your board and prepare to hit the curls as you put together your very own Tiki Surf Shop.

Let’s start with how Lumibricks ships its kits. I received mine in a heavy cardboard box securely sealed with tape. Fragile was written on the box and other than a few minor bumps and scratches it arrive unscathed.

Once opened I found the Tiki Surf Shop product box snugly fitted into the shipping box.

Like the shipping box the Tiki Surf Shop box is made of heavy gauge cardboard wit a flip lid with tabs and is secured with tape. The box is predominately black with a huge full-color photo of the Tiki Surf Shop on its cover. On one side and on the back of the box are several other full-color photos of Tiki Surf Shop.

In several languages is a warning that the kit is not for kids and adult supervision is advised. There are lots of small parts.

The kit is designed for those 16 years old and older, consists of 1752 pieces and is mainly made of ABS. A customer service email is also included.

Contents of the box include a large full-color and packed with photos User Manual. Be sure to look over the User Manual for complete instructions on setting up the electrical system with its Disco Light Effect. Batteries are not included. This is a crucial stage because the light system intertwines with the kit and wires are cleverly hidden underneath small hubs and parts.

The electrical components come in a small box (LED Light Kit) which also includes tweezers, a Phillips-head screwdriver and a Safety Precaution pamphlet.

The User Manual has pages numbered in stages with very precise 3D rendered visual instructions in full-color. Simple match the page with the numbered and lettered part bags. Never remove more parts than are necessary when assembling each section.

Thirty six bags of parts come in the box along with a Service Card and a Seagull Surfer background card. Tweezers come in real handy when assembling the Tiki Surf Shop kit as there are a lot of very small parts. I suggest you place bag parts in separate paper plates or bowls so you don’t lose or misplace them.

I’ve included a photo of the tools I like to keep on hand. A magnifying glass and bright light are essential for me as my eyesight is not what it used to be. I’m grateful for the tweezers. A Brick Separator is included should you make a mistake or wish to take the Tiki Surf Shop apart.

I started things out simply enough by beginning on the base. From there is was a slow process to assemble each step. I’m still working on it. It’s not difficult but with small parts it can get a little tricky-especially when you're my age.

It’s time to take a look at the Tiki Surf Shop. First up is that you get four Lumibricks figures with the kit. All have swivel heads and waists and arms and legs that move. Set-up is easy wherever you place them.

The Tiki Surf Shop itself is a miniature masterpiece with its extended sandy beach, step up platform, palm tree and lights-lots of lights!

On the second story is a beachfront bar and grill with tables, chairs, loads of drinks and bottles, studio lights, aqua railings, a drink dispenser and if you move the tables aside even a little dance floor with a stage, instruments and microphone. Check out the speakers. Beach Boys or Jimmy Buffet anyone?

The second story is a full wraparound enclosure with small red awnings, a sundries stand, a side surfboard rental area with lots of colorful surfboards, A Surfer Beach Club sign, suntan oil, an ice cream and cool beverage storefront, a palm awning, plenty of signs, beachfront lounge chairs, an umbrella, splashing surf, a huge wave with surfer, swimming rings, paddle-boards and paddles, a first aid kit with supplies, flip flops, an interior store with shelves, tons of surfer supplies and so much other cool stuff.

You have to see it all to believe it! You can see what I mean by having lots of small parts. But, it’s a great way to develop your eye-to-hand coordination, patience, critical thinking skills, cooperation should you build it with someone else and a great way to relax, take your time and enjoy the process.

The Tiki Surf shop is a marvel of miniature engineering. As a graphic designer I know how much talent and work it took to put together the Tiki Surf Shop kit. It’s an incredible example of topnotch print production, amazing manufacturing capabilities, an impressive example of design and function and production coordination and cooperation.

Take the time to look over just how much comes in the kit. It is astounding that all the small pieces fit together quickly and neatly to make an incredible miniature scale Tiki Surf Shop.

It boggles my mind just to think of the effort it took to pull off designing and packaging such an incredible miniature kit. Model makers and miniature lovers, the Tiki Surf Shop is challenging, fun to put together and a real gem to add to your Lumibricks kit collection.

For photos and a video of the Tiki Surf Shop click here and for more Lumibricks kits click here.

Psalms 55:22Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

 

Music Dreamer Christmas Melody Tree

The Pearsons, my older brother’s in-laws, owned 160 acres in the upper part of the lower peninsula of Michigan.

Their cabin stood in the middle of a blue spruce forest.

Each year they would top off several of the trees and give them to their family to decorate for Christmas.

For themselves they always picked a blue spruce that stood 10 to 12 feet tall.

They would decorate the tree with angel hair, tin foil, beautiful ornaments, small blinking lights and, my favorite, lights that looked like icicles and that were filled with liquid and bubbled when turned on.

Rolife has its own very special Music Dreamer Christmas Melody Tree wooden puzzle that not only looks gorgeous but has moving parts and plays music.

More than just a tree it also features steps, Santa and his reindeer and sled, loads of presents, gold ornaments, a Santa Stops Here sign, a miniature train and village and lights-lots of lights.

The tree sits on a Christmas red circular base with legs and with the simple touch of a button music plays, the little train moves along the track around and in the tunnel at the base of the tree.

Santa and his reindeer and sled loaded with presents revolve around the star at the top of the tree. A Type-C power cable is not included.

I can almost picture myself as a kid getting out of my bed on Christmas morning, running into my living room and BANG!, staring in awe at this Christmas tree.

Whenever I start a Rolife kit I always check the Instructions thoroughly and have some handy tools on hand: a strong light, an X-Acto blade and knife, a pointed tool, tweezers, both a Flathead and Phillips-head screwdriver (included) and a magnifying device. Some liquid glue and a brush come in handy.

Looking over the lighting diagram it was easy to understand how it worked and functioned. Wires connect the lights, traveling train and music box that plays Jingle Bells, Deck The Halls and We Wish You A Merry Christmas.

The box is pretty hefty, has a flip lid with tabs, a full-color photo of the tree on its front along with specs: age 14 years old and up, 319 pieces, DIY and LED. Photos decorate the box sides and on the back are more specs: material-board and paper and button sequences for activating various moving parts, lights and sounds and more photos. A die-cut on the box cover lets you see the music box.

Inside the box are several large flats. What makes this particular kit unique is almost the entire thing is made of wood pierces that pop out of slates. 

 

All of the pieces fit together with tabs and part slats coincide with the Instructions making assembly easy. A single paper sheet is included for making gifts. A plastic tray holds the electrical components and Christmas ornaments.

I had no problem assembling the pieces as they fit together snugly and securely. Only a couple times did I need to use tweezers for smaller pieces.

For photos of other Rolife kits click here. For photos and a video of the Christmas Melody Tree click here and for even more kits check out Robotime’s website by clicking here.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Christkindl Square

I remember as a kid when my mom and I would would travel to Pontiac, Michigan to shop each Christmas. Streets were lit up with Christmas lights and shop windows were filled with wonderful animated Christmas scenes. I especially loved the toy displays.

The Lemax’s Christkindl Square has Tudor style buildings with open wood slat designs and wall plaster, heavy cream color masonry, shuttered windows, high peaked roofs with colorful colored tiles, long chimneys, and gold capped roof peaks. Beautiful! And the lights-so many lights! It’s all powered with three AA batteries (not included).

What a little, quaint town by Lemax! It reminds me of the shops in Michigan that populated the many German villages I visited with my brother and his wife.

There a variety of windows and shop fronts, porches and the large Christmas tree in the courtyard-just look at the colorful glass ornaments on the tree and the huge lit up star on its top! Perched on the roofs of two small shops the tree stands as high as the tallest building.

All the stores feature shop owners regaled in their Christmas finest selling their wares such as rum, spirited drinks, nutcracker figures, coffee, hot chocolate and Christmas tree ornaments.

The multi-story buildings all have high-pitched roofs, multi-pane windows of all sizes with frames in brown, white and red. Some windows have shutters of green. Six small shops front the buildings all selling their Christmas/holiday wares. One building has a large clock on its second story. Check out the drapery decoration!

Each small cubby hole shop has its own bright and festive sign. A cluster of people of all ages gather around and in the shops. All wear winter clothing bundled against the cold. There are holiday shoppers, carolers and a family with their kids.

Several sign placards are on the gray cobblestone walkway along with barrels and a waste can. The types is small but all of the signs are legible, colorful and reek Christmas.

Large, step stairs lead to the main building cluster entrance. Patches of snow are on the roofs. Everything looks so festive and alive with the hustle and bustle of the shoppers and families.

The details of the buildings are remarkable from the stone work to the classic roof tops to building structures to variety of windows.

Garlands, lit store fronts, chimney of red brick and twin smoke stacks, building eave lights in a rainbow of colors, intimate doorways and niches, small Christmas trees, and a Santa and his reindeer decoration flies above the buildings from rooftop to rooftop.

Just when I think Lemax holiday displays can’t get any better-they do.

This year Lemax Christmas villages, townships and various figures and set-ups pack in the details, are sculpted to perfection and feature various lights, sounds and action.

My wife took one look at Christkindl Square and declared, ”This is going under our Christmas Tree! The kids will love it!” And so do I. Bravo Lemax artists, designers, colorists, sculptor and packagers.

The entire Christkindl Square comes in a clear plastic front flip lid box decorated with lots of color photos and the Christkindl Square is packaged in a clever three-side form-fitted cardboard container with little clips that keep the triptych in place. I am impressed.

1 Corinthians 13:13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

The Forest Cottage

From Tiny Treehouses comes the very unusual and beautifully crafted Forest Cottage Treehouse.

What better way to attract birds of all types than with their very own Treehouse that rivals any human cottage? Even more attractive is that the Treehouse lights up with an auto-timer (batteries not included).

The Tiny Treehouses' Forest Cottage comes in a small twin open end box with flaps that are secured by tape.

The front of box has a full-color photo of the Treehouse along with specs: 169 pieces for ages 15 years old and up.

On the back of the box are several tips and more information: details such as hidden furniture, an acrylic plant pot stake in case you want to put it in a plant pot or you have the option of a flat base (see the Instructions).

Entirely made of wood that is number coded to coincide with the Instructions the Treehouse takes two to three hours to construct.  By following the numbers you can make the Treehouse free-standing or with a stake to display in potted plants or clusters of plants.

Inside the box is a sealed envelope contains very detailed fold-out Instructions in several languages, tweezers, sandpaper, a wooden parts poke-out stick and electrical components.

Also included are Instructions, four wooden part slats and a tip sheet for positioning, troubleshooting, water prevention, part replacement, repair and warnings if kids or animals are around. There is also contact information.

I had no problems at all assembling the Treehouse. Parts popped out of the wood slats smoothly, the Instructions made assemble quick and easy and I barely had to use the tweezers.

The wooden structure was surprising easy to put together. Being that my eye-to-hand coordination isn’t what it used to be I took a little more time assembling the Treehouse.

I love the railing and roof details and different levels along with the hidden ‘goodies’. The kit is extremely sturdy and the part tabs make the structure very solid and secure.

It took some clever design and engineering to make the Treehouse.  Wood printing, laser cutting and tab and slot placement had to be carefully planned out and executed.

The Forest Cottage Treehouse makes a great family project and it encourages critical thinking, dexterity, patience and teamwork.

Whether put together by one person or several people it provides a relaxing and thought-provoking exercise in determination, 3D thinking and persistence.

If you like to see more photos and a video of the Forest Cottage Treehouse click here. For other kits by Tiny Treehouse click here.

Philippians 4:13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Santa’s Hot Springs Oasis

Santa puts in a lot of work the entire year to prepare for Christmas. The old boy gets tired, sore and needs some rest and what better place to get so much-needed R & R than at a hot springs?

Lemax’s Santa’s Hot Spring Oasis is quite a resort. Check out the snow lined hot springs in front of Santa’s Hot Springs Oasis complex. Santa and his elves are soaking up some sun and fun in the springs that is stone lined and has a red ladder leading into the pool. Fill it with water (it circulates) and watch as Santa in his inner tube and four elves soak up the warm water and sun.

The two-story building has an igloo entrance complete with a wooden door and Christmas wreath. Next to it is another igloo containing The Sauna Room with a couple taking in the soothing warmth lit by overhead lights. Another sauna customer waits out in the cold.

The third structure is a small snack bar all in red with two candy cane poles to its left. A customer in ordering something to eat. Next to it are twin candy cane poles tops in green.

A Christmas wreath, a pine tree and lights make up the front entrance-way. To the right side of the building are two more small shop alcoves. Snow is in piles in around and on the building.

The second story has three snow-capped window awnings over three-pane red windows. A small porch extends out with a towel, life ring and some long purple and white trousers left out to dry on the railing.

On the left is a brown room with a Santa Claus in a barrel decorating its roof. Turn on the power and Santa ducks in and out of the barrel reciting some Christmas cheer backed by music. On the middle building is a large clock counting down the days to Christmas. The hands turn once the power is turned on and the face lights up.

On the top flat roof three water spouts that move up and down. On the top of with waterspouts is a Santa’s Hot Springs Oasis sign.

Be sure to check out the slanted and crooked chimney in red, green and white.

The right side of the roof has a Post Season sign and extended peaked roof with a light, a roof peak cap and a large window in red and green. A white owl perches on the sign.

On the right side of the building is a Towel Station flanked by rolled towels on the roof and cabinet and a small roofed opening with a Robes Attendant standing behind the counter. On its front is a Beach, Bath & Hand sign and a red and white laundry barrel. A small evergreen tree sits on the snow beside the barrel.

On the back of the building are several windows, a doorway and varying wall textures of board, stucco and wood planks. The power cord plugs into the back.

Other fun objects to look for are more trees, Christmas decor, abundant lights that come on once power is turned on, a white rabbit, some red shoes, a loose towel, a small drink with a straw, roof hatches, a small smokestack, green shingled roofs and other little hidden goodies.

The Santa’s Hot Springs Oasis comes in a large box with color photos on all sides.

Inside the miniature building set is cradled between two form-fitted cardboard sides secured with a Velcro strap.

Just look at the details, colors, sculpt work and amazing design and various functions of the set-up. It took a lot of talent to create such a small masterpiece and Lemax employees have done an excellent job.

Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Gingerbread House

There are Christmases and then there are very special Christmases. When I was about 12 years old or so my brother Dallas and his wife Marge invited me along with them to a Christmas village in Michigan.

It was located in one of the many German townships in Michigan. This particular town was well-known for its Christmas theme.

There was one particular shop that displayed Christmas trees, decorations, accessories, etc. all year long. I loved that store. My favorite section in the store was the gingerbread section.

Gingerbread was everywhere! Cookies, cupcakes, pastries, gingerbread themed jars, bags, clothing, candles-wow!

Giant gingerbread figures sat on or about displays, candy canes and other Christmas paraphernalia helped accent the gingerbread holiday theme.

Imagine a little shop with a Gingerbread Bakery sign atop a red, six window, Christmas wreath decorated door surrounded by a candy cane border and inset in a gingerbread roof doorway with white swirling walls, twin gold bells, a large peppermint at the roof’s peak and a small decorated Christmas tree out front on the snow-covered, cobblestone pavement.

On top of brick chimney is a gingerbread man next to a striped peppermint pole holding a Bringing Christmas Magic Home banner. The peak of the main part of the cottage is a stripped candy cane with another gingerbread man with presents.

In the Rolife Gingerbread House are gingerbread goodies of all types: pastries, cakes, candies, and cookies all sitting on tiered counters and a table.

There is a banner strung across the back wall highlighted by the beautiful overhead glass shade light.

Cups hang from hooks on the wall, a colorful menu offers tasty goodies, there is a hot coco machine, tins of gingerbread confections and a large gingerbread man figure that rocks back and forth.

Check out the windows on both sides and on the door that actually opens.

There is so much color, details and amazing miniatures with clearly legible labels, signs, stripped wallpaper and other holiday hidden gems.

Parts come in bags or are shrink wrapped in plastic along with various paperwork and Instructions.

I started to put together the kit beginning with the floor and wall sections eventually moving on to furniture, brick-a-brac, the lighting, wall hangings, etc.

Folding the small paper products and applying the stickers was a little bit cumbersome to me so I used tweezers to apply them and the pointed tool to peel off stickers from their paper.

A Flathead screwdriver came in handy for popping out small parts. I was careful to only open the bags for parts that I needed them at each sage of assembly. A Phillips-head screwdriver and tweezers come with the kit.

I’ve included a photo below of the tools I like to keep on hand when assembling a kit. Big hands, old age and less than perfect eyesight makes using tools a must.

With small loose 3D pieces I occasionally had to use tweezers to pick them up and be careful to make sure I didn’t drop them or have them fall off the table I had the kit on.

Unfortunately when assembling one of the small pieces of furniture I broke off a tab. But with a little glue it was as good as new. Gotta be more careful, klutz that I am.

All the large parts have tabs that easily pop into place securely holding the parts in place. Lighting was easy to set up.

Any small adhesive strips were difficult for me to remove so sometimes I used glue instead. Whatever works. The Gingerbread House will make a great table decoration when Christmas rolls around.

Like always when assembling a Rolife kit be sure to take your time, enjoy the process, follow the Instructions to the letter and never, never take out more parts that what you need for each step of the building process.

The box the Gingerbread House comes in is bit different than most Rolife boxes. It has a slip-on lid with a huge color photo of the Gingerbread House on its lid.

On the back of the box are two large color photos, a list of materials used, a notification that batteries are required and more info. The kit consists of 250 pieces, is recommended for those 14 years old and older and includes LED lights.

As I assembled the kit I could almost hear Christmas music playing in the background and could smell the wonderful gingerbread goodies. Suddenly I feel very hungry-gingerbread goodies perhaps?

To see what other Rolife kits has to offer click here. For photos and video of the Gingerbread House click here and click here to see more Robotime products.

Jeremiah 29:11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.