Cozy Wednesday with Cate Price – Author of A Dollhouse to Die For (Giveaway too!)

I am thrilled to Welcome Cate Price to Escape With Dollycas today!!

Decorate a Dollhouse on a Dime
By Cate Price

While writing A Dollhouse to Die For, I came across so many clever ideas to decorate a child’s dollhouse that are both easy and inexpensive. Many items you probably have lying around can be repurposed into furniture or fun accessories.

For instance, the tiny plastic stands that come in pizza boxes are ready-made doll’s tables, especially when covered with a cloth. A stack of matchboxes makes a great chest of drawers, with the addition of brass paper fasteners for drawer pulls. Empty thread spools can be used for table bases, stools, and perhaps a plant pedestal.

Coat buttons, or buttons covered in fur make nice little throw pillows for the sofa, and empty eye shadow containers can be repurposed into picture frames or serving trays. How about a drinking straw for an easy curtain rod, with the addition of fabric scraps or old handkerchiefs for curtains?

If you’d like to create a grandfather clock for your house, After Eight mints have an ornate clock design on the wrapper. Small candy boxes, like Russell Stover chocolates, make the ideal doll’s bed, with wooden beads glued on for the feet.

One of my favorites is to make a bistro chair out of a champagne cork holder. (My editor sent me a couple of finished ones as inspiration!). I’ll attempt my own step-by-step guide here:

• Remove the bottom wire from the “cage” and straighten it
• The cap is now the seat and the four twisted wires are the legs
• Form the center of the straight wire you removed into a circle design
• Reattach it to the two back legs to form the back of the chair. Voila!

Of course, this means you’ll have to empty a bottle of champagne in order to create a chair. And most bistro table sets have two, right? Decorating a dollhouse can be fun!

Start saving empty toothpaste caps, odd bits of jewelry, and Popsicle sticks for vases, chandeliers and hardwood floors. It’s even more enjoyable if you can share the creation of these charming accessories with a child.

(There are more decorating ideas in the Millbury Ladies’ Home Companion in the back of A Dollhouse to Die For, together with other craft tips and recipes).

So think small, and let your imagination be your guide!

~Cate

About Cate Price
Cate Price was born in England and came to the U.S. when she was sixteen. She is a regular sight on the streets of her home town walking her two amazing rescue dogs, and enjoys gardening, yard sales, and cooking with friends. Her previous (unpublished) books span the genres of romantic comedy, romantic suspense and murder mysteries, and have finaled in numerous contests, including the prestigious Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Romance Writers of America.

Writing the first book in the Deadly Notions mystery series proved to be rather an expensive project, because while researching auction houses, she also became addicted to bidding on box lots. She is currently hard at work on the next book in the series.

Links:
Cate loves to connect with readers at her website, http://cateprice.com/ on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/catepriceauthor or Goodreads at: www.goodreads.com/cateprice

A Dollhouse to Die For
(A Deadly Notions Mystery)
2ND in Series
Cozy Mystery
A Berkley Prime Mystery
The Berkley Publishing Group (May 6, 2014)
Published by The Penguin Group
Cover Illustration by Ben Perini
Cover Design by Diana Kolsky
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
E-Book File Size: 1714 KB
Amazon: ASIN: B00FX7R7BK
B&N

Daisy Buchanan thinks of her shop, Sometimes a Great Notion, as more than just a business. For her, it’s a haven of vintage sewing notions and other treasures, excellent coffee, and camaraderie. But when an antique dollhouse provokes some bizarre behavior on the part of a customer, Daisy makes it her business to find out what secrets are hidden behind its tiny doors…

Daisy loves her store and some changes in town put that store in jeopardy. While Daisy is dealing with that her husband Joe finds a new hobby. Add to this a very unusual murder and they have their hands full.

Thanks to the people at Penguin I have 2 copies to give away!

Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old
with a US or Canadian mailing address.

Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited.

You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.

Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Liking My Facebook Fan Page.

Leave a comment for Erika for 5 Bonus Entries !

If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

Contest Will End May 21 , 2014 at 11:59 PM CST
Winners Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winners Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.

CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”