How to Glue Stone to Create a Miniature Stone Fireplace

A natural stone fireplace lends a timeless, homey atmosphere to any room, including a room in a dollhouse. For a miniature stone fireplace that's as attractive and quintessential as the real thing, make your own by gluing together small natural stones in the proper configuration.

Things You'll Need

• Small, smooth natural stones
• Quick-set epoxy
• Sketch paper
• Pencil
• Plaster of Paris
• Rag

Instructions

1. Sketch the bottom of the fireplace on paper. Create an outline of what it would look like if you set a miniature fireplace on paper and traced it; this will be either a curved or rectangular shape resembling the letter "U," only with shorter legs.

2. Cover the paper outline with small stones. Try to use stones small enough that you can fill out the shape as completely as possible.

3. Glue stones together to create the bottom layer of the fireplace. Start from the edge of one of the legs of the "U" shape and use epoxy to glue the stones together in the configuration in which they're laying. Attach the stones one or two at a time, mixing more epoxy as you go; you'll only need a small dollop of epoxy between each connection of two rocks.

4. Build up the rest of the fireplace. Add additional layers to the flat, bottom "U" shape until your fireplace is the height you want it (for a standard 1/12-scale dollhouse, this will be between 3 and 5 inches).

5. Create the top of the fireplace. Bridge the top of the "U" shape by attaching stones a few at a time. Hold the stones in place while the epoxy sets to keep them from falling.

6. Add some "mortar." Mix plaster of Paris with water until you have a mixture the consistency of toothpaste. Smear this mixture over the surface of the fireplace, working it into the cracks between the stones.

References

• "Doll House Details" by Kath Dalmeny; David and Charles Publishers; 2002