I made this for @Myruka in the Light It Up Swap. Through her questionnaire, I learned she liked kitschy, quirky, cute, flora, and fauna. Upon further stalking 
I also discovered she liked mushrooms, miniatures, and ghosts (more on that later! 
).
Before we received partners, I was brainstorming to make some sort of ceramic wall-hanging lantern. But once I got her as a partner, I just knew I had to make her a cute, magical little forest house! I also instantly knew what little extras I wanted to make her, too. 
She was so fun to craft for.
I used red speckled buff clay from Laguna (I call it oatmeal because it looks like oatmeal cookies to me), lots of underglazes, and some New Penny copper paint in the end for a little metallic flair here and there. In total, it went through two kiln firings (one bisque with underglazes + one black wash & clear firing). I almost put it in for a third fire just for gold luster, but I was racing the shipping deadline, so used cold finish paint for the door handle, window & mushroom accents instead.
Here is how this project began. Just two lumps o’ clay.
I made a template in case I ever wanted to repeat the same house size.
Here is the base of the house freshly-formed.
Lots of attachments, relief carving, and goofing around. Eventually, I just have to call it because I could keep adding silly, fun details forrrrever.
I busted out texture rollers and used them all over the place. On the shutters, on the door, on the picket fence, and even on the inside floor of the house. Yes, I realize you only see the very front of the hardwood floor through the door opening, but I just thought it was extra. And I like extra, darn it. 
I used a mini extruder to make the lattice work on top of the pie crust. I love this fun little tool, so any opportunity to use it is one I am certainly going to take. It was not fun weaving that itty bitty lattice, though. I repurposed old charms from jewelry pieces to add some sparkly accents, too – a cloud wind chime, a sun catcher in the window, and a butterfly.
I used special wire that can withstand the heat of the kilns (fire wire) to make the hanging loops for the cloud & butterfly charms + to make the little antennae on the lady bug.
I wanted to “sign” the piece, but I thought it would be cute to mark it with Lettuce Craft. I printed the logo, adhered it to the clay with a spritz of water, and traced it with a stylus to imprint it into the clay. Once it was bisque fired, I added a black underglaze wash to the area and wiped the excess away with the sponge. I used the same black wash technique over the petals of the flower roof, on the wood floor, the door, the inside flooring, and the curtains as well. It just gives it a little more pop and depth (in my opinion).
And here she is all lit up. I just twirled a strand of mini fairy lights inside for the lighting. I love the moon shapes it makes on the wall. 
(and yes, washes are pretty great for highlighting texture)
This might be the most amazing thing anyone ever created…I need to start swapping again!
Congratulations! This hot project is featured this week! 
