"Ralph and Pop's Place" Part One:Exterior

I dedicate this establishment to two of my uncles both are retired truck drivers😍. The decor and contents are inspired by them. I wanted to create a space for the male dolls to "hang out". I've had this idea in the back of my mind for a while. I tried to use a house I already had but when I saw this store front facade, I knew I had to build this one from scratch. I started with a sketch, then construction from foam board to figure out my dimensions and openings for the existing stairs and storefront. I bought the MDF from Lowes.

 MDF from Lowes

I used the foam parts as a template, traced them onto the boards and cut the pieces out with my saws but the board is thin enough to cut with a utility knife.

I assembled the MDF parts and glued them together 

I did a dry fit of the stairs and store front windows and door and the key pieces. I bought the staircase years ago but it arrived damaged. So I had to repair it, and the columns are those ones used in cake decorations with a wood base, painted brown and then I used a gel stain over the paint, which I will show in separate later post.

I made the bar and I will show how in another post as well

After the building had dried I glued it to a base which would be the sidewalk outside the building and painted everything with white primer I already had on hand.

Browsing I found vinyl brick sheets on discount from Hobby Lobby, I knew there was no way I was going to cut all these bricks by hand, I could have used my stencil and grout by it too seemed like it would be too much work. I applied the brick sheets with silicone adhesive, the smell is strong so I worked outside. I lined the sheets up like wallpaper matching the joints.

Then I used used stone texture spray paint to cover the brick and then applied several shades of red and some orange acrylic paint with a sponge.

Then I put things back in place to get ideas and see how things might look, then I started the process of weathering the exterior. There are still some details I plan to add later to the exterior later.

I used a marker to draw the lines

Then used soft pastels to give it a "grime" look

I gave the 2nd story windows a cleaner look to match the windows on the first floor

That's all I got until next time!!