Beginners Corner - Make a School Satchel and Contents for the dolls house school or nursery

Materials Required

• Fine Glove leather 2" x 4"
• 3 miniature buckles
• Fine needle and thread
• Scissors
• Craft knife
• Tacky Glue
• Coloured card
• notepaper
• Eraser
• Cocktail stick
• Small piece of thin balsa wood

The Satchel - Step 1

• Cut a piece of leather 1-12" x 3".
• On the right side, gently score lines across the width.
• The 1st line is 1" from the end, then 3/8", then another 1", then a final one 3/8".

• Fold the satchel into shape.
• On the front, mark where the buckles should be fixed.

Step 2

• Sew the buckles in place

• From a scap/off cut of leather cut a strip just under 3/8" wide.
• Cut two pieces from this strip each 1" long.
• These make the side panels of the satchel.
• To ensure they fit easily, trim away the sharp corners and one end of each strip.
• Work with one at a time, apply glue to the sides and bottom trimmed edge and fit into the sides of the satchel.
• Repeat with the other side of the satchel.

Step 3

• From a scrap of leather cut 2 thin strips just wide enough to fit through the buckles x 3/4" long.
• Cut a point at the buckle end.
• Glue the strips to the top flap of the satchel.
• Thread through the buckles.

• Cut 2 more lengths for the shoulder strap.
• Glue to the side panels on either side.
• Join these at the top with the last buckle.

Step 4

• Cut a tiny square of leather.
• Cut out the centre.
• Glue to the front of the satchel with a small name label inside.

The Satchel Contents

Notebook

• Cut two oblong pieces of card 1" x 3/4".
• Cut some pieces of paper which fold over and are slightly smaller to fit inside.
• Glue the outer pages to the inside cover.
• Glue a contrasting tape along the spine.

Folder

• Take a piece of thin card 1-1/4" x 1-3/4".
• Score a line 1/4" along one of the long edges.
• Fold this to the inside.
• Score another line in the centre.
• Fold together and slip homework paper inside.

Eraser

• Cut a small section from a real eraser and cut into shape.

Pencil

• Cut the end from a cocktail stick.
• Cut off the long sharp point, shaping a smaller point with a craft knife.
• Darken the point with marker pen, leaving some bare wood.
• Paint the rest of the pencil a nice bright colour.

Ruler

• Cut a very thin strip of balsa wood 1" long.
• Make small marks along the wood with fine marker pen to represent the measurements.

Please visit Carol Clarke's website for more of her lovely work

This feature was originally published in Dolls House and Miniature Scene magazine. If you like making miniatures, why not buy yourself a copy of the magazine. Or better still take out a subscription so you never miss an issue. For fans of Facebook and Twitter, or to email, print or comment on the feature, please use the buttons above to share with your friends.

For materials and suppliers, please take a look at the marketplace section of this website.