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Welcome to Sandy Shores<sup><small>TM</small></sup>, a 100% original collection of craft projects for your indoor trains and towns.Return to Big Indoor Trains<sup><small>TM</small></sup> primer pageOn30 Display Trains
O Scale Accessories
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Written by Paul Race for
Big Indoor TrainsTM and LittleGlitterHouses.comTM
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Welcome to Sandy ShoresTM

Miniature villages aren't just for Christmas anymore. Glitterhouse designer Howard Lamey is has branched out to add houses for Halloween, and now he's adding a series of sea-side structures and accessories that will bring summer cheer to your home, even if you haven't got to Spring Break yet.

So far we have finished documenting two structure projects and one scenery project for this series, but Howard is always thinking ahead, so more Sandy ShoresTM structures could appear at any time. That said, many of our Glitterhouse or Spook Hill projects could be adapted to look right at home in Sandy ShoresTM. Think about using pastel colors, and sand instead of holiday colors and glitter.

Each project features:

  • Lists of recommended tools and materials (Xacto knife, glue, acid-free paper, various kinds of cardboard, etc.)
  • Free downloadable scale plans (in PDF and .jpg format)
  • Step by step instructions (with hints, tips, and options)
  • Links to other useful articles and resources.

The following Sandy ShoresTM projects are currently available, including not one, but four new seaside-themed buildings from our Tribute to Tinplate(tm) collection. In addition, you can supplement the Sandy ShoresTM projects with many of our other building projects.

Build this unique lighthouse and keeper's cabin to guide shipping to your seaside display. Build this original seaside resort for your seaside display.
An inexpensive palm tree adds tropical interest. Click to go to article. Make an inexpensive accessory to add interest and texture to your seaside scene.
Make an inexpensive accessory to add interest and texture to your seaside scene. New for 2010! Click to see tinplate-inspired store fronts with seaside themes

The Sandy ShoresTM projects look especially nice with:

Click to see On30 trains that are just the right size for indoor railroads and display villages. Click to see collectible trains that are designed specifically for seasonal display villages, including designs by Thomas Kinade and many more.
Click to see Lionel's current lineup of new and classic train sets for the whole family. Click to see collectible trains that celebrate St. Patrick's day, Independence Day, and many more holidays.

What if you like these structures but can't build them yourself even with our instructions? Howard has often been "commissioned" to design and or build vintage-style cardboard houses for collectors and fans of this delightful, but usually underrated art form. That's why he started his own web site, LittleGlitterHouses.com. If you would like to ask Howard to bid on a project for you, or if you have any questions for Howard, stop by there and you'll find direct contact information. If you have any questions for Paul, use this link.

Finally, if you have a similar project you'd like to share with your fellow readers and hobbyists, let us know. We'd love to add it to one or both of our sites, and we'll be sure to give you full credit for your contribution.


Other Articles related to vintage pastboard houses include:

  • What is a Glitterhouse? - an introduction to the history of those Japanese pasteboard Christmas houses, and the hobbies of collecting and reproducing them.
  • LittleGlitterHouses.com, Howard Lamey's own site about glittered cardboard Christmas houses, featuring many he designed himself.
  • Building a Glitterhouse - A detailed primer on building your own vintage Christmas cardboard houses.
  • Winter Trees from Floral Picks - A quick and inexpensive way to add interesting textures to your putz or Christmas village.

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Click to see John Deere Collectible Villages and more!


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Return to Big Indoor Trains Home page Return to Family Garden Trains Home page Big Indoor Trains Primer Articles: All about setting up and displaying indoor display trains and towns. Garden Railroading Primer Articles: All about getting a Garden Railroad up and running well Garden Train Store: Index to train, track, and other products for Garden RailroadingBig Christmas Trains: Directory of Large Scale and O Scale trains with holiday themes
On30 and O Gauge trains to go with indoor display villages and railroads


Note: Big Indoor TrainsTM, Big Train StoreTM, Family Garden TrainsTM, Big Christmas TrainsTM, Garden Train StoreTM, Trains and TownsTM and HalloweenTrains.comTM are trademarks of Breakthrough Communications (www.btcomm.com). Spook HillTM, Sandy ShoresTM, and LittleGlitterhouses.comTM are trademarks of Howard Lamey. All information, data, text, and illustrations on this web site are Copyright (c) 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 by Paul D. Race. Reuse or republication without prior written permission is specifically forbidden.
Big Indoor Trains(tm) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.


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