DIY Tenney’s Stage: Lighting

I was so thrilled with Pearl’s DIY American Girl Tenney Grant Stage!  My daughters and I knew right away we wanted to make one ASAP.  This stage was so easy to make.  I absolutely love the curtains.  Since there is no worry of a curtain rod the trifold folds away very quick and easy and stores flat.  To see how to make the stage trifold and platform see here:  http://brandyshappyhome.com/diy-tenneys-stage-2/ .  I will share five posts to show you how we rocked out a little “Brandy’s Happy Home” version of Pearl’s Tenney Stage.  Today’s post will focus on LIGHTING.  I am so excited about the DIY Stage lighting!  It really adds a special ambient feeling to the stage display.  My daughters oohed and awed.  Plus, this DIY stage turned out super cute and at a fraction of the AG cost.

I used two types of lighting.  I used four spot slights and string lighting.

These are the two spot lights that come with the American Girl Tenney Stage.

I hit the jack pot at the Dollar Tree.  I found these AMAZING clip on spot lights!  The lighting was nice and bright and white.  I purchased 4 of these lights.  I think I’ll go back for more…I see many uses for these.

I clipped one spot light to each upper corner of the foamboard trifold.  These lights can be angled in ANY direction!  They are perfect for a doll stage.

I placed the other two lights on the stage floor in each outer corner.  I had two small unused wood bowls.  I spray painted them black.  I used a small amount of poster putty and attached to the clip to the upside down bowl as a stand.  These lights can stand on their own but tip easily.  The bowls were a perfect solution.

The round surface of the bowl and the use of poster putty allowed for the light to be positioned and angled anyway needed.

Here is what the stage looked like with just the four spot lights on!  I love it!

On the American girl’s version you can see on the back wall what looks like a string of white round lights.  AG’s background is for looks only…it is an image on paper.

I found the perfect string lights.  Actually, I already had them!  These are the same lights I used to decorate The Doll Wedding.  For info on The Doll Wedding see here: http://brandyshappyhome.com/the-doll-room/the-doll-wedding/.  These string lights are perfect for doll scenes.  They give off a wonderful warm glow.

These were purchased in the spring of 2016.  Packaging has changed but the same lights can be found here: https://www.michaels.com/silver-crackleball-led-lights-by-ashland/10473760.html#q=string+lights&pmpt=qualifying&sz=24&start=94

Here is a picture of Tenney playing for her audience!  I love how the lighting plays with her shadows on the trifold!

A close-up picture of Tenney with just stage lighting…no camera flash!  Very cool!

Later this week:  ticket printables, poster printables, DIY amp, DIY Stage rug and guitar stand.

Craft on!  ***Tenney is wearing a dress from the Lemon Bay Doll Company.