July 18, 2024

The Tipsy Toucan Tiki Bar & Lounge

By Erika Pitera
The Tipsy Toucan Tiki Bar & Lounge

Welcome to paradise! I started working on this project a few years ago, but I struggled with how to create the lighted, mirrored, acrylic bar shelves, so I put it aside until about a month ago, when I really started working on it again in earnest. The entire bar is scratch built, which was definitely a learning curve! However, I’m delighted with the outcome and hope you’ll enjoy all the love that went into creating The Tipsy Toucan Tiki Bar & Lounge!

Escape to a miniature island paradise with Erika Pitera's handcrafted 1:12 scale tiki bar from The Petite Provisions Co. This tiny oasis is meticulously crafted to evoke the laid-back vibes of a tropical getaway, complete with thatched roof details, miniature tiki mugs, and vibrant colors that will transport your dollhouse residents to a world of relaxation and fruity cocktails.

When I was researching decor details for my bar, I kept coming across Margaritaville-branded pieces, and when I saw the parrot party table, I knew it would be the perfect piece to stand out in front of the bar. He’s completely hand-sculpted from polymer clay. I named him Jimmy as an homage to the late, great Jimmy Buffet!

Miniature mixology magic: Erika Pitera's handcrafted cocktails at The Tipsy Toucan dollhouse bar.
Erika Pitera's miniature masterpiece: A 1:12 scale tiki bar from The Petite Provisions Co.

Directional signs are so fun, so I designed two sets to display at the front of the bar.

Dollhouse-sized delight: Handcrafted tiki bar in 1:12 scale by Erika Pitera (The Petite Provisions Co.)

Yes, the tip jar is one of my favorite details. Crumpling up all the tiny little ones and fives was a blast!

The Petite Provisions Co.'s tiki dream: A miniature tiki bar in 1:12 scale by Erika Pitera.
1:12 scale tiki haven: Handcrafted by Erika Pitera of The Petite Provisions Co.
Miniature tiki escape: Erika Pitera's 1:12 scale creation for dollhouses (The Petite Provisions Co.)

The Tipsy Toucan Tiki Bar & Lounge wouldn’t be complete without an actual toucan, so I sculpted her from polymer clay and flocked her. After conducting a poll on Instagram, I’ve decided her name is Toula (thank you for the suggestion, Monica!), which means “light.”

The Petite Provisions Co.'s tiki magic: A handcrafted toucan (1:12 scale) by Erika Pitera.

I wanted to display a wide variety of tiki mugs and bottles of booze, and the mirrored bar back and lights with acrylic shelves really highlights these details perfectly!

The tiki mugs were all 3D printed in clear resin (see source list at the end of the post), and I painted them all. A number of the alcohol bottles had weird generic labels and were too big for 1:12, so I cut them down in size and made new labels. Others were perfect as is!

Erika Pitera's dollhouse tiki bar: A tropical paradise in 1:12 scale (The Petite Provisions Co.)
A 1:12 scale handmade toucan by Erika Pitera, The Petite Provisions Co.

I really wanted to include plenty of “branded” details for the bar, so I designed stand-up menus, coasters, cocktail napkins, and bar trays, all with the Tipsy Toucan logo. Even the guest check says The Tipsy Toucan at the top! I also made custom pineapple drink stirrers with resin, multicolored drinking straws, and tiny little cocktail umbrellas.

Tiki vibes in miniature: Handcrafted 1:12 scale tiki bar by The Petite Provisions Co.'s Erika Pitera.
The Petite Provisions Co.'s tiki magic: A handcrafted dollhouse tiki bar (1:12 scale) by Erika Pitera.
Dollhouse tiki dream: Erika Pitera's miniature tiki bar (1:12 scale) for The Petite Provisions Co.
The Petite Provisions Co. presents: A handcrafted 1:12 scale tiki bar by Erika Pitera.

This angle lets you see the “business” side of the bar – the iPad point of sale terminal (complete with card reader), the garnish tray (filled with handmade pineapple wedges, maraschino cherries and orchids), the receipt holder, the bowl of fruit, the cocktail shaker and accessories, and the blenders with cocktails in the making.

I also printed my own fabric for the bar stools.

Erika Pitera's 1:12 tiki haven: A handcrafted miniature bar from The Petite Provisions Co.
Miniature island getaway: Handcrafted tiki bar in 1/12th scale by Erika Pitera of The Petite Provisions Co.
Dollhouse drink delights: Handcrafted miniature cocktails for The Tipsy Toucan by Erika Pitera.
Miniature mixed drinks: Erika Pitera's handcrafted cocktails for The Tipsy Toucan dollhouse bar.
Tiny tropical tipples: A collection of handcrafted dollhouse cocktails at The Tipsy Toucan by Erika Pitera.
Pocket-sized paradise: A 1:12 scale tiki bar by Erika Pitera (The Petite Provisions Co.).
A touch of tiki for tiny spaces: Handcrafted 1:12 scale tiki bar by Erika Pitera of The Petite Provisions Co.
Miniature island escape: Erika Pitera's handcrafted 1:12 scale tiki bar (The Petite Provisions Co.).

I love adding realism to my scenes, so I figured an almost-empty mug of beer, a half-finished cocktail and a crumpled up bar napkin would do the trick!

A touch of tiki for tiny spaces: Handcrafted 1:12 scale tiki bar by Erika Pitera of The Petite Provisions Co.

I rarely see scale palm trees that I like, so I decided to make my own, and I’m so glad I did! I also sculpted all the plants at the base.

The 3D printed tiki torches are so perfectly detailed, but I had to add a little bit of hot glue to simulate the flame for when they light up!

A touch of tiki for tiny spaces: Handcrafted 1:12 scale tiki bar by Erika Pitera of The Petite Provisions Co. Perfect for dollhouse enthusiasts and anyone who loves a touch of whimsy, this miniature masterpiece brings the Polynesian paradise right into your home. Imagine tiny guests sipping on fruity cocktails from miniature tiki mugs, surrounded by the vibrant colors and thatched roof details that evoke the feeling of a tropical getaway.

Before I even built the bar, I knew I wanted glass float lights. So, I took a strand of multicolored fairy lights, tiny little glass globes, alcohol ink and crochet thread and got to work!

I colored each glass globe with alcohol ink to match and enhance the lights inside, and I knotted every single net myself – that was quite the project, but well worth it!

Dollhouse tiki dream: The Petite Provisions Co. presents a handcrafted 1:12 scale tiki bar by Erika Pitera.

At some point, I decided I wanted a volcano as a focal point in the bar. I don’t know why… I just did. So, I went with it, and it turned out so cool! I used a flickering red LED light, and I sculpted the volcano from polymer clay. I love the effect!

Pocket-sized paradise: A 1:12 scale tiki bar by Erika Pitera (The Petite Provisions Co.).

The “neon” pink and blue lights behind each bar shelf are actually EL wires. I’ve never worked with them before, but they turned out exactly the way I wanted them to!

Tiki vibes, miniaturized: Erika Pitera's 1:12 scale tiki bar for dollhouses (The Petite Provisions Co.).
Shrink down to paradise with Erika Pitera's handcrafted 1:12 scale tiki bar from The Petite Provisions Co. It's the perfect addition to any dollhouse, offering a miniature slice of tropical fun.
Tiny tiki retreat: Handcrafted 1:12 scale tiki bar by The Petite Provisions Co.'s Erika Pitera.
Erika Pitera of The Petite Provisions Co. shrinks down the tropical paradise with her handcrafted 1:12 scale tiki bar for dollhouses. This miniature masterpiece captures the essence of a Polynesian getaway, complete with all the details you'd expect in a full-sized tiki bar. Imagine tiny tiki torches flickering, miniature leis, a thatched roof, and a collection of brightly colored tiki mugs waiting to be filled with fruity concoctions. This handcrafted piece is sure to add a touch of whimsy and vacation vibes to any dollhouse scene.

If you enjoyed this photo tour of The Tipsy Toucan, don’t miss the reel I posted over on Instagram!

A million thanks to my wonderful and talented husband, Tom, for helping me capture every detail – especially the bar “after dark!”

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