Supplies:
*Pattern (2 pages)
*Heavy Cardboard (work area, house base, & roof)
*Light Cardboard (house)
*Transfer Paper (or carbon paper or make your own)
*Hot Glue
*Craft Glue
*Scissors
*Xacto Knife
*Paint
*Tissue Paper (or vellum)
*Felt (enough to cover house base & to add to top of roof)
*Glitter
*Electric Tea Light (battery powered)
*Decorations
Difficulty Level: Medium-Hard - there's a lot of cutting out of windows and two chimney pieces, as well as the brick wrap-around.
Time: It took me about 1 1/2 hours to make this (that included paint/glue drying time & glue gun heating). Took my friend 2 - 2 1/2 hours.
Directions:
01. Print out the pattern (images below - direct link to download at Retro Renovation below that).
02. Lay the carbon paper onto the plain side of the lightweight cardboard (such as a cereal box you've cut open). Lay the printed out pattern on top of the carbon paper. Using a pencil or pen, trace the entire pattern (all lines, window openings, doors, circle for door knob, & the tabs).
*I have carbon paper already, so it's what I used. You can use another type of transfer paper, or you can make your own, as shown by Retro Renovation. Use charcoal or a pencil to colour in & sheet of plain paper. Use the charcoal/pencil side facing the cardboard & the pattern on top of this.
*Pattern (2 pages)
*Heavy Cardboard (work area, house base, & roof)
*Light Cardboard (house)
*Transfer Paper (or carbon paper or make your own)
*Hot Glue
*Craft Glue
*Scissors
*Xacto Knife
*Paint
*Tissue Paper (or vellum)
*Felt (enough to cover house base & to add to top of roof)
*Glitter
*Electric Tea Light (battery powered)
*Decorations
Difficulty Level: Medium-Hard - there's a lot of cutting out of windows and two chimney pieces, as well as the brick wrap-around.
Time: It took me about 1 1/2 hours to make this (that included paint/glue drying time & glue gun heating). Took my friend 2 - 2 1/2 hours.
Directions:
01. Print out the pattern (images below - direct link to download at Retro Renovation below that).
02. Lay the carbon paper onto the plain side of the lightweight cardboard (such as a cereal box you've cut open). Lay the printed out pattern on top of the carbon paper. Using a pencil or pen, trace the entire pattern (all lines, window openings, doors, circle for door knob, & the tabs).
*I have carbon paper already, so it's what I used. You can use another type of transfer paper, or you can make your own, as shown by Retro Renovation. Use charcoal or a pencil to colour in & sheet of plain paper. Use the charcoal/pencil side facing the cardboard & the pattern on top of this.
03. Next you'll cut out the pattern that is now on the lightweight cardboard. Be sure to have heavy weight cardboard underneath all of this on your work surface. (You'll use it for Xacto-ing, painting, glittering, & hot gluing. You'll also need a portion to use as your house base.)
First Page: The rectangles & squares are windows (including windows in the door). You'll cut these out. The long lines running from top to bottom are fold lines, you can lightly score these so the cardboard is easier to fold (but don't cut through them!). You can also lightly score the tabs where they meet the frame, but also don't cut through them. These will fold to be glued to other items of the structure to keep the house together. The first piece under the front of the house is the chimney. Then there's the Roman brick wrap-around. The smaller bit is the top of the chimney (on top of the roof.)
Second Page: This is the back of the house & the roof. The large square is the access point for putting an electric tea light in, so you'll cut that out. The line running from top to bottom is a fold in the house (it'll be a side) & the tabs. You'll trace the back of the house onto light cardboard in the same manner as stated above. The second bit is the roof. You'll transfer this onto heavy weight cardboard & cut out. The center line should be lightly scored, so that the roof will angle a bit.
First Page: The rectangles & squares are windows (including windows in the door). You'll cut these out. The long lines running from top to bottom are fold lines, you can lightly score these so the cardboard is easier to fold (but don't cut through them!). You can also lightly score the tabs where they meet the frame, but also don't cut through them. These will fold to be glued to other items of the structure to keep the house together. The first piece under the front of the house is the chimney. Then there's the Roman brick wrap-around. The smaller bit is the top of the chimney (on top of the roof.)
Second Page: This is the back of the house & the roof. The large square is the access point for putting an electric tea light in, so you'll cut that out. The line running from top to bottom is a fold in the house (it'll be a side) & the tabs. You'll trace the back of the house onto light cardboard in the same manner as stated above. The second bit is the roof. You'll transfer this onto heavy weight cardboard & cut out. The center line should be lightly scored, so that the roof will angle a bit.
04. From here you can fold all the tabs and lines that put the house into shape & hold both the front & back up (together). This will give you an idea of about how large to cut the base for your house. Do you want to add trees? Do you want no space really? I suggest a 1/2" - 1" space in the back. 1/2" - 3" for the sides. 1" - 4" for the front yard. You should also keep in mind where you will display these & if your desired size base will fit?
05. Now you can paint your house. Above are the original house from Retro Renovation on the left & my creation on the right. You can see what is painted "brick" & what is simply the house colour, or door. You can do this however you want. You could make the brick look like stone. You could paint trim around the windows. Whatever. They filled their chimney with "snow", while I put a painted bit of black cardboard there. I'd already assembled the house and realized I didn't want cereal box showing & I didn't want to try to paint.
Where the chimney go & the brick wrap-around, you do not have to paint as it will not be seen. If you don't want to add snow in your chimney, you should paint the inside of that top cap black or to match your exterior brick colour before gluing together. Otherwise, you do not need to paint the interior, unless you just really want to.
Paint the roof. If you are using "snow" felt on your roof you only have to paint the top part of the roof that will not be covered by snow. If you want the entire roof covered in snow, then you don't have to paint.
Any paint will do, even cheap dollar store kids craft paint. It doesn't have to be fancy. Allow all paint to dry completely (about 15 - 30 minutes).
06. When the paint is dry, you'll add the windows. This is where the tissue paper or vellum comes in. Just flip your unbuilt house front over so you're working with the backside (the interior). You'll cut your pieces so there is enough excess to glue around the windows onto the cardboard. It doesn't have to be exact, or perfect, or a large piece. You can cut one piece for all three of those front windows & one piece for the windows on the door, then do individual pieces for the next three windows. Glue around the edge of window with Elmer's type glue & then stick the tissue paper to this. Allow to dry completely (about 5 - 20 minutes).
07. While waiting for things to dry, you can paint your brick chimney pieces & brick wrap-around.
08. Now it's time to assemble, which means warming up the hot glue gun. First items I'd recommend are covering the house base in felt. You can use white for snow (or The Sister created one using tan for sand). Just have a colour you want your yard to be. Grass? Choose a green. Dirt? Choose brown. Snow? Choose white. They even make white felt with glitter in it, so that's pretty.
Then you'll hot glue a piece of felt to the roof for snow, if you're going with a snowy theme. Next lay out some glitter on your work surface. Put a line of hot glue on one edge of your roof & dip in the glitter. Repeat for the remaining three sides. You can use any colour glitter, I just also like the white crystaline look of the "snowy" glitter that was shown on Retro Renovation, so it's what I use. You could use silver. You could use any colour. It's your house you can make it look however you want.
Next you'll assemble your lower chimney & the brick wrap-around. It's easier to do without the entire house assembled. Add the lower chimney portion to the chimney spot on the front of the house, putting hot glue on the front of the tabs, which when folded in, will rest on & stick to the house frame. Do the same thing with the brick wrap-around. You'll have to have your house bent the correct way & glue the tabs and affix to house. If it doesn't look perfect, it's fine. It's a Putz House. Mine isn't perfect with the brick wrap-around, but it's not noticeable just sitting around with an electric tea light lit up inside.
Go ahead and hot glue some snow onto the brick wrap-around. My dad did state that snow wouldn't accumulate there because of the roof eave. However, it's what Retro Renovation did with their house, it looks nice, & I'm all about snow. This portion will be open with only slight ledges (where you'd glue the snow). If you'd rather not do snow, just glue painted cardboard or glue felt down. You could choose brown and then add plants, if you'd rather that look.
Once all the house extra's are on & in place, then hot glue tabs to put the house together. Then hot glue bottom tabs & stick house onto base, pressingly firmly (but not firmly enough that you crush it). Next hot glue the roof onto the house, again pressing firmly, but not too firmly. Finally glue the top chimney together and glue on top of the roof. Add now or a painted cardboard cap.
09. Now it's time to decorate. This is where you affix bottle brush trees or pieces of felt as a walk way, a wreath you made or purchased, presents under the tree, large pieces of glitter or pom poms as snow flakes, twinkle lights, or simply festive decoration. This can be things you wish to purchase, things you make or have yourself. You don't even have to decorate if you don't wish to.
10. Turn the tea light on & place inside. Ah... it's so pretty!
Where the chimney go & the brick wrap-around, you do not have to paint as it will not be seen. If you don't want to add snow in your chimney, you should paint the inside of that top cap black or to match your exterior brick colour before gluing together. Otherwise, you do not need to paint the interior, unless you just really want to.
Paint the roof. If you are using "snow" felt on your roof you only have to paint the top part of the roof that will not be covered by snow. If you want the entire roof covered in snow, then you don't have to paint.
Any paint will do, even cheap dollar store kids craft paint. It doesn't have to be fancy. Allow all paint to dry completely (about 15 - 30 minutes).
06. When the paint is dry, you'll add the windows. This is where the tissue paper or vellum comes in. Just flip your unbuilt house front over so you're working with the backside (the interior). You'll cut your pieces so there is enough excess to glue around the windows onto the cardboard. It doesn't have to be exact, or perfect, or a large piece. You can cut one piece for all three of those front windows & one piece for the windows on the door, then do individual pieces for the next three windows. Glue around the edge of window with Elmer's type glue & then stick the tissue paper to this. Allow to dry completely (about 5 - 20 minutes).
07. While waiting for things to dry, you can paint your brick chimney pieces & brick wrap-around.
08. Now it's time to assemble, which means warming up the hot glue gun. First items I'd recommend are covering the house base in felt. You can use white for snow (or The Sister created one using tan for sand). Just have a colour you want your yard to be. Grass? Choose a green. Dirt? Choose brown. Snow? Choose white. They even make white felt with glitter in it, so that's pretty.
Then you'll hot glue a piece of felt to the roof for snow, if you're going with a snowy theme. Next lay out some glitter on your work surface. Put a line of hot glue on one edge of your roof & dip in the glitter. Repeat for the remaining three sides. You can use any colour glitter, I just also like the white crystaline look of the "snowy" glitter that was shown on Retro Renovation, so it's what I use. You could use silver. You could use any colour. It's your house you can make it look however you want.
Next you'll assemble your lower chimney & the brick wrap-around. It's easier to do without the entire house assembled. Add the lower chimney portion to the chimney spot on the front of the house, putting hot glue on the front of the tabs, which when folded in, will rest on & stick to the house frame. Do the same thing with the brick wrap-around. You'll have to have your house bent the correct way & glue the tabs and affix to house. If it doesn't look perfect, it's fine. It's a Putz House. Mine isn't perfect with the brick wrap-around, but it's not noticeable just sitting around with an electric tea light lit up inside.
Go ahead and hot glue some snow onto the brick wrap-around. My dad did state that snow wouldn't accumulate there because of the roof eave. However, it's what Retro Renovation did with their house, it looks nice, & I'm all about snow. This portion will be open with only slight ledges (where you'd glue the snow). If you'd rather not do snow, just glue painted cardboard or glue felt down. You could choose brown and then add plants, if you'd rather that look.
Once all the house extra's are on & in place, then hot glue tabs to put the house together. Then hot glue bottom tabs & stick house onto base, pressingly firmly (but not firmly enough that you crush it). Next hot glue the roof onto the house, again pressing firmly, but not too firmly. Finally glue the top chimney together and glue on top of the roof. Add now or a painted cardboard cap.
09. Now it's time to decorate. This is where you affix bottle brush trees or pieces of felt as a walk way, a wreath you made or purchased, presents under the tree, large pieces of glitter or pom poms as snow flakes, twinkle lights, or simply festive decoration. This can be things you wish to purchase, things you make or have yourself. You don't even have to decorate if you don't wish to.
10. Turn the tea light on & place inside. Ah... it's so pretty!