If you have old Christmas cards lying around, don’t throw them away! You can make charming Putz houses from Christmas cards with this easy DIY. Just imagine a bunch of these decorating a wreath, a small tree, a centerpiece, or a garland!
Have fun transforming old Christmas cards into charming Putz houses.
Putz Houses from Christmas Cards: A Step-by-Step Guide
Supplies Needed
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- Tim Holtz Thinlits Dies, Paper Village
- Vevor Cutting Machine or Sizzix
- Old Christmas cards
- X-acto knife
- 0.5mm lead mechanical drafting pencil
- Sharp scissors
- Extra fine glitter
- Fine glitter
- Tacky Glue
- Elmer’s school glue
- Deco Art Sno Tex or Homemade Faux Snow
- Small flat paintbrush
- Small round paintbrush
- Needle and Metallic Thread
Although this post features Tim Holtz’s Paper Village, I ordered a set of the Sizzix Village Collection by Tim Holtz and it should be here any day. This one has many more options. I plan to decorate our small white Christmas tree with these…
Using the Die Cutting Machine and the Metal Dies
I bought this Vevor die-cutting machine because it was larger than the Sizzix one I have, and the price was right.
First, stack the platform, the 5mm adapter, and the card, and strategically place the metal dies on top of the card. Then, carefully place one of the clear 3mm plates on top of the card and dies.
The instructions in the Vevor user manual say to place the cutting edges of the metal dies facing upward. However, the video on Amazon shows the metal dies facing downward. I followed the directions in the book and the dies cut into the clear 3mm plate. Then, I tried the dies facing downward. The cuts into the 5mm plate were not nearly as deep.
Keep the stack in place, and place it onto the machine’s base. Push the stack into the machine, turning the handle as the stack moves to the opposite side of the machine.
Remove the plate and the dies to reveal your cut images.
You’ll need to cut a second house piece and be aware that you place it on the design side of the card, not the back. (Okay, I might have figured this out after doing it the wrong way once.)
Assembling the Putz Houses
Before gluing, fold the tabs inward.
For your own sanity, don't attempt to glue this project with white school glue! Tacky Glue sets up relatively quickly. If you apply the glue to the piece, wait a few seconds, then, set it in place, it takes hold quickly. Hold it for a few more seconds in place and it should be good.
You’ll need Tacky Glue or a comparable adhesive product to construct your house.
To start, apply glue to one of the folded tabs and join the two sections of the house together. Repeat the process on the other side of the house.
Then, glue the roof to the house and chimney. Apply glue to the flaps on one side of the roof, and then, on the other.
Finish with a chimney cap glued to the house. It’s best to tackle this process in stages to avoid handling, taping, or clamping many small pieces at once.
Notice that I made a chimney template from a scrap piece of paper. I cut a small triangle at the base of one of the sections to match the slope of the roof. Then, I just used the 0.5mm lead mechanical drafting pencil to trace the angle onto two of the chimney sections. See the picture above.
The 0.5mm mechanical pencil is one of my favorite tools for making precise marks. If you've never used a kneaded eraser, you should try it, too. These are my favorite erasers.
Decorate with Snow, Attach a Hanger, and Apply Glitter
Apply the Faux Snow
Put a little Snow Tex or stir up some homemade faux snow in a small container.
Use the small flat or round paintbrush to dab snow around the chimney top. Then, use the small round paintbrush to push and shape small snow drifts over the edges of the chimney top. I went back and layered more dabs of snow on top of the dry snow to create the look of drifts.
Apply dabs of snow around the sides and bottom of the chimney.
Use the point of the small round brush to move the snow into drifts.
Apply snow across the roof’s peak, if you like, and use the round brush to form snow drifts on the front and back of the roof. Add snow until you’ve achieved your desired effect.
Attach a Hanger
This is a simple process. Just thread a needle with metallic thread and pierce the roof with the needlepoint. Run the needle and thread through the roof. Then, pull the thread up to create a loop to your desired length, cut, and tie the ends together in a knot.
While you can wait until you have applied glitter, I created a hanger before adding the glitter. Maybe there will be less glitter on your face and hands if you do, too.
Apply Glue and Glitter
School glue is thinner and will work better for applying a thin coat to the snow and house. If you need to, add a few drops of water to make the glue more fluid. Use the pointed tip of a small round paintbrush to apply school glue to the snow. Sprinkle the ultra-fine glitter onto the glue.
Use a small flat paintbrush to evenly cover any flat surface with glue if you want to glitter the sides of the chimney, roof, or house. Sprinkle the ultra-fine glitter onto the glue.
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