If you like the house Christmas ornaments I made last week, you will love to make these just a bit bigger Putz houses from Christmas cards. These are even more detailed using another Tim Holtz Sizzix Village Collection.
In comparison, the house I featured last week is 2-1/2 inches tall and 1-1/2 inches wide. This house is 3-1/2 inches tall and 2-1/2 x 2 inches wide.
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Aside from the primary cutouts, this collection includes door frames, window frames, dormers, roofing shingles, and more. You can find the Tim Holtz Sizzix Village Collection ◄ here. Keep in mind that there are no detailed instructions with these dies, but the pieces are labeled.
Choosing Your Christmas Cards
Notice that these house dies are larger than those I used last week. You may be unable to cut out the two house sections and a roof from the same card. Sometimes a card has a pretty back and you can use it to your advantage as you can see in the blue and silver version below.
You can find directions to the house featured in this post below. You can see that I chose two cards with similar colors, but the artistic styles are completely different.
The bonus is that there is already glitter on the card I use for the roof.
Putz Houses from Christmas Cards
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Supplies Needed:
- Tim Holtz Thinlits Dies, Sizzix Village Collection
- Vevor Cutting Machine or Sizzix
- Old Christmas cards
- 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
- Faux rice paper, vellum, or wax paper
Directions:
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 dies in this set include two different houses. There are two main pieces to each house, unlike the set I showed last week.
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.
I find it easier to cut the door and windows after the house has been cut. The dies move too easily and when there are several on the plate, you can’t keep track of any that are crooked.
Remove the plate and the dies to reveal your cut images.
Adding Details to the Putz House
Use the window frame and door frame dies to cut and add detail to the Putz house.
If the window or door frames don’t release, turn the die over and use a straight pin or the tip of an X-acto knife to lift the paper from the die.
Assembling the Putz Houses
It’s best to tackle this process in stages like this to avoid handling, taping, or clamping many small pieces at once.
You’ll need Tacky Glue or a comparable adhesive product to construct your house. Save your sanity. Don't try to assemble these with school glue!
Before gluing, fold the tabs inward.
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. Carefully, apply glue to the flaps on one side of the roof, and then, on the other.
Apply glue to the tabs on the front of the house and attach the reverse roof over the door. I added a small dot of glue to the edge of the fold where the reverse gable sits against the roof. You’ll need to hold this in place for a minute or two.
Finish with a chimney cap glued to the house.
Apply Snow and 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. I found that a round paintbrush was easy to use to create the details I wanted. Then, use the small round paintbrush to push and shape small snow drifts over the edges of the chimney top. Go back and layer 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.
I used the point of a tiny round brush to pull down the snow to create spikier snow.
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.
You can do this before or after you have applied glitter. I recommend it before.
Add Window Interest
You can glue vellum or wax paper to the inside of the windows. As I considered this, the faux rice paper I made earlier this year came to mind. I retrieved the white faux rice paper, cut small rectangles, and glued them to the inside of the house, covering the windows.
The faux rice paper is made from paper napkins. Making your own, you can just imagine how you can personalize the colors and patterns you use for this project.
Once the little houses are on the tree, the Christmas lights will give a pretty glow to the windows.
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.
For even application of glitter on flat surfaces, use a small, flat paintbrush to apply glue on the chimney, roof, or house. Sprinkle the ultra-fine glitter onto the glue.
Make your home more festive during the holiday season with these easy steps for turning old Christmas cards into charming decorations.
Be Social!
I really like the larger house. Perfect for ornaments.
Thanks, Erlene! My plan is to use the smaller houses for the top of the tree and the larger ones for the lower branches. Fortunately, the plan is to use a small white twig tree, so I won’t need a multitude! Thanks for visiting.