Here we are heavy into the holiday season. I’m excited for Christmas and celebrating the birth of Jesus. I really, really enjoy this time of year. In keeping with the season, I’ve seen so many glitter houses or “Putz” houses in some of my favorite antique and specialty stores. I was really curious what the history was on these houses. And I found a great website that shared the history, as well as, how to make one.
(See THIS LINK if you are curious about the history of Putz/Glitter houses.)
SO I DID!
The directions to make an AUTHENTIC GLITTER HOUSE is also available on the link I provided. (This is a long post.)
The houses are made completely of cardboard. So, I grabbed my tools from graphic design school (20 years ago!); cutting pad, exacto knife, steel ruler and my T-square. I also picked up some craft supplies like Elmer’s white glue, Elmer’s glue stick, acrylic paint and lots and lots of Martha Stewart glitter!
You also need cardboard. Thick and thin cardboard. I used cardboard from boxes for my thick cardboard and for thin from cereal boxes.
I am not going to go into a lot of detail, I will just be hitting the highlights.
The first step is making the base which needs to be pretty sturdy. (Recommended 1 inch thick.)
It normally takes 3 pieces of box cardboard to reach your 1 inch thickness.
After you glue the pieces together, you need to wrap the base with thin cardboard.
After the base is wrapped in cardboard and glued, you wrap in paper and glue.
Now you have a nice, clean and sturdy base!
This is the bottom of the base. Just like wrapping a gift.
One of the strategies of making a glitter house is to make two at the same time because it’s a lot of hurry up and wait for things to dry before you move onto the next step.
After the base is made, it’s on to adding the fence to your base.
The fence is made from thick cardboard and the design is made from a simple hole punch.
Both bases have a fence. Dry Time!
Then you need to prime the whole thing. I used Kilz water base primer.
Okay, from here, you’ll need to use the thin cardboard and cut out the house template, all the little windows, the window frames, the chimney and the roof. I apologize, I do not have pictures of that process. It’s probably the most time consuming part of the build, which is why I probably forgot about picture taking.
Once the house is built. You need to primer it. I gave it two coats. After that I was excited and ready to finish this thing. (Timeline: it’s been a week since I started this project!)
The picture shows one of the houses I painted. I choose red and a light green.
And a pink one with a hand painted wreath on the door.
The houses painted and ready to glue to the bases.
A close up of the red house.
And a close up of the pink house.
From here, I will show you the details of the red house which is the one I finished today. All the pieces and parts are in place. It’s glittered and decorated for Christmas. (I hope you check back. I will post about the pink house once it’s complete.)
Glittered up and ready for Santa! (House front)
Right side of the house.
Back of the house. I added a paper wreath and the hole is there to add a light.
Left side of the house.
You can see by the Happy Holidays glitter letters I was impatient and the glue hadn't dried all the way yet.
I added glitter to the snowman and the bottle brush tree, as well as little red pom poms.
The glitter I used was fine glitter in Carrara Marble from Martha Stewart.
The roof and chimney top was painted in white and green and glittered with both fine glitter and coarse glitter in Martha Stewart's Crystal.
And my Putz/Glitter home lite up! Merry Christmas!
Some of the details I added were using “Snow” glitter glue to fill the top of the fence and the sides. Really anywhere where you could still see cardboard. I added the faux snow on top of the fence as well to add some texture and… well, snow!
I’m so glad I am making two, so I can give one as a GIFT!
I LOVE the way this turned out. Really, much, much prettier than I thought it would. I am a naturally a very detailed person, so this process was very fun!
After the holidays, I’m going to make another one… the cottage!
Well, I really hope you enjoyed my long post. Sorry, if it board some of you. If you just scrolled through to see the pictures, no worries, I do that too!
If you like what you read, I’d love for you to follow or subscribe via email. The links are provided on my page. Comments are also very much enjoyed! I read each one and will definitely reply.
I am looking forward to linking this craft up to lots of parties. My party list is provided at the end of my post.
God Bless and Merry Christmas!
Vicki
Email: vicki.designer[at]gmail[dot]com
Twitter: [at]CrlyWillowVicki
Facebook for Curly Willow Collections (my Etsy shop)
PARTIES:
Get Your Craft On by Today’s Creative Blog
Handmade Gift Ideas Linky Party by Tatertots and Jello
Holiday Craft Party by Centsational Girl
Sew-Crafty Tuesday by Ruby Jean
Christmas Decor Party by Staci at Just Sew Sassy
Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors
Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper
Creative Me Monday at The Southern Institute
Craft-O-Maniac Monday Link Party at Craft-O-Maniac
Craftastic Monday Link Party at Sew Can Do
Newbie Party at Debbiedoos Blogging and Babbling
I LOVE this… I did a DIY Snowman Tutorial on my blog and I do believe he and His Mrs.. Would LOVE IT…
http://shoprubyjean.com/2011/12/copy-cat-magazine-challenge/ and thank you for stopping by and linking up..
SO cute, I love them! I love anything with glitter and vintage things make me happy.
I love their vintage feel. Merry Christmas!
Vicki I love the Putz houses and yours is amazing!! I truthfully had not heard of them until this year!! Now I want to try!
Please come & Enter my 12 Days of Holiday Giveaways!! The latest is Art & more from Fifi Flowers!!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Those are so cute. Great tutorial.
This is just adorable! I have always loved these lil houses. Thanx for coming to party!
You did an amazing job!
Love the little fence.
Thanks for inviting me over!
I want to copy your whoopie
pie recipe too. I am so impressed
that I have now found out why all the
little chocolate cakes match up… you drew
circles to keep them uniform!
So clever.
xoxox
Alison
PS Is there a way for me to follow this .com site?
This turned out so pretty! Nice work!
I’d love for you to come by and link up at my Friday Favorites party! Today is a special Holly Bloggy Christmas edition!
Excellent and easy to do tutorial! I will try some lil houses for my next Xmas decor. Thanks you
such a great tutorial
for making a new
old-looking Christmas house
thanks for sharing at Fridays Unfolded!
alison
This is so neat! I’d love for you to link up to my Feature Friday Linky Party
http://blissfulanddomestic.blogspot.com/2011/12/feature-friday-linky-party_15.html
Adorable! Thank you for sharing the instructions. I love the little old-fashioned Christmas houses.
Super crafty craft! You are a teacher at heart – good tutorial! Thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas. ~CJ
Adorable!
Thank you for linking to Potpourri Friday! May you have a Merry Christmas and the Happiest of Holidays!
Super cute! I love the fence and wreath on the back. I “cheated” and used a wooden house when I made mine, so this is very impressive. Thanks for linking to my Craftastic party:)