DIY Mini Putz Houses
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink! During the holidays I love looking at all of the little houses in the winter village displays. There are so many styles and tiny details.I didn’t know until recently that they were called “Putz” houses - from their German origin. Putzen in German means to decorate or “putter with” until they look just the way you want. Sounds like loads of fun! (Skip to page 4 for instructions.) 1
One-of-a-kind Putz houses can be expensive and even the kits can be pricey; but that is because of all of the workmanship involved. And no one wants just one house ‌ The traditional materials for making Putz houses are cardboard and scrap paper - basically things that we throw away and have around the house - so it’s a project for everybody!
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The challenge: Can I create something without an engineering degree? Have you ever tried to put together the walls of a Gingerbread House? Follow along for an easy technique to get started on your very own tiny village! 3
Materials to have ready: * Toilet paper rolls and/or small medicine or band-aid boxes * A paperboard box (like a cereal or tissue box) or cardstock/old cards for the roofs and extra addons * Paper scraps from newspaper, mail, magazines, crafting, or wrapping paper to cover the sides (paint is another option) * Other fun decorations such as stickers, pipe cleaners, charms, beads
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Supplies to have ready: * Ruler * Sharp pencil * Hard, flat work surface (placemat on a table) * Scissors (one strong pair for cardboard and one small pair or craft knife for details) * White glue (Elmer’s or Aileen’s Tacky) * Mod Podge or homemade Mod Podge (made from 1 part glue and 1 part water and something to mix in) * Sturdy paintbrush for Mod Podge
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Optional supplies: * hole punch * decorative edge scissors * permanent marker * tweezers for tiny details * glitter
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Scrap paper ideas: ✻ ✻
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decorative boxes junk mail and colored envelopes notepaper or stationary used cards wrapping paper scrapbooking paper heavy magazine pages paper bags paint color chips old books folders and colorful memos
Step 1: Flatten the tp tube This technique uses a toilet paper roll for the walls. If you choose to use a box, this step isn’t necessary, however, the glue sticks easily to the uncoated cardboard tubes. The tubes stay sturdy even when the glue is wet. * Crush the Toilet paper roll. Make the crease very sharp by running your ruler, scissors handle or whatever up and down the crease. * Open the roll up and press the two cracks together and crease again. The roll should now have 4 sides. It is okay if the sides aren’t all the same size- but they do need to be straight. It is pretty hard to not make them straight! 8
Step 2: Measure the height (The directions from here will be the same for a box.Just flatten the box.) * Decide how tall you want your house. Your tube should now be a box.(Each side of the box is about 1 Ÿ inches wide.) For a typical house-shape, a wall could be 1 ½ inches tall. You can make the house as short or tall as you want. Determine the height of your wall before you move on.(Remember, your house will also have a roof which will add height.) * On the flattened roll, measure from the bottom of the tube to the height you decided, and make a mark. Make a few marks around the roll and connect them using your ruler to make a straight line. 9
Step 3: Make the peak of the roof
* Choose 2 opposite sides (walls).On one side, find the line you just drew.Measure for the true center (for most rolls this is at the 5/8 inch mark) and mark it.
x x
* Make another mark 1 inch up from the true center mark.This will be the peak of the roof. Make a line with your pencil to connect the two marks.
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Step 3 continued: * Use your ruler to draw from the top, left corner of the “wall� to the point of the roof and back down to the top, right corner of the wall.(Usually the top is at the center of the wall, but houses vary. It is important that both end walls match.)
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x
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* Flip the tube over and repeat this with the back side.Make sure that the roof peaks are on opposite walls.
Step 4: Cut out your cardboard house * Start at the peak where there is extra space to get you started, then cut along your line - roof peak, flat wall, roof peak and last flat wall. * Tip: If you cut right along your line, you can use the other half of the roll to make a second house - just draw a peak on the higher sides! 12
Step 5: Cut the roof
* Measure the distance from the peak to the top of the wall (where the roof will sit). Add ¼ inch for hanging over the wall. Double that amount for each side of the roof. It should be about 3 inches for this house. * Measure the wall length (it was 1 ¼ inch in our example) and add 1/4 inch for the overhang = 1 ½ inch. * Cut a rectangle (3 inches x 1 ½ inches) for the roof. Draw a pencil at the 1 ½ inch center to make the peak. Fold on the line. Check the fit to your walls. 13
Step 6: Cover the walls * Choose a decorative paper and trace the cardboard walls onto the back side. (I recommend no more than 2 sides at a time- they are easier to fit together on cardboard.) * Glue them on to cover the walls. It doesn’t take much glue. Remember- Dot, dot, not a lot! * If necessary, trim when they are dry. 14
Step 7: Add extra features It is easier to add the door, windows and other details before gluing on the roof. (You’ll have to wait while it dries.) If you want light to shine through the windows or door, now is the time to punch holes. Then you can cover them with a tiny square window pane.
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Step 8: Glue on the roof After you have added all of your extra decorations, glue the roof on permanently. More tips: âœť
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Turn the house upside down while the roof dries so extra glue will dry at the top of the walls and make them stronger. Add a string or wire through the roof to make your house into a tree ornament!
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Extras: Add a base & decorations You can glue your house to a cardboard base and decorate that too.Other ideas: glitter, stickers, chimney and cotton “smoke�
The possibilities are endless! I also added directions for window panes and dormers (those little fancy, extra roofs). Directions are at the end. 17
Step 9: Protect your house
To protect your house, give it a coat of Mod Podge or watered-down, white glue (any shellac coat might also work). 18
Make more buildings & decorate them all differently! Even more ideas for your houses: ✻
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Printable doors and windows for ideas or pay to print: https://cardboardchristmas.com/papateds/reproParts.html Things to see in the window: https://bigindoortrains.com/primer/glitterhouses/picture_window_house/picture_window_ house.htm Tip: Now, don’t sell yourself short. If you take the time to craft a tiny house, be sure you sign your name…
Then it is transformed from trash to treasure! 19
Window Panes * Cut thin strips of heavy paper. You will need a top “pane” and bottom and 2 or 3 additional strips for each window. This is where tweezers are handy! * While holding 1 strip still, glue a strip sticking out like a flag (90-degree angle) Make sure it doesn’t glue to your work surface Only the tiniest amount of glue is necessary. * Add 2 strips for each window pane you want (if you want 2 windows, add 4 strips sticking out like flags to the original “pole” strip). 20
Window Panes (continued)
* Once you can move the “flag” around, add a “bottom” pane. You can use a punched dot to help you make the window the correct size if you are covering a punched hole. * Add one more middle pane (if you want) and let the windows set a few minutes.
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Window Panes (continued) When they are dry you can add any extra details, trim them apart, and glue them over the holes (or anywhere on the house).
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Dormer Roof
Those cute little extra roof peaks over the window are pretty easy to add! 23
Dormer Roof Peak * Leave an extra roof peak on one of the flat, “wall” sides. * Measure and cut the roof the same as the original directions.
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Dormer Roof Peak (continued) * Fold the roof and set in place on the house. * Mark where the bottom of the extra peak hits the roof and snip just enough to slide it behind the dormer.
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Dormer Roof Peak (continued) * Measure from the bottom of the tiny peak to the point and back down. * Use a piece of scrap paper to cut a tiny rectangle that will cover the tiny peak. * Fold it in half and check the fit on the peak. * Use the main peak on the front of the house to help find the angle needed to cut the roof to sit against the large roof.
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Dormer Roof Peak (continued) * Set in place and trim to fit. * Use your pattern to cut a roof out of cardstock. * Fold the roof at the peak. * Add glue to anywhere the roofs and peak touch. * Press into place and hold until the glue sticks.
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Have fun decorating your house!