11.24.2009

Little Houses for You and Me

I've been having too much fun making this colorful little neighborhood the past couple of days.
So much fun in fact, that I put together a little How-To so that we could all play.


They're really easy. You'll need:
-cardboard
-Tacky glue
-hot glue
-fabric
-Xacto knife

Using this simple template. . .


. . .I cut my house pieces out of a recycled box.
Then, using a thin layer of glue, I stuck the pieces to fabric. I used one color for the front/back/sides, a contrasting color for the roof, and another color for the door.
Then I cut my pieces out like so.
I snipped off any corners, and made little snips all along the top curve of the door.
 
Next, I glued the fabric edges down with Tacky glue
Then I cut little X's in the windows to make foldy-over flaps.
You'll have to snip a bit extra off the flap closest to the edge, like so--
All glued and pretty and ready for the next step--
Then I glued scraps of fabric over the inside of the windows.

Next, I hot glued the sides to the back. . .
. . .and then the front.
Finally, I glued on the roof, the little door, and a button for a doorknob.
Tah-dah!
Little Housey Goodness!
I played with my template, making bigger and smaller houses and other shapes and styles. Here's another template for you too--


So many possibilities!


36 comments:

  1. love them, thank you so much!! one of my favorite decorations as a kid, my sister and i would fight over who would put them out was the little cardboard village with the holes in the back for white lights. i always keep a eye out for them at yard sales since ours got ruined in a basement flood! i think this year i will make our own and let the kids do their own. you are just so darn talented!!

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  2. Thanks so much. I too just loved the little Putz houses when I was a kid. Have thought about making some for years but never made the time. My grandkids and I will be making some of these little beauties during Thanksgiving days off from school and I am sure for many more days. My brain is just racing, as you say the possibilities are endless. Thanks for your generousity and talent. Linda in New Mexico

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  3. How cute! I want to live in one!

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  4. I love these - I could make my own Christmas village if I had the time!

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  5. Thank you for these, just right to do with the grand children while they are staying during the holidays.

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  6. these are wonderful...thanks for the tutorial..:)

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  7. ...Thank you so much! Those are so cute! :o)

    ...Somehow I can't picture mine turning out as straight as yours...lol

    ...Thanks again and blessings... :o)

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  8. Absolute starlet! They are gorgeous and you are sweet with bells on for sharing!

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  9. I cannot wait to play.
    Thank you for sharing the how tos.

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  10. These are so adorable! I want to try them. Maybe I can sneak away after dinner with a cardboard box. :) Thank you for sharing this with us! Happy Thanksgiving!

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  11. Those look like fun to make, thank you for the templates. I will definitely try some.

    Debbie

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  12. These are adorable, thankyou for sharing :)

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  13. Thanks for sharing : ) Love new ideas!

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  14. You lil' Sweety! No WONDER we are all thankful for you! You not only are super creative, but you are super generous! Thank you for sharing the tutorial! I have LOTS of boxes! I feel PLAYTIME coming next week! Hugs & more hugs to you, Jo!

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  15. Thanks Jo, for sharing. These are so great. I am going to run right home after my day job and make one, two or three.....maybe this would be more fun than cooking a turkey? Hmmm, but then again...I would starve tomorrow if I don't cook. Have a great Thanksgiving.

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  16. Thank. You. Very. Much.
    Have a great holiday, Jo! And of course, Dylan!
    Candace in Athens.

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  17. oh wow.....I love them!!!! mmmmm might have to have some for the Christmas season!!!!! Thank you so much. xxxRobby

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  18. Your little houses are absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for sharing!
    Greetings from New Zealand!
    Mercedes

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  19. SO very cute Jo. I like the use of fabric on them. Thanks for sharing the pattern!

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  20. Use o tradutor,porque só falo o portugues. Lindas casinhas parabéns , amei . Descobri teu blog hoje, só posso elogia-lo. Adorei! Vá até meu blog, adoraria receber tua visita. Beijocas Analú

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  21. Lovely and looks like so much - I want to make some. Thanks for sharing the tutorial, very kind.

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  22. lovely. I´ll feature on my blog. Hope you don´t mind
    hugs from Brazil

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  23. This is exactly what I've been looking for! Thank you so much! I found you on someone's Pinterest page. :)

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  24. These are delightful & you fab instructions make me think even I could brave fabric. Thank You!

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  25. Saw these on Pinterest. Thanks for this. My daughters and I are making an indoor fairy garden in the windowsill. I've been trying to figure out how to make wooden birdhouses from the craft store work but I'd need a jigsaw to cut out the door and I don't want to invest in that for this project. We'll be making these this weekend, thanks!

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  26. Love this idea! What size are your squares for the houses?

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    Replies
    1. I never measured them, Gwen, and made them in all sorts of sizes. You could make them any size you'd like :)

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  27. What a great idea and so easy! Thank you for sharing this with us!

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  28. Discovery your blog from Italy, love your work! I am follow you!
    Ciao
    Bellalullo

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  29. Thanks so much! plan to play with them soon!

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  30. Anonymous10/29/2013

    Very nice, so pretty, i love them

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  31. fabulous ,must try

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  32. This brings back old memories. I used to make these and because the windows had a decorative mesh for air escape, the insides of these houses were filled with pot pourri.

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  33. Eeeeek...so gorgeous. Thanku 💜

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