In the following topic, Pete O. points out that coconut doesn't seem to have been glued to the houses - rather it was applied after colored gesso, maybe by dipping the whole house into a vat of the stuff, or else applying by handfuls.

According to Pete, he hasn't seen a house where the coconut was glued directly to painted cardboard.

Also the coconut never seems to have been tamped down into glue the way I might be tempted to do it, it's too fluffy.

Thanks for the note, Pete. I copied link here because I think it's an important tip.

http://www.cardboardchristmas.com/forum ... ?f=9&t=787