Let's talk about cardboard Christmas houses and accessories

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 Post subject: Hi I'm Geoff
PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 3:34 am 
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Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2017 4:47 pm
Posts: 13
I've been collecting putzes for almost 10 years. I followed Ted Althof's page religiously and started collecting Haciendas and branched out from there. We have Open House on the 25th and I put a village under the table top tree every year. People love it. I've been inspired by the villages I've seen on this blog and after a couple of years of "phoning it in" I'm really motivated. I bought an HO scale trolley and track on eBay and I'd like to try to add some street lights. (I'd also like to hear opinions on lighting systems.) I've been reading the site and I am amazed at the creativity and skill of the posters; the set-ups, the restorations and resources , I feel like a total newbie

Recently I acquired an almost complete collection of handcrafted (handmade?) putzes from the early '80s. They were sold at a Christmas Shop in PA and the woman who originally collected them special ordered some. They have handmade cellophane windows instead of the usual printed ones. They have two light holes, one in the back and one in the bottom and they're painted in a rough stucco. I don't think these were one offs, I'm hoping to find other pieces or someone who knows where they came from. A long shot, I know.

I've tried to pass the hobby along. I sent small plastic "Alpine Villages" to my great-Nieces and Nephews (all under 5) so they got started on Putzing. They're fascinated by the miniature world and their parents like the idea of a tradition that's handed down from generation to generation. When they get older I'll upgrade to the real deal.

Finally, Is anyone making putzes for sale this year?


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 Post subject: Re: Hi I'm Geoff
PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 8:45 am 
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Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2011 4:27 pm
Posts: 1678
Welcome aboard, Geoff! If you have any pictures you'd like to post, please reduce them to 800 width first - this antiquated software doesn't resize photos like Facebook does. I'd fix that, but every time I try to implement an upgrade, the whole thing goes south and I have to restore everything by hand.

Photos from your last open house would probably inspire more people to get involved, hint, hint.

- Paul


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 Post subject: Re: Hi I'm Geoff
PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 11:06 am 
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Joined: Mon Feb 17, 2014 5:48 pm
Posts: 153
Hello and Welcome Geoff! Glad you are on the forum and look forward to your posts! The knowledge and sharing here is amazing. Would love to see pictures of your Putz scene when Christmas rolls around!


John


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 Post subject: Re: Hi I'm Geoff
PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 5:12 pm 
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Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:46 pm
Posts: 2249
Welcome, Geoff...

Glad you are on board...you'll find we're a friendly group...always ready to help...I want to see pictures as well...

My very best regards...

Howard...

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View my Little Glitter House Photo Album
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOODm--XeeYEyxSdc4RY4DdTpQBRuRSWuipFHFP7-QWtidYW9c6Az-qbcAAQXLsBw?key=YlNqQjVkbWRLcjlSS3F6dHZQa3RhN0x5Mm9MTFd3


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 Post subject: Re: Hi I'm Geoff
PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 8:12 pm 
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Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2011 5:35 pm
Posts: 1093
Welcome Geoff, so glad you joined!! Please share your projects we all love to see each others projects


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 Post subject: Re: Hi I'm Geoff
PostPosted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 10:06 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2015 4:58 pm
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Hello, Geoff.

We're glad to see you here. And yes, photos, please. I would especially like to see the collection from the 80s. That sounds interesting. I bet someone here would recognize where they came from. And that is a great idea to get your great-nieces and nephews started early. You are right - the little kids LOVE the miniature houses. The person I call my biggest fan is now 6 and has been collecting (by way of his mother) since he was three. He treats the houses with such care it is amazing.

We look forward to seeing your houses.

Lucy


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 Post subject: Re: Hi I'm Geoff
PostPosted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 2:57 am 
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Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2017 4:47 pm
Posts: 13
Thank you for the warm welcome. I am having trouble resizing pictures. Any helpful hints?


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 Post subject: Re: Hi I'm Geoff
PostPosted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 3:18 am 
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Hi Geoff, welcome to the forum! I always use this free online program to resize my pictures for posting here. Here's the link: http://www.picresize.com. I usually shrink mine to 50%. Seems to do the job just fine! ;)

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 Post subject: Re: Hi I'm Geoff
PostPosted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 6:31 am 
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Geoff,
I use an ancient program called PaintShop Pro 7. Actually I use it for almost all my photo editing. It has all the features I usually need, and it loads and runs VERY fast. The company that made it sold out to another company, so technically it's still under copyright, but there are sites online that let you download it for free. Let me know if you'd like to try it, and I'll try to find a site where you can download it safely.

Paul


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 Post subject: Re: Hi I'm Geoff
PostPosted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 9:07 am 
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Joined: Thu Apr 27, 2017 6:17 pm
Posts: 177
Welcome! The forum is a wonderfully friendly, inspiring place. I’m on the novice scale of building and have learned so much from the master builders here. Would love to see your collection and creations.


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Note: To ask a question, sign up for our "Christmas Times" newsletter, or learn how
to apply for membership to this forum, please visit our Contact page.


Note: All content on this forum is Copyright (c) 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 by Paul D. Race
and by the posters who have contributed specific content. All material is for your personal use only. No content
or plans may be republished or sold, nor may any plans be used to make products to sell without prior written
permission from Paul D. Race and the individual who contributed the content or plan in question.
For permissions or for questions about this policy, please contact us using our Contact page.



Visit our affiliated sites:
- Christmas Memories and Collectibles -
Visit the FamilyChristmasOnline site. Visit Howard Lamey's glitterhouse gallery, with free project plans, graphics, and instructions. Visit Papa Ted Althof's extensive history and collection of putz houses, the largest and most complete such resource on the Internet.. Click to return to the Old Christmas Tree Lights Table of Contents Page Click to sign up for Maria Cudequest's craft and collectibles blog.
Click to visit Fred's Noel-Kat store.
- Family Activities and Crafts -
Click to see reviews of our favorite family-friendly Christmas movies. Free, Family-Friendly Christmas Stories Decorate your tree the old-fashioned way with these kid-friendly projects. Free plans and instructions for starting a hobby building vintage-style cardboard Christmas houses. Click to find free, family-friendly Christmas poems and - in some cases - their stories. Traditional Home-Made Ornaments
- Trains and Hobbies -
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