Little House-Making Christmas Party

Post by **Lucy** » Fri Oct 27, 2017 2:51 am

I am going to host a party for my friends and co-workers where we make some Christmas cardboard houses. I just wondered if you have an advice on this plan.

Here's the plan:
1. Pre-build the houses of 4 different designs (I have about 25-30 already done) leaving off bases, chimneys. Pre-prime the houses.
2. Have paints available for painting the houses. No glitter though, because I think there won't be enough time to paint, glitter, and embellish in a short block of time. It's kind of a drop-in so people can come and go over a 4-5 hour period of time.
3. Have some Christmas scrapbook paper for the die cut houses so people could decoupage if they want. I have a ton of this paper. (My name is Lucy and I am a paper hoarder.) Also the scrapbook paper could be used to cover the bases.
4. When the painting or covering of the house is done, add windows, porch, columns (straws, most likely), chimney if desired.
5. Attach to the pre-made base - hot glue for this so it will adhere quickly.
6. Embellish - bottle brush trees, dollar store Santas, snowmen, greenery, little birds, etc.
7. Take photos at photo display.

I've been saving up embellishments whenever I see them on sale so I have most of the stuff. I've bought lots of glue. I already have a large supply of hot glue guns from previous years crafting parties.

I figure it will be somewhat chaotic, but I think it will work. I've hosted a wreath-making party for several years with tons of greenery and embellishments so I think this will be similar. I worry that the real issue is the painting the houses - how quickly will they dry? I have a stove in my basement with could be warmed up a little bit so people can dry them a little faster.

What do you think?
Lucy

BurghGal · Post by **BurghGal** » Fri Oct 27, 2017 10:29 am

Where do you live and when is this? I’ll bring cookies! Wine!

)

Sounds like a great event!

Post by **DCrowe** » Fri Oct 27, 2017 3:47 pm

My name is David and I am a paper hoarder as well. And anything else I can remotely envision as part of a putz creation. I can't even go through the grocery store without looking at unique cardboard packages and thinking how I can use them.

Anyway, your party sounds incredible! I have used food dehydrators in the past to speed up the paint drying process, but finding and modifying a sufficient quantity would be expensive on short notice. Maybe you can accumulate a few from thrift stores for the Putz Party 2018. I can give a better explanation of how I have used them if needed.

I know your guests will have a great time at your party.

Post by **debquilts** » Fri Oct 27, 2017 6:32 pm

Oh, Lucy, you are so ambitious. And I bet you are a really good friend too. I think your "house party" sounds like tons of fun. For the drying.. You can have a hair dryer to help speed up the drying, or maybe your embossing heat tool. Your students can chat, eat cookies with one hand and dry with the other. What about fences? Are you eliminating them for time saving? What will you do for the windows?
Be sure to post pictures...
Debbie W

Post by **Lucy** » Fri Oct 27, 2017 7:29 pm

BurghGal, I live in Upstate SC. Because I work in the ER I usually host the party over 2 nights so staff from various shifts can come either night. I figure if you have your house ready, you might as well have 2 parties. I'm hosting it the Sunday and Monday before Thanksgiving. Things start getting crazy after Thanksgiving.

David, a food dehydrator sounds like a good idea. I don't think I can get one for this year though. My house has a full basement and a modified kitchen there so the stove in basement isn't used for anything. I'll line it with aluminum foil and just turn it on for a few minutes to warm it. I even use my stove in my house for crafting.

Deb,
I think a couple of hair dryers may be good too. I have an embossing gun but it gets REALLY hot. I almost set one of my houses on fire with it when I was trying to dry something quickly. I forgot to mention fences. I am thinking about ordering some from Pete. I just don't feel like cutting out 50+ fences. Thank you for reminding me.

I included a photo of the invitation I hung on the wall at work.

Post by **Laurie** » Fri Nov 03, 2017 9:25 pm

Sounds like lots of fun. But I would so miss the glitter. Could it be an options for those with more time to spend? Seems like it may work with the use of hair dryers for drying. Have fun!

Post by **Lucy** » Sat Nov 04, 2017 12:16 pm

Laurie,
I will miss the glitter as well. But the party is an open house and there will be some younger children there - 6 is probably the youngest. At any one time, there could be 20 people making houses. So the glitter is going to have to wait until people get home.

Here is a progress photo of the house party prep. I need to prime the houses and put roofs on 18 of them in the back. All the houses are from dies. I think I have 12 of the square, short little house in the front, 18 of the tall skinny house in the front, 18 of the houses without roofs and 26 birdhouses. I plan on making 12 more of the square house because it will probably be the most popular choice. I need to glue together bases you see stacked in the back.

I am staining the trees and the baubles for trees and the little deer. I have ordered fences from Pete. I'm getting there - slowly but surely.

Lucy

https://paperglitterglue.com

Post by **Laurie** » Sat Nov 04, 2017 4:08 pm

Wow! This is quite the project and awfullly nice of you to host this. I hope people appreciate all your work. The houses look very inviting.

Post by **Lucy** » Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:41 pm

Here are some photos from the Little House Making party. Over 50 houses were decorated. I hosted it on 2 nights so people who work the weekend in the emergency department where I work could attend on one of the nights at least. I was nervous about it, but it worked out well.

Lucy
https://withglueandglitter.blogspot.com ... ccess.html