Let's talk about cardboard Christmas houses and accessories
Visit our Contributors' Pages:
Welcome to CardboardChristmas 2.0
With the help of a very nice contractor, we have control of this page again, plus its on an updated
server that should be less prone to hacking.
If you're new to this page, welcome. Our goal is to keep alive the tradition of putz house
collection, documentation, restoration, and construction. Our members include several of the most
prestigious collectors, restorers, and builders I've ever come across.
Note: All content on this forum is Copyright (c) 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016,
2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 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.
Family-friendly forums for discussing traditional cardboard Christmas houses, including their history, collection, restoration, recreation, and display.
Building a replica of our own house was probably not the best choice for my first house build, but I thought it might be fun as a Christmas present for my husband. I started by downsizing Howard's pattern for the Vintage Cape Cod Cottage so it would fit on a 4" x 6" base. Using graph paper and building a paper model first, I modified pieces to fit. After priming with white tempera, I painted the house with acrylics. The house is finished with #90 mojito glass glitter, the roof is silver glass glitter and the base and fence are coated with white sand. Frosted clear vellum is used in the windows.
After the gift is opened I will probably redo the windows and the porch pillars as they didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped. If we add it to my putz village then I will add snow also.
Below are a few 'in process' photos (sorry for the non smart phone pics -couldn't use my husband's good camera or I'd spoil the surprise):
I think your choice for first custom replica is awesome. And the best part of it is that you have a replica of YOUR OWN HOUSE! The colors are wonderful, and the windows and porch all look fine in the pics.
My scale modeling background is with model cars, and as many cars as I have owned over the years and as many thousands of toy cars, I have never had a replica of a real car I have owned. There's just no demand for toy versions of boring big American sedans which I have always preferred.
excellent work...very excellent work...don't change the columns...or anything else about the house...i like it just the way it is...i hope you'll post some pictures of the house when it's on display this holiday...promise that you will!...OK?...
oh, yes...gotta try some silver glitter...don't think i've used it yet...or at least i can remember using!...
also...i agree with steve..."what's next?"...we all hope there will be other projects...
Thanks everyone; you're very kind. I appreciate the encouragement. Who knows what's next - there are so many good choices. I'd like to try a loggie, a clock house, other cottages around here, and I'm fascinated with the tin building DCrowe posted.
And you're right, it is fun to have a little model of our house, especially since my husband is completely remodeling it. Paul, it is a real 1940's transition house, with 1930s cottage features inside and craftsman details on the exterior. Howard, the company I ordered the green glitter from sent me a free sample of the silver glitter so I tried it on the roof. It was so overwhelmingly bright that I had to scrape a bunch off. It's really neat, but I think it's best used sparingly. I'll try and remember to post pics of the house on display.
-Laurie
