Holiday Darling

1. Windows

• Carefully pop out all window openings.

• Fold all 4 sides of house along score line including side flaps. Also fold down roof sup- ports. Open house flat and place face down on your work space. Using vellum cut win- dows measuring 11⁄2” x 21⁄2”.

• Draw “window panes” using gray or white marker (fig. 1-a).

• Place adhesive around window opening and attach to chipboard house. Test adhesive first to assure it doesn’t wrinkle vellum. I find ZipDry Adhesive or glue sticks work well on vellum.

• Note: windows are attached to inside of house.

2. Shutters

• Using red cardstock cut 1⁄2”x2” strips. You will need 2 per window.

• Attach shutters along both sides of all the windows. Nudge shutters over window cutout slightly (fig. 1-b).

• To give the shutters dimension, attach cardstock to a piece of chipboard 4”x8”. You may also use the window pop-outs. Glue sticks work best for attaching large pieces of cardstock to chipboard.

• When the adhesive has set, trim around the cardstock and cut into 1⁄2” x 2” shutters (2 per window).

3. Door

• Apply adhesive to chipboard door and attach to red cardstock.

• When adhesive has set trim around the chipboard.

• Punch a door knob using round paper punch and carefully attach to door.

• Attach door to house.

4. Assembly of House

• Carefully fold score-line on side flap of house.

• With house face up, apply adhesive to flap. Use enough adhesive to secure a tight bond.

• Fold the corners of house in and attach flap to inside of house.

• Secure corners with paperclips and allow to set.

• When the bond has set attach white decorative trim to corners.

5. Decorative Trim

• Using rotary trimmer with scallop blade or decorative scissors, cut 2 strips of white trim 1” wide and at least 9” in length. Set these aside. You will use later to cover the edge of the base. Cut out a chimney cap using the Chimney Cap template. Also set aside.

• Cut 4-5 pieces white trim 1⁄2” - 3⁄4” wide.

• Cut 4 pieces of the narrow trim 6” in length. Fold lengthwise and crease.

• Using a straight edge or ruler score trim by mark a line down center of strip. Press lightly to indent the trim. This will make folding the trim much easier.

• Apply adhesive down center of trim and attach to corner of house. Trim away any excess. (Removable tape works well to secure trim if needed while adhesive sets.)

6. Roof

• Fold center score line of roof creating peak. Also fold the score lines on the fascia (front edge of roof).

• Apply adhesive to flaps and secure fascia to under side of roof creating a secure roof.

• Attach paper clips to corners and allow adhesive to set.

7. Chimney & Dormer

• Fold scored lines of chimney. Apply adhesive to side flap. Fold chimney in and secure tab on inside of chimney. Attach paperclips to corner and allow adhesive to set.

• Trim corner edges of chimney using above technique.

• Fold score lines of chipboard chimney cap. Apply adhesive to corner tab and secure on inside of cap. Again, secure with paperclips until adhesive has set.

• Trace the score lines onto the white Chimney Cap that you set aside, using the template as a guide. clip where indicated.

• Fold and secure corners with adhesive to form a cap. Attach to chipboard cap.

• Apply a small amount of adhesive around rim of chimney and attach cap.

• Carefully attach chimney to roof by inserting chimney tab into small horizontal slit in roof.

• Fold score-line of Dormer.

• Carefully attach Dormer to roof by inserting tabs into roof.

• Using “snow” template as a guide, cut out “snow”. Attach randomly to roof. Follow guidelines to fold over fascia of roof & dormer. Attach “snow” to peak of roof and dormer following guides on templates.

• Use thick “clear drying” adhesive to outline edges of “snow” and quickly sprinkle with a generous amount of crystal glitter. Gently shake off excess. Repeat process on all snow pieces.

• You can also add dimension to the chimney cap by adding squiggly lines of adhesive to edge and sprinkle with crystal glitter as well.

8. Attaching House to Base

• If you are adding a light, refer to “Light Instructions” available Tips & Tricks.

• Cover 9” cake round with white cardstock and trim.

• Using the pieces of 1” trim you set aside, cut lengthwise down center so you have trim pieces that are straight on one side and scallop on the other.

• Carefully draw the trim over the edge of a table. This will slightly curl the trim for easier attachment to the round base.

• Apply tacky glue to the edge of the cardboard base and attach trim to cover the corrugated edge.

• Apply adhesive to bottom of house and place on covered base. Press in place.

• Let house dry completely before attaching landscape. If you added a light, house will be attached to Styrofoam light base.

9. Finishing Touches

• Optional: Use adhesive and glitter to reade dipping snow over windows and door.

• Optional Walkway: Punch 1” circles from gray cardstock and randomly attach to base creating a walkway.

• Flowers

  • Cut various flowers from colored cardstock and vellum scraps.

  • Create flower stems by cutting florist wire into 1”- 11⁄2” pieces. Create a small circle at end of wire. This helps hold the flower (fig 3-a).

  • Attach various flowers to stems. You can give your flowers dimension by layering several flowers.

  • Optional: Attach crystal to center of flower.

• Window Boxes

  • Attach white cardstock to scrap of chipboard. Cut out 6 window boxes using the Window Box Template as a guide.

  • Attach 3-4 flowers to window box. Attach stems to back side of box so flowers appear to be planted in the box. Attach 2 foam dots to back of window box and attach below each window.

• Optional Fence

  • Punch out 13 picket fences using a 3”x2” die and white cardstock. Sizzix was used for this project.

  • Connect 10 pieces together by overlapping ends, creating a fence about 30”.

  • Attach 3 additional pieces together for the trellis. When adhesive has set trim off top and bottom of picket to create a trellis. Run over the edge of a table to slightly curl the trellis. Attach to beginning and end of your fence to create a gateway.

  • You can create your own fence by cutting 2 strips of white cardstock 1⁄4” x 30”. Use fence template to pickets. You would need about 60 for the fence and 18 for the trellis.

  • Attach to base by placing randomly around house. Hold in place using straight pins and apply adhesive randomly to base of fence. When adhesive has set remove pins.

  • Attach flowers to base around fence by poking a hole in base, apply a small amount of adhesive to tip of stem and place in hole. Attach a few flowers to fence and peaks of house.

  • Optional: Spray entire project with adhesive and add a light coating of glitter.