Putz House Snow and Glitter Tutorial
Perhaps it's so hot where you are right now you're wishing for snow or maybe it IS winter and the timing of this post is perfectly appropriate. Either way, I hope you'll enjoy all the tips that Carol Fisher of Chicago has to share about decorating paperboard tiny houses.
She designs a variety of super-cute kits for Etsy shop Holiday Spirits. Frankly, it's never too early to start thinking about... you know... that holiday. I dare not mention the C-word since it is only August, but like Boy Scouts, we will be prepared!
Let's get started!
Here's how to add realistic snow to the roof and base of a painted house:
Snow Supplies:
Deco Art Snow Tex
Medium flat paintbrush
Small round paintbrushes
Cup of water to clean brushes
1. Put a heaping tablespoon of Snow Tex in a small container.
2. Use a flat paintbrush to place dabs of snow around the chimney top.
3. Use a small round paintbrush to push and move the snow, covering the chimney top.
4. Add more snow as necessary.
5. Push small drifts over the edges of the chimney top to cover and create drips.
6. Use a round paintbrush to apply dabs of snow around the sides and bottom of the chimney.
7. Use the point of a small round brush to move the snow into drifts.
8. Continue applying dabs of snow across the roof peak, using the round brush to form drifts of snow all the way across.
9. Be sure to make drifts on both the front and back side of your roof.
10. Add a couple snowdrifts across the lower open roof areas for fun!
11. Use the same process to add snow around the house and create a snowy landscape in the yard.
Tips:
These extra little snowdrifts create a more 3-D look to the ornament base.
Think about where you want to place your bottle brush trees so they don’t cover up the snowdrifts.
Let the house dry 6 hours to overnight…and you’re ready to glitter!
Here's what you'll need to do to glitter your houses so they'll look just like they've received a frosty shimmer:
Back and Front Roof: Same process… just over a bigger surface!
Tips:
1. Remember to cover the eaves (underside of roof overhang).
2. Cover snow with a generous amount of the larger Diamond Dust or Martha Stewart Coarse Glitter.
3. Use a medium flat paintbrush to apply a generous coat of glue to the snow around the house and the entire top of the ornament base. Sprinkle with larger glitter. Let dry.
4. Glitter bottom side of ornament base. Let dry.
Your Putz House Ornament is all glittered and ready to adorn with bottle brush trees, a wreath, tinsel twine, and ribbon!
Visit Holiday Spirits to see many more ideas for decorating a variety of putz houses for Christmas and Valentine's Day. Carol is on Instagram too - HolidaySpiritsDecor - where she is celebrating 1000 Etsy sales with a very nice giveaway that is open until 12:00 AM Friday, August 14, 2015.
She designs a variety of super-cute kits for Etsy shop Holiday Spirits. Frankly, it's never too early to start thinking about... you know... that holiday. I dare not mention the C-word since it is only August, but like Boy Scouts, we will be prepared!
Bright white Bristol board houses look adorable on their own, but dress them up with a coat of paint and glistening snow and they'll become even sweeter.
Let's get started!
Having ordered one of Carol's beautifully packaged kits, I can tell you it was just like opening a present. Inside you'll find pre-scored buildings, hand-glittered bottle brush trees, sisal wreaths, dotted vellum, silver tinsel and ribbon along with directions for assembling and decorating.
Keep in mind though, that the following snow and glitter directions can be applied to any paperboard house you might have.
Keep in mind though, that the following snow and glitter directions can be applied to any paperboard house you might have.
Overview:
1. paint walls, roof, window and door trim
2. cover windows inside with vellum
3. glue on window and door trim
4. fold and glue the house
5. glue house to base
6. add snow and glitter
This is an example of painted components that will be assembled before snow and glitter are added.
Snow Supplies:
Deco Art Snow Tex
Medium flat paintbrush
Small round paintbrushes
Cup of water to clean brushes
1. Put a heaping tablespoon of Snow Tex in a small container.
2. Use a flat paintbrush to place dabs of snow around the chimney top.
3. Use a small round paintbrush to push and move the snow, covering the chimney top.
4. Add more snow as necessary.
5. Push small drifts over the edges of the chimney top to cover and create drips.
6. Use a round paintbrush to apply dabs of snow around the sides and bottom of the chimney.
7. Use the point of a small round brush to move the snow into drifts.
8. Continue applying dabs of snow across the roof peak, using the round brush to form drifts of snow all the way across.
9. Be sure to make drifts on both the front and back side of your roof.
10. Add a couple snowdrifts across the lower open roof areas for fun!
11. Use the same process to add snow around the house and create a snowy landscape in the yard.
Tips:
These extra little snowdrifts create a more 3-D look to the ornament base.
Think about where you want to place your bottle brush trees so they don’t cover up the snowdrifts.
Let the house dry 6 hours to overnight…and you’re ready to glitter!
Ultrafine or extra fine crystal glitter - for the house
Larger size crystal glitter - for the snow and ornament base (I like both Martha Stewart Crafts Coarse Glitter and Twinklets Diamond Dust)
Small and medium flat paintbrushes
Small round paintbrushes
Cup of water - so glue doesn’t dry on your paintbrushes while you apply glitter
Shallow box or tray lined with wax paper to catch and reuse glitter (cardboard plant boxes from my local nursery are perfect)
Bright lighting - helps you see the glue for fewer missed spots and edges
Mix Your Glue:
1. In a small baby food size container, dilute 2-3 tablespoons of Tacky Glue with enough water to thin the Tacky Glue to an icing glaze consistency that will be easily spreadable, but not runny.
2. Get your wax paper-lined box and ultrafine glitter ready. You’re going to glitter the painted surfaces of the house first.
The Chimney is a perfect starting place because it is small and easy to cover.
1. Use the pointed tip of a small round paintbrush to apply glue around the snow, pushing glue into the little nooks and crannies at the base of the chimney.
2. With a flat paintbrush, evenly cover each side of the chimney with glue.
3. Hold the house over your wax paper/box. Shake ultrafine glitter over each side of the chimney.
4. Shake excess glitter into the box.
1. Use the pointed tip of a small round paintbrush to smoosh glue into all the nooks and crannies around the snow.
2. Use a medium flat paintbrush to apply glue along roof edges… be generous!
3. Cover the center area of the roof with glue.
4. Even out glue with long strokes, all the way to the edges.
5. Hold the house over your wax paper/box. Shake/pour a thick layer of ultrafine glitter over the roof.
6. Shake excess glitter into the box. Check for missed spots and touch up if needed.
House: You’ve got this! Glitter one side of the house at a time using the same process!
1. Remember to cover the eaves (underside of roof overhang).
2. Be generous with glue and work quickly to cover these larger areas.
3. Carefully apply glue to the corners/edges.
4. Smooth glue with long strokes.
5. Use a small round brush to apply glue to window/door trim.
6. Let the glittered house dry for 1-2 hours before handling.
Base snow: Now it's time for the larger vintage style glitter to cover the snow and ornament base.
1. Working in 1-2 inch area at a time, use a small round paintbrush to apply glue to the snow along the roof and chimney.
2. Cover snow with a generous amount of the larger Diamond Dust or Martha Stewart Coarse Glitter.
3. Use a medium flat paintbrush to apply a generous coat of glue to the snow around the house and the entire top of the ornament base. Sprinkle with larger glitter. Let dry.
4. Glitter bottom side of ornament base. Let dry.
Your Putz House Ornament is all glittered and ready to adorn with bottle brush trees, a wreath, tinsel twine, and ribbon!
But if classic putz houses aren't your style, you can make a batch of these DIY mid-century ranch houses via Casey of Vitamini Modern and trade the frosty snow for some palm trees!
Additional paper craft supplies I recommend can be found in my Amazon shop.
All Things Paper is an Amazon and AWIN (Etsy) affiliate.
Great decorating ideas! I think the polkadots on the windows are my favorite little detail.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for linking to my retro houses, too! :)
I'm so glad you enjoyed the post, Casey. I love your wonderful retro houses too!
DeleteOh what fun it is! I can sense your tingling thrill as you shook off the excess snow and unveiled the perfectly cover house. Thanks for sharing your sweet escape into some cooler weather! I also love the polka dot windows :D
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like them Cecelia!
DeleteAhh, just love these. Thank you for the tutorial!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad; thanks for commenting Sue!
DeleteReally tempting!! Must have been so much fun making and glittering the house.
ReplyDeleteI think so too, Suganthi!
DeleteWhat a beautiful houses!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like them, Pily!
DeleteOh this is just GORGEOUS!!! I found you via Craftgawker and goodness was I gawking at your craft! :) I would LOVE for you to join us at The Creative Corner Linkup which goes live 6pm PST. xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Maria, that's so nice of you!
DeleteWhat a cute idea! Something that might be nice to give some of my removals clients over the festive season! Haha! Thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteWow your glitter house looks stunning as expected! It almost looks like an edible cake top if I hadn’t followed the instructions from the very beginning. This project would be a great activity to get all the children involved so they can create an artpiece while having fun.
ReplyDeleteGreat Post! I am making glitter putz Houses and this is helpful!
ReplyDeletewww.allthingspaper.com
Hi Elizabeth, thanks for stopping by! Would love to see your houses when they're ready.
ReplyDeleteWhere can I buy the miniatures and embellishments?
ReplyDeleteHi Jodism, the house kits can be found in Etsy shop Holiday Spirits and I've linked the supplies, like the glitter, snow, glue, etc., to Amazon... just click on the blue links in the post.
DeleteThese are delightful!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like them, Lisa!
Delete