Good news! I talked to the director of development for Habitat for Humanity in my county and got permission to sell my houses as a fundraiser for their group. I am very happy about that. My goal is to make between 20-30 houses and have them on display at a local art gallery during the month of October this year. That's actually a lot of houses for me to make by that time. I've got several left over from last year that didn't sell and now I've finished 3 so far.
That explains why I am making Halloween houses in February. Here is my most recent house which doesn't have a name. I was going to put this house on wheels and call it "Moving Day" or "On the Move" but I can't find the type wheels I want (which is the Tim Holtz Idea-ology mini-pulley wheels because they aren't available yet). I wanted to enter it in the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge "Transport It". But then I figured that the moving concept doesn't really match the house so I dropped that idea. The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge, however, is "Anything Goes" so even my out-of-season house fits that challenge.
Rusted Farmhouse little cardboard house for the Habitat for Humanity fundraiser
Often I use the Tim Holtz "Branch Tree" as the tree in the background but I figured if I am going to try to sell it at an art gallery I should draw an original tree at least some of the time. This one I drew on cardboard, painted and cut out with an exacto knife. It's a little more fragile than my usual trees, but more artistic (I tell myself).
I also wanted the fence to be less prominent so I build up layers of cardboard to put the house above the fence.
I made the rusted tin roof again. It is so easy and pretty realistic looking, I think. You can find the tutorial for making a rusted roof for your paper crafts in this post.
The house shape is cut from a die I had custom made. It's much thinner that most of the house dies I have, but I made it that way to I could use it on smaller bases, in a book or a configuration box. Also I can add an extension while keeping it as a smaller house.
Here are some other houses made from the same die so you can see how versatile it is:
- Sea Worn Beach House is probably the most popular little cardboard house made with this pattern.
- The Slate House
- Stone House with 3 Gables - added a 3 Gabled front facade piece to the pattern
That's it for now. I am working on a project for the Simon Says Stamp "Transport It" Challenge which I hope to have done before the Monday deadline. I hope you are doing well and thank you for looking at my blog.
debby4000
WOW this is amazing, love it.
Thank you for joining us at Simon says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.
Luv
Debby
Lucy
Thank you, Lynn and Anne and Laney. I love your comments.
Lynn, I think making a camping trailer is a great idea. I will do that.
Laney, you asked about the siding. I aged and crackled some 110# cardstock or thin cardboard (can't remember which). Usually I paint it black with white on top, but I think this was black paint, crackle medium, white paint, then some grey. Then I cut it out with my guillotine cutter into very thin strips. Before I assembled the house I glue the pieces on each side leaving a small open space at the fold lines. Then I cut out the windows and doors. It is much easier this way. You also asked about the sizes - lately I've been making them smaller because I think it makes it easier for people to find a place to put them. This die makes a house 3.25 inches in the front, 1.5 inches deep and 4 inches high. I will write a post to explain some of these details.
Laney
Love seeing this house Lucy! I really like how you elevated the ground under the house - very interesting. You said this house is one of your custom dies - but I am wondering how you got the look of the planks/siding?? Did you cut individual pieces of cardboard/paper or is it painted?? And I was thinking about your houses earlier today and wondering how big they are. Would you share dimensions? Thanks!
Redanne
I love how you built the base up for your lovely Halloween house and the tree looks very realistic. Huge congratulations, I am sure you will raise a lot of money for Habitat for Humanity! Anne x
Lynn Koeppen
I am so excited you got your idea accepted! Yeah!
I like the tree you did yourself! the built up land under the house is really a great idea!
I think you should do a camping trailer!