Introducing the Starry Patriotic House - a Red, White, and Blue Miniature Cardboard House designed for the Fourth of July with the Tim Holtz Village Brownstone die
In a previous post, I talked about making a custom DIY stencil using a die and Yupo waterproof paper. Well, this is where I used the stencil - the Starry Patriotic Paper House. I love the roof on this little house. The stencil worked great! I will be making more, especially from dies that come in a strip like these stars.
I made this house using the Tim Holtz Village Brownstone die which is no longer available. I have a similar pattern called the Plaster house which has almost the exact dimensions. However, it does have different door and windows. You can easily adapt it to make a Patriotic House though.
Front view of the Starry Patriotic House - a little house made like the old Putz houses, but made for the Fourth of July celebration
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Materials for Making the Starry Putz House
- Cardboard
- Glue
- Scissors
- Gesso
- Sizzix Big Shot or Vagabond
- Distress Paints
- Village Brownstone by Tim Holtz - Sizzix Bigz XL Die
- Village Dwelling Bell Tower by Tim Holtz - Sizzix Bigz Die for windows
- Rosette Set by Tim Holtz - Sizzix Thinlits Die
- Sizzix Shape Strips by Tim Holtz #660226
- Stampers Anonymous Tiny Things stamps
- Tim Holtz 3-D Impresslits Embossing Folders
Modifications on the Tim Holtz Sizzix Village Brownstone House
More about how to make the Starry Patriotic House. The base structure is the Tim Holtz Sizzix Village Brownstone with a few modifications. To keep the house from looking like a church, I covered up the tall door with another side piece.
Normally, I would make these alterations before the house was glued together. It's much simpler that way, but this house was a spare one that was just sitting around.
Cut out a hole for the new window. It's going to be covered up by cardboard so I didn't worry about cutting it neatly.
Side piece glued on over the original side with the door
I covered the new front with a piece of cardboard and moved the windows over for a door to fit in the middle. The photos demonstrate this better than wordy descriptions.
Altering the Starry Patriotic House for a new Front Door
The new front piece shows where I need to made cuts for the windows. Moving the windows laterally allows me to put a door in the middle
The pencil outline shows where the cardboard needs to be cut for the new windows
Binder clips hold the new front piece in place while the glue dries. The windows are almost ready for installation. Now we have room for a door on the Starry house.
Ribbon Roll Base for the Miniature July 4th House
I have lots of ribbon rolls left over from making Christmas bows for an annual wreath-making party. Each year I save them for making bases for the little houses because they show off the houses so nicely and provide great areas for decoration.
Exuberant patriotic details for the Starry House. Bunting made from the Tim Holtz Rosette dies and the Stamp Collector stamps
Truthfully, I think I went overboard with the details on the base. What do you think? Too busy? I would make a number of modifications next time. I'd use the small rosette die with a matching background and make sure the circular edge of the base overlaps the top of the rosette bunting to make them more secure. Also I'm not enthused about the red base below the house. I am just not a red person.
More Views of the Starry Patriotic House
Little paper house roof with stenciled with stars made from a DIY star stencil on Yupo paper
Starry Patriotic House on the ribbon roll base
Side view of the Starry Patriotic House for the Fourth of July
One reason I added the stamps at the base was so I could fit in the Frilly and Funkie Challenge "By Airmail". The light blue airmail stamp is actually from a Tiny Things collection, but most of the stamps are from the new Stamp Collector stamps.
I also wanted to enter in A Vintage Journey's "Stencil It" challenge because of the stenciling on the roof.
Please be safe for the upcoming holiday week. You may know that I work in the emergency department and it is always a busy week because of accidents. Take care of yourselves - wear seatbelts, helmets, stay away from firecrackers, use sunscreen, drink lots of water, no texting while driving, etc. etc. You know the drill. Thank you for reading.
Oh, and remember to pin to your favorite crafting Pinterest board.
Thank you.
Lucy
Want to remember the Starry Patriotic House? Then pin to your favorite pinterest board.
Mary W
Great idea to use the stencil, I would like to say that I probably would have glued them down individually but then again not at all and done something different. Once again you have sparked my imagination.
Thanks, Mary
Sara Emily Barker
Lucy, I'm so excited about this little 4th of July house, because I love this patriotic holiday, and I love our country! Your starry roof really pops and I am loving your buntings! (consider me enabled with that die!) Great idea to use the stamps at the bottom; so perfect for the By Airmail challenge at Frilly and Funkie! Thank you so much for sharing! Hugs and Happy 4th! I hope you get to do something fun!
Sara Emily Barker
Oh, yes, thank you, too for sharing this lovely house at A Vintage Journey in our Stencil It challenge! Hugs, again!
Lyla Larimore
I don’t think there is such a thing as “too busy looking” when it comes to decor for July 4th!!!
It’s my fave holiday & fave time of year! (& goes WAY too fast for me.)
The brownstone modifications are really explained well- gives me more ideas to use that die for & better reasons to NOT pass it up next sale time.
Personally; I ADORE THIS!!!!!
Lucy
Thank you, Lyla. I am so glad you like this little house. As you know, my favorite holiday for making little houses is for Halloween so this was a bit of stretch for me in terms of colors and decor. I'm also happy you found the description of how I modified the die useful. It's hard to know when you are writing directions if they are clear or not. Thank you for letting me know.
Autumn
Lucy, once again you've knocked it outta the park my friend! This house is the most incredible and I adore it! The stand with the postage is really awesome and gives such "prominence" to the house. My favorite detail is how you made the bunting from the circle die. Really smart and lovely! I'm not a red person either, but this is festive and fun and totally appropriate and beautiful for this time of year. Thanks for wowing me today my friend! And thank you so much for sharing with us at Frilly and Funkie. Hugs, Autumn
Astrid Maclean
What an amazing house and so super cleverly put together! I hope you had wonderful celebrations on the 4th and thanks so much for adding this beauty to our Stencil it challenge at A Vintage Journey!
Ann B
Lucy, just now finding a minute to check out your wonderful house, and SO glad I did. This is Fantastic! I love that you shared your modifications and those rosettes around the base are awesome! Such a treat to see this patriotic make!