I’m Mel Stringer, and I’m a zine maker and illustrator for Frankie Magazine. I recently decided to collaborate with fellow artist Maddy Young to create these simple little paper houses, using her illustrations as my guiding light. Her drawings are full to the brim with thin windows, scalloped roofing, closed doors and ladders — definitely characteristics you romanticize when envisioning your dream home.
Just imagine these sturdy symbols of love, family, security and warmth decorating guests’ tables at the next wedding you attend.
“You might even find confetti stuffed inside, a secret thank-you note, or a sweet treat to take home with you.”
Materials:
Design template: red, pink, blue, sky blue.
Scissors
Quick-drying glue (like Selleys Kwik Grip)
Ruler
Bone folder or butter knife
Medium-sized paintbrush (for glue)
PDF instructions
Step 1: After you have downloaded and printed the design template of your choice (links above in the materials list), score along the dotted lines with a bone folder (or butter knife) and a ruler applying light pressure. (Scoring like this allows for easy and clean folds and tabs later on).
Step 2: Carefully cut out the house template using the scissors.
Step 3: Start folding along the dotted lines until every tab and fold has been creased.
Step 4: Start by applying glue to the tabs on the base of the house. Attach these tabs to the side walls to begin constructing the house.
Step 5: The roof is a little bit more fiddly that the base, but have patience (and that quick-drying glue like I mentioned earlier!) and begin to carefully glue the tabs of the roof together. Rely on your intuition when it comes to this part; in essence, it’s like putting together a box.
Optional:
• Use an Exacto knife or pen knife and carefully cut out the windows of the house before folding to give the house little open windows!
• If you cut little windows into the house, you could insert a battery-operated tea light to use the house as a small lantern decoration.
• By leaving the top flap of the roof unglued, you can easily pop goodies inside the house that can be closed and opened by your recipient.
• Consider writing your guests’ names on the back of the house (which has been purposely left blank) to use them as placeholders. Writing any other sort of name or message in that space is also an option.
Thank you to Mel Stringer and Maddy Young for sharing this project with us. If you make your own paper house party favors, share a photo with us in the Etsy Labs Flickr group.
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Sign in to add your ownjsilkyd says:
super cute, I am always looking for multipurpose wedding items for my wedding stylee treasuries. These are so sweet and personable. thanks!
12 years ago
Megan from MegansMenagerie says:
So adorable and unique!!! Love :)
12 years ago
Hillary De Moineaux from VoleedeMoineaux says:
Little houses, what a great idea! Little houses made of ticky tacky.
12 years ago
Liv Gabel from MansionHouseRoad says:
So much potential here! Thank you!!
12 years ago
Brian McNamara from rarebeasts says:
Cute, I like them.
12 years ago
Liz Worthy from lizworthy says:
Love the bike out front!
12 years ago
Beliz from ThreadEtc says:
Just unbelievable i was searching craft house template all week. Thank you very very much for sharing !!
12 years ago
Katy from girlindustries says:
Too cute!
12 years ago
Dotty Walker from SewThoughtfulBlanket says:
I have to try this. Way too cute!
12 years ago
Marilyn from KandyOh says:
I thought they were made out of wood, they look so sturdy. Such a clever idea.
12 years ago
Erika Iozsa from JasminBlancBoutique says:
So cute :)
12 years ago
DecadesOfVintage from DecadesOfVintage says:
so creative
12 years ago
Laura Stark from laurastark says:
Wow, that is super cute! Great activity to have little ones help with.
12 years ago
ACupOfSparkle from ACupOfSparkle says:
OMG! so cute!
12 years ago
Janell Anderson from prunellasoap says:
very cute!
12 years ago
Mara from rosenu2 says:
How wonderful of Mel and Maddy to share... Am hoping to turn some into Light up Christmas houses and gift bags for an April Doll Club Meeting ... From My house to Yours, I Thank You ...
12 years ago
Carmen from MontanaGirl says:
I love the little mansard roof!
12 years ago
itrhymeswithorange from PartyHQ says:
I think my teenage daughter would have fun with this project, thanks!
12 years ago
Sea Glass Jewelry from SeaGlassJewelryEtsy says:
So different and cute too.
12 years ago
Samantha Hughes from OhMyLuckyStar says:
Very cool! And with the template, I can even add in my own elements, colors, ideas, etc. Thank you, this is a cute idea - even for a garden party. :)
12 years ago
Rachna from ethnocity says:
oh my goodness..these are so cute and adorable!!
12 years ago
Ioana Avram from bijuterra says:
so cute:) love the bike. hihi:)
12 years ago
Nicole Nicoletta from MintMarbles says:
I LOVE these! so great! adorable
12 years ago
Terry from Parachute425 says:
I know several people in real estate that could put these to good use. Thanks!
12 years ago
Elisha Morrow from BohoBeadShop says:
How adorable!
12 years ago
NecessiTees from NecessiTees says:
Soooo sweet! Thanks for sharing!
12 years ago
Jess from volkerwandering says:
Fantastic idea!
12 years ago
Sylvie Liv from SylvieLiv says:
How cute! I like the little bike detail on the side. Thank you!
12 years ago
Unique Fabric Gifts from uniquefabricgifts says:
Cute!
12 years ago
Mandy from PetalGem says:
That is too cute and I like the idea of personalizing them!
12 years ago
Flirt Deux from flirtdeux says:
super cute :)
12 years ago
mazedasastoat from mazedasastoat says:
Sweet little project, thank you for sharing!
12 years ago
janicewd from janicewd says:
Adorable. Would be cute to use as a gift card holder for a housewarming gift. You could even put the address of the new homeowner on the outside somewhere. Many ideas.
12 years ago
Audrey from HelloMountains says:
cute!!! i love all the wonderful things of Mel Stringer!!!
12 years ago
shoptsarevna from PulseVintage says:
Very cute!! Congrats:)
12 years ago
Michelle from MichelleWorldesigns says:
Wow, this is very cute idea!
12 years ago
Liudmila Rosario Ponko from PonkoWorld says:
So cute !!!
12 years ago
TheEverlastingPosy from TheEverlastingPosy says:
Very Sweet!
12 years ago
goodbeads from goodbeads says:
So beautiful and interesting,great...
12 years ago
VaLon Frandsen from thevicagirl says:
They are so cute. I had never thought of having some architecutre at my wedding, but I think I should. Afterall, I do have a masters in it....
12 years ago
Yaya from Liukenko says:
Sooo cute!!!
12 years ago
Sandra Bruce from GBSCreations says:
Very Cute...such a creative idea!
12 years ago
Etta from McIsaacArt says:
Yup so are mine :) http://www.etsy.com/shop/thesistersstudio
12 years ago
Etta from McIsaacArt says:
www.etsy.com/shop/thesistersstudio for some reason the link doesn't work or does it?
12 years ago
AnitasPottery.com from potterybyAnita says:
Oh, How I Love Little Things!...♥....How CUTE are Those Houses?!?...♥...
12 years ago
AllureByU from AllureByU says:
Adorable and a great creative idea.
12 years ago
LivingVintage from LivingVintage says:
Way cute! I may have to get married so I can use these.
12 years ago
LuAnn Poli from PaisleyBeading says:
These tiny houses are darling! I think they'd be wonderful for a Housewarming party!
12 years ago
John Spisak says:
WOW' If anyone has to learn how to make something this simple then you sure aren't much of and artist! .. Sorry thruth be told! .. Kids stuff!
12 years ago
Leslie Holz from leslieholz says:
How clever!! Such a cute idea - thanks for the PDF!!
12 years ago
David and Patricia from dellcovespices says:
They might be simple, but you could take the general .pdf design and use it as a patter to create a different exterior for it. Say, like a tiny cafe? If you tucked in coffee beans and created little mini "coffeehouses" for guests, that would be kind of clever. Plus, you'd get the "everything tiny is cute" factor that seems to be all the rage these days, but still put your own twist on it.
12 years ago
David and Patricia from dellcovespices says:
er...pattern....sorry 'bout that.
12 years ago
Laura King from LoralynDesigns says:
Adorable idea!
12 years ago
John Spisak says:
So this was a simple idea to elaborate on in that case very nice the possibilities are endless you really got my head spinning with ideas. Thanks
12 years ago
iammie from iammie says:
Love it! Thanks for sharing!
12 years ago
liddy sopretty from liddysopretty says:
Love diy weddings!
12 years ago
Sarah from perebags says:
Adorable!!
12 years ago
Peshka from Peshka says:
So cute!
12 years ago
Erica from BurkeHareCo says:
Just darling!
12 years ago
everythingok from everythingok says:
Well, knowing me, I'm probably not ever going to get married to anyone (I mean goodness knows I'm not against the idea myself, mind you) but can I have a wedding-style nonwedding party so I can have things like hors d'oeuvres and give out these adorable boxes? Because these are adorable.
12 years ago
PolClary from PolClary says:
Forget weddings, I want to make a city out of these for on my bookshelf. ;)
12 years ago
Hans Holz from HansHolz says:
great idea!:)
12 years ago
Andrea Robinson from MissCrackleberry says:
Very Cute & Easy Idea!
12 years ago
Georgie Simon says:
A nice mini home, it is nice to see beautiful art works like those. Hope I can see more of this in this site. I would like to try more of this. http://www.lightingbylux.com/Bathroom-Lighting-s/14.htm
12 years ago
Sue Varcoe from KernowKrafts says:
Lovely! I'm going to show these to my niece who's getting married in December they will make lovely wedding favour boxes. Thanks for sharing.
12 years ago
Victoria Baker from LittleWrenPottery says:
So cute! They'd make awesome little placeholders : )
12 years ago
laura graves from bylauragraves says:
Very cute!
12 years ago
Tom's Grossmami from tomsgrossmami says:
Sooo sweet!
12 years ago
Lee Thomas from EastThomasLee says:
How I Love Little Things!
12 years ago
Megan Morris from MadebyMegShop says:
Too freakin cute!! I'm not sure what I would make these for, but I'm sure I can find a reason! :)
12 years ago
Kelly from PalomaAccessories says:
CUTE, CUTE!
12 years ago
Adriana Allen from adrianaallenllc says:
These are really sweet. I really liked the treasury too. Thank you!
12 years ago
Kirsti Joy from KaiceJoy says:
GREAT IDEA!!! very cute=thanks for sharing!
12 years ago
Lana Manis from HoneysuckleLane says:
What a cute project!!! I, too, love papercrafts ~ I'm also Simple Joys Paperie here on Etsy.
12 years ago
Joy from JoyInspiration says:
These are adorable! :)
12 years ago
Agnes Blum from KnockKnocking says:
Ummm eeeek!!! I'm allowed to squeak right? These are fabulous and need to be made for my sister's wedding in Ojai this summer.
12 years ago
Cynthia from PlumeandPetals says:
These are really cute!
12 years ago
Kathleen from myvintagecrush says:
Cute paper craft!
12 years ago
Andi Chrisman from acpaintedpages says:
Very cute!
12 years ago
Linda from lovelygifts says:
So cute!
12 years ago
KettleConfections from KettleConfections says:
Great DIY - love how you have the template all set up and ready for us to print and try!
12 years ago
KD from VainVintage says:
How cute! Awesome DIY !
12 years ago
Autumn Rose from ArtbyAutumnRose says:
great idea!
12 years ago
Melanie Beth from thevelvetheart says:
These are so cute! Thank you!
12 years ago
LC Cooper from LeMaisonBelle says:
Great idea to fill them for party favors!
12 years ago
avila629 from avila629 says:
So cute! Thank you so much!
12 years ago
Matejka Max from NattyMatty says:
Lovely!
12 years ago
twentytwotwenty from twentytwotwenty says:
I love these! There are so many uses for these houses, thanks!!
12 years ago
ezliving from ezliving says:
So much Cute and love in little house!!
12 years ago
Melissa Kojima from ArtistInLALALand says:
I love DIY and these are such a cute and fun way to give wedding party favors.
12 years ago
Kelly and Adam from Colourscape says:
These are adorable!
12 years ago
Donna Thai from PetiteCuisine says:
Cute idea!
12 years ago
Carolyn S. Miller from AutumnLeavesJewelry says:
thanks for sharing, these would be cute at other events, but weddings are nice
12 years ago
Rebecca Barry from MermaidToOrder says:
You just gave me a perfect activity to do this afternoon with my kids. Can't wait to try it!
12 years ago
Holly and John from ZCreateDesign says:
what fun and different ideas!
12 years ago
Mafalda Laezza from PinkrainShop says:
great idea! :) I wanna try it!
12 years ago
Zareena from zzzareena says:
These are cute! I like little things. And the bike on the side. Too cute!
12 years ago
Michaela Bowles from ArtsyFlair says:
Neat!
12 years ago
Linda from DesignsbyLQ says:
Fabuloso!! Thanks so much for the PDF.
12 years ago
PearsAndPeaches from PearsAndPeaches says:
These teeny tiny houses make my heart skip a beat! I am linking to this from my blog with a BIG Thank You to Julie! www.confetticreek.tumblr.com
12 years ago
PearsAndPeaches from PearsAndPeaches says:
Oops. Mel & Maddy - the Thanks goes to you two!
12 years ago
Reese from ReeseCarrozzini says:
This is just awesome! Love them!
12 years ago
Ifigeneia tsiltikli from fifirixtra says:
what a great idea! and so easy!! thanks for sharing!
12 years ago