[If you enjoy this freebie, also check out the paper house pack I have for sale here]!
So, the other day I was sitting around, trying to decide what to do after dinner. It's that time of the day when I don't really feel like starting any big projects, but it's too early to watch something on Hulu. I have absolutely no recollection of my thought process on this evening, but I grabbed a piece of white card and drew a house. The next day, I cut it out and assembled it, and I made a second one the day after that.
I guess part of the reason I had houses on the brain was because my gingerbread houses didn't live up to last year's. The instructions called for too much water in the icing mix, and all my nice details wound up slowly migrating downwards before they dried. Disappointing.
But I'm totally, immodestly in love with my little paper houses, and I can see making quite a few more in the near future. In fact, while I was in the process of drawing the third house, I stopped before I cut it out and scanned it in -- so I could share it with you!
You can download a PDF of the house here (right-click and 'save as'). [And because I'm in a giving mood (and it was easy), here's a blank version if you want to draw your own design] You'll want to print it out on a letter-sized piece of card. My printer has a 'borderless printing' option, which means I was able to print the PDF out the same size I drew it, but you can also 'fit to paper' when you print -- it'll just be a bit smaller than the original.
And here are some instructions, although assembly is pretty easy.
Cutting Out
1. You'll see that the PDF has light grey lines to indicate folds and darker grey for cut edges. I find that it's easiest to lightly score all the folds BEFORE cutting the pieces out -- less fiddly. In addition to the marked folds, you should score the corner edges of the house piece and the peak of the roof piece. Also score along the edges of the roof where the icicles hang down. I didn't put lines along these folds because they would have been visible in the finished product.
2. After scoring, cut out your pieces. For pieces not marked with cutting lines (the roof and fence edges), cut as close to the drawn line as possible. You can see how I did this in the image. I've found that it's easier to fold down the icicle edges BEFORE you cut out the icicles (cutting around those is by far the most tedious part of the process).
3. After all pieces have been cut out, fold all edges and tabs. Folding everything before you start gluing makes things a lot easier.
Assembly
1. Put glue on the tab along the side of the house and attach to the appropriate wall. (The tab goes INSIDE the house, so it's not visible.) I use Aleene's Tacky Glue for most paper projects. You don't want to use much, or it'll take longer to dry and could make the paper ripple.
2. Put glue on the three tabs at the bottom of the house and then fold up the floor flap.
3. Put glue on the six tabs along the roof of the house. Placing the peak of house in the fold of the roof, make sure the house is centered on the roof (front to back) and then attach. This part can take a bit of fussing, because a wonky roof can skew the house.
4. The fence: If you want, you can cut along the right edge of the gate and along the fold at the bottom, so it'll open and close. Then just put glue on each of the four tabs and attach the corners.
5. Put glue on the base of the house and place it inside the fence. You're finished!
Not too hard, right? But so cute. If you like, you could skip that last step and instead use a needle to pierce holes near the peak of the roof. Then you can thread an ornament hanger through and hang it on your tree! Or garland! Or spider plant!
My houses are all black and white, because I like how that looks, but you should feel free to colour yours in however you choose! Just remember to do that before you start folding. I would really love to see everybody's houses, so please leave a link in the comments or add your photo to my flickr group.
Lastly, feel free to tell whoever you like about this pattern, but please direct them to twelve22 and this blog post. Redistribution of the pattern is not allowed. Thanks!
I'm in love with your little paper houses too! You are very talented. Thank you so much for sharing house number 3 with us - I foresee a little wintery neighbourhood on my fireplace...
Absolutely delightful!
Do you sell these? If you don't, you really could. I think they're stunning, but very marketable. I would buy them for sure!
However, giving it away free is wonderfully generous and such a treat for everyone who finds it. If I get a chance to make some (and I'd love to) I'll be sure to link back to you.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Simply amazing!
Gorgeous! I love it - can't wait to make one up for Christmas. Thanks for sharing!
These are darling! Love them. I checked out the pic of your gingerbread house from last year - it is fantastic! You've inspired me to make one this year.
How lovely! You are so clever - I love them, thank you so much for sharing I cant wait to have a go :)
These are fantastic! Thanks for sharing the pattern! I've been in love with 3-d houses for awhile, and have made a few art quilt house, take a look here if you'd like:
http://www.candiedfabrics.com/gallery/3-d-work-2/
Maybe I'll add a fence to the next one!
Very inspiring, thanks for sharing
Impressive! :)
These are absolutely gorgeous!! I'm completely in love with them and totally jealous - I'm rubbish at stuff like that!
..so very talented! xoxo
Once again, a proof of how crafty you are. Lovely houses, Anna. I wonder what your next project will be. I think I'll print out mine and add a little bit of color to them. Thank you ever so much.
Snip snip snip - cannot wait to have a go.
And to think I have been mis-pronouncing your name in my head all this time. Apologies.
That´s a nice idea for weekends and made he villague Belen!!!
Thanks a lot!
So cute! That would be a fun project for little kids to do, especially if they get to color it first. Thanks for sharing!
Oh, yes!
Thank you ...I'm adding this to my Christmas decorations.
Thanks for sharing!
I'm with Katie. You should sell these. I'd buy them too. A whole little village.
These are so cute! I've printed out a few for my coworker and I to use as distraction at work today when we should be working... Thanks!!
Thanks so much for your generosity. I love little houses and have been constructing "Fairy Houses" out in the forest of natural materials. I thought how much I would like to make some for indoors and this pattern is just perfect. I am not adept at any drafting---measuring freaks me out! LOL So once again, my deepest thanks for these patterns.
Have a lovely holiday season!
These are adorable! I love little houses. Thanks so much for sharing your creations.
wow! I love it! I just whipped one up then :)
I'll like back to you when I post the finished piece in a few minutes.
THANK YOU!
Anna!!! These are just so so so nice. I have the perfect place for another little Anna village. Thank you, you doll. Love, a
So very cute! Thanks for the great pattern and all the time you spent writing this tute. I'll be doing a blog post about little paper houses and plan to link to it.
How generous of you! Thanks so much.
Merry Christmas Anna!
Thank you so much for sharing these with us! I am in the middle of decorating real gingerbread right now, these will be fun to do tomorrow!
It's not even 7 in the morning on my one day off and I am sitting here - cutting out tiny little houses.
I linked over from Posie Gets Cozy.
I'm only on the computer to find out what spices go into cream of brocoli soup and to get ideas on how to make the soup so I can eat it (major food intolerances).
But - here I am with one house complete and I am cutting Martha's out next.
This is a huge distraction.
So cute.
Thank you.
Kathy
Anna,
Finished making the paper house.
here is the link
http://aarthispeaks.blogspot.com/2009/12/cute-paper-house.html
thankyou
Aarthi
Fabulous. I adore the style you have developed. I love anything like this that is intricate and gorgeous. I've made two already. I cut out the windows and applied tracing paper to the reverse, coloured with felt pens. Then I shall get some of those battery powered candles to make them glow.... adorable.!
Thank you so much!
Thank you! Thank you! I love houses! Shame about your gingerbread houses- better than the puppy eating it, but not much...
Soo cute! Now I want to make a winter village ontop of the million other things that I wont have time to do, lol, thanks for sharing!
Oh my!! Thank you.... I have an obsession with paper houses already! Thank you for feeding me!
Wow, this is darling! Thanks so much for this, I'll be linking.
Thanx for sharing the pattern -it`s lovely!
Hello from germany,
Kiki
We, too, had a disappointing run with our gingerbread house this year. Thanks for a less destructible replacement. :D
this is absolutely wonderful!
thank you so much for sharing your art!!
These are too cute. I remember gluing a house like this when I was little, one that came on the back of a cereal box. funny huh? anyhow, I love these houses!
Anne
Very cute! Thank you.
Thanks so much for this PDF...I LOVED it!
http://briacolleen.wordpress.com/2009/12/13/erskine-christmas-village/
How beautiful...thank you much :)
Simply adorable little houses!!
Thank you so much for the paper house freebie. It is so cute and I had a great time putting it together. I included my house in your Flickr group but also posted to my blog here. Happy Holidays!
thank you what a lovely idea
Thanks for this! I used the paper houses as gift tags to distract people from my ugly wrapping! :-)
love these little houses - I've a passion for old cut out books and these are along the same lines - but much prettier! Thank you so much for sharing your talent.
Hi!
Today I posted an entry on my blog with a link to this tutorial and download.
I'd appreciate your letting me know if that's OK.
Thanks,
Nancy Ward
http://paperfriendly.blogspot.com
Your houses are wonderful! I love them!
Thank you for sharing! Wishing you everything good in the new year!
Barbara Diane
Thank you for this beautiful template! The detail is intricate and fascinating to look at every little thing on it. It reminds me a bit of those "I Spy" books...........I see something new when I pick it up.
Thank you again
Polkadotlady
I loved your houses, but couldn't get the PDF file to work.... Otherwise these houses are adroable!
Thank you - this is beautiful!