This kit is for personal use ONLY. Please do not copy, distribute, or sell any part of this design or the instructions without my permission. Pre-Cut Mid-Century Modern House @2021 Jacqueline Smith
Before you start your new kit, think about how you will want to decorate it. You can paint the house, paint the house and glitter it, glitter just parts of the house like the roof, use the kit pieces as a guide to cut out decorative paper that you can glue onto the house, or just leave the building white for a modern look. If you leave any portion of the house as unpainted cardboard, I suggest spraying with a matte acrylic sealer like Krylon or Modge Podge Sealer.
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Suggested Material List . . .
- Pre-cut kit has been cut from White Kraft Board. This is equivalent to 120 lb cover cardstock or cardboard.
- Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue. I put it in a bottle with a thin metal tip. If you are new to making kits, you may want to use Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue as this allows more time for you to reposition your pieces if you make a mistake.
- Bone Folder – A bone folder helps you make sharp folds when you are using cardstock or cardboard. While the kit comes pre-scored, it helps to make the scoring deeper with a bone folder.
- Multi-surface satin finish acrylic paints in your color choices. I find that if I use the multi-surface paint I do not need to gesso the cardboard first. Two coats are usually required.
- To glitter the house: Extra fine glitter or extra fine iridescent glitter and Spectra Glitter Sparkling Crystals (mixed 50/50) and Modge Podge. I like to apply the Modge Podge with a foam brush to one side of the building at a time, glitter, then move on to the next side. You may like your building glittered with only the extra fine glitter, but I liked adding a slightly chunkier glitter to it too.
- To make snow: Woodland Flex Paste, Woodland Soft Flake Snow, and Hemway White Ultra Sparkle Glitter. Apply the flex paste and sprinkle a combination of the soft flake snow and Ultra sparkle glitter over it while it is wet. Use a little Modge Podge on a brush to add more of the snow mixture once the flex paste is dry.
NOTES . . . (read before starting)
- Due to variations by each builder you may find a trim piece a tad longer than needed. If this happens, simply trim it down to fit.
- DO use the cutting guide below to identify all of the pieces! It’s always a good idea to lay out all of the pieces before you start so that you have everything in the correct place. I include a few extra window frames in the kit.
Cutting Guide …
Let’s get started . . .
The following instructions are to show you how the building should be constructed. I show the order of construction without any paint or glitter. Think about how you will finish the building and if any parts will need to be painted or finished before being glued in place.
There is no wrong way to paint, glitter and glue. Personally, I like to paint the trim and walls when flat, then glue the trim onto the building, add the vellum, and then glue the building together. I then glitter the completed building. However, I know people who glitter the building while flat before gluing it together. I suggest you try different methods until you find out what works best for you. Tutorials for various ways to decorate your house can be found on the Putz House Monthly Website. A tutorial on how to make siding for your Mid-Century Modern House can be found here.
Constructing the Building
1. Put the Stairs and Fence pieces aside until step #9 below. Fold all of your pieces towards the back or inside (mountain folds), except the front and back pieces, that have a mountain and valley fold (as shown below.) I like to use a bone folder to deepen the score lines. It may help to score on both side of your cardstock.
2. Glue all window frames in place. Glue on trim around garage door, and glue in garage door.
3. Glue the vellum in place if you are using it.
4. Fold the garage into a square and glue together. Glue the roof tabs together as this helps provide structure.
5. Glue the Front and Back together, again gluing the roof tabs to provide more structure.
6. Check the fit of each of the bottom insert pieces, adjusting any of the fold lines as necessary. You may need to trim the corners. The smallest building insert goes in the garage. I usually put the bottom insert piece flat on my work surface and lower the building onto it. I can then use a pen inserted through the holes in the top to push the tabs against the sides of the building. The bottom insert pieces help to stiffen and square up the walls of the building.
7. Glue the garage onto the main building, aligning the light holes and the bottoms of the buildings.
8. Glue the Garage Roof on first, then glue on the Main Roof and the Chimney.
9. Starting at the back, glue a stair strip around each half-circle stair, trimming off any excess.
10. Glue to house, two stairs in the front and one in the back.
11. Use the included cardstock to make a base. The kit also includes pieces for a fence. Glue a post on each side of the fence. Use the larger posts to glue two pieces of the fence together.
This building can be finished with any method you are used to. Don’t worry about it being perfect. Just have fun and enjoy the process!
Enjoy making your Mid-Century Modern House!! I would love to see your finished buildings. Please share a photo with me by emailing me at Jackie@acottageintheforest.com.
Examples for Inspiration
