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 Retro Ice Cream Stand @2024 Jacqueline Smith
Please read all instructions prior to beginning the project. If you are new to making houses, make sure you read and understand each step before placing your glue.Â
I consider this a beginner Kit.
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. Acetate for the windows and a printed scene for the inside are included.
- 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.
- Double sided adhesive tape – 1/8″ I have now made multiple Ice Cream Stands, and it is too easy to knock out the glued in acetate windows. Double sided adhesive tape should hold the acetate better.Â
- Bone Folder – A bone folder helps you make sharp folds when you are using cardstock or cardboard. While the kit comes pre-scored, I strongly suggest you make the scoring deeper with a bone folder.
- Multi-surface satin finish acrylic paints in your color choices. Two coats are usually required.Â
- 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 the snow:  medium weight modeling paste, Woodland Soft Flake Snow, and Creatology White Crystal Extra Fine Glitter. Apply the modeling paste and sprinkle a combination of the soft flake snow and glitter over it while it is wet. Use a little Modge Podge on a brush to add more of the snow mixture once the modeling 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 an extra window frame in the kit.
Cutting Guide for Retro Ice Cream Stand…
Your kit will include either the Regular Back and Regular Bottom Insert, and a door, OR the Putz Back, Putz Bottom Insert, and a strengthening ring for the Putz hole, and a door, OR a Solid Back and Bottom, and a door, depending on which option you chose when you purchased the kit.
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 this website.
Constructing the Building
1. Fold the building front and back and the window trim on the score lines. Do not fold on the side tabs of the back, as those score lines are for placements.
2. Glue the trim onto just the front of the building, leaving the sides of the trim unattached.
3. Fold back the sides of the front and clip down the roof but don’t glue it. Then glue down the side window trims.
4. Unfold the front roof, turn over and tape the acetate windows into the inside of the building. Remember to remove the protective film from both sides of the acetate. Glue the door onto the back piece.
5. Glue the back of the building to the front, using the score lines for placement.
6. Check the fit of the bottom insert piece, adjusting any of the fold lines as necessary. You may need to trim the corners. Align the notch in the bottom insert with the door. Glue in the bottom insert piece now as it will help to help to stiffen and square the walls of the building. Once I know the fit is right, I run the needle tip of my glue bottle between the bottom insert and the sides, making sure each side is glued securely before moving on to the next.
7. I include an interior ice cream store scene for if you use acetate windows. Glue the scene into the building right behind the side windows. Glue down the roof tabs.
8. Fold the upper roof piece. Glue the tabs to make a rectangle. Fold again and glue the edges together.
9. Glue the lower roof onto the underside of the rectangle, aligning both slots on one edge. Glue the roof onto the building.
10. Decide if you want to add pen lines to the ice cream cones. I used a Cricut pen to draw over the score lines. Glue the cones to each side of the middle piece, then glue on the ice cream.
11. Insert the cone through the slit in the roof and use a thin line of glue at the juncture of the cone and the underside of the roof. You may need to run your craft blade up and down the slot a few times to make it a bit wider/ looser.
12. Add signs. I printed various ice cream related signs I found using a Google search onto a 4 x 6″ label and cut them out to place on the windows. You can also print them out on regular paper and glue to the windows.
Use the included cardstock to make a base.Â
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 Retro Ice Cream Stand!! I would love to see your finished building. Â Please share a photo with me by emailing me at Jackie@acottageintheforest.com.
Examples for Inspiration
