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 Sparrow House @2023 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.
This is a great kit for a beginner.
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.
This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
Suggested Material List . . .
- Pre-cut kit has been cut from White Kraft Board. This is equivalent to 120 lb cover cardstock or cardboard. Some of the pieces with tight folds may be cut out of 100 lb cover cardstock when the Kraft Board is too thick to make sharp folds.
- 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, 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.
- 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: For a smooth coat on the roof, I use 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. For rougher snow on the ground I like to use SnowTex, then sprinkle with the mixture of soft flake snow and glitter. If necessary, 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 for Sparrow House …
Your kit will include either the Regular Back and Regular Bottom Insert, and 2 windows and trim, OR the Putz Back, Putz Bottom Insert, and a strengthening ring for the Putz hole, 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 list the order of construction without discussing 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 sides of the building. The bottom three score lines on each side are for decoration, not folding. Instead fold the top score line below the tab, as well as the score line below it. Use your finger to gently curve the cardboard between that score line and the one below it.
2. Cut slits into the tabs of the front and back so you can make the folds. Fold each of the tabs towards the back or inside (mountain folds.)
3. Glue a hinge onto each of the bars. Glue the doors together to make the door double thick, then place into the hole for the door. This will help you place the door frame in the proper place. Glue the door frame around the door. Glue on the window frames.
4. Fold the bar where it is attached to the hinge. Glue each of the hinges onto the front of the building. I used a ruler to make sure they were aligned. Glue each bar onto the door, being careful that you don’t get any of the glue onto the door frame.
5. You can draw lines onto the front and back of the building, or score lines, or add thin strips of trim like I did.
6. Glue the vellum in place if you are using it.
7. Glue each of the sides to the front and back of the house.
8. Check the fit of the bottom insert piece, adjusting any of the fold lines as necessary. You may need to trim the corners. Glue in the bottom insert piece now as it will help to help to stiffen and square the walls of the building. I like to lower it in from the top. Align the notch with the doorway. 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.
9. If you are going to shingle the roof, do so now. I include shingles in the pattern. Glue the dormer together, then glue the dormer onto the roof over the larger opening. Glue on the dormer roof.
10. Glue on the roof with the dormer on the right. Add the trim to the front and back of the roof peaks.
Examples for Inspiration
