How to Build a Putz House Base
Adding a base to your putz house gives it extra stability and a blank canvas to landscape & decorate around your house! To make this super easy base you’ll sandwich 3 pieces of cardboard together, wrap the sides with cereal box strips & gift wrap with paper. Paint it any color, cover with snow, glitter or artificial grass and decorate it any way your imagination dreams up!
— Supplies You’ll Need —
Corrugated Cardboard Box
Empty Cereal Box
Carton Knife
Sheet of 8.5 x 11 Printer Paper
Ruler + Pencil
Tacky Glue
Large Flat Paintbrush
Diluted Tacky Glue or Modge Podge
Cutting Surface
Most of my Tealight Houses (3-3.25” W x 2.5-2.75”D) fit nicely on a 4 ¼ × 5 ½ ” base unless you need extra space for a small forest, pond or decorative figures. Check the fit of your house, trees & decorations by laying them out on a 1/4 sheet of 8.5 × 11 paper. Adjust the layout & size of your base if needed.
— Measuring & Cutting the Pieces —
Remove packing tape & shipping labels from your cardboard box.
Cut through one side fold to open the box so it lays flat on your cutting mat.
With the smooth inside of the box facing up, carefully measure & cut 3 pieces of cardboard (facing the same direction) with your straight edge and knife.
Use the smoothest piece for the top of your base. Stack the pieces, checking the edges are straight & face the same direction
— Gluing the Sandwich —
Apply a zigzag of glue across the surface & all the way to the edges of your bottom cardboard piece..
Place the middle cardboard piece on top. Line up the edges & press together.
Apply glue across the surface of the middle piece. Carefully line up edges & press together.
Measure the width of your cardboard sandwich to size the cereal box strips to wrap around it. Set aside to dry.
— Wrapping the Sandwich Sides —
Trim the top & bottom panels from one side of your cereal box.
Use your your knife & ruler to measure & cut 2 long strips of cereal box.
Dry fit a strip to the side of the sandwich to check fit.
Apply a zigzag of glue along one long side of the sandwich. Line up the cereal box strip with your sandwich and press in place along that side. Press against your table until glue holds in place.
Apply glue across the short side. Gently bend the strip around the corner and across the short side. Press in place against the table until glue sets.
Follow the same steps to apply a strip around the remaining half of your sandwich. Trim the ends of the strip flush and set aside to dry.
— Measuring + Folding the Paper Wrap —
Center your Base on a sheet of paper. Trim the paper to fit like a piece of gift wrap if needed.
Pull the paper tight across the long sides of the base (like you’re taping the bottom of a gift) Rub each side with your fingers to crease along the edges of your base.
— Wrapping With Paper —
You’ll Need:
Diluted Tacky Glue (or Modge Podge)
Larger Paintbrush Credit Card, Sponge or Smoothing Tool
Open the paper & remove your Base. Cover the top surface of the Base with diluted Tacky Glue or Modge Podge. using a larger paintbrush.
Turn the glue covered side face down & carefully line up the Base with the creases on your paper. Smooth the paper over the glued surface with your fingers, a dry sponge or credit card to remove the air bubbles.
Pull one side of the paper across the base & use a pencil to mark the paper edge on the cardboard.
On the same side you just marked, apply diluted Tacky Glue to the side strip + base up to your paper edge mark.
Pull the paper tight & use your fingers to gently smooth the paper across the side & bottom. Remove air bubbles & smooth with a credit card or smoothing tool.
Cover the other side of the Base using the same method.
Apply glue to the remaining center paper strip & smooth it across the base, leaving the short ends of the paper open.
Fold each short end of the Base like gift wrap.
Unfold the flap & apply glue across it. Pull the paper against the side & fold it across the base.
Smooth the side & flap against the base to seal it.
Follow the same steps to glue the other end closed. Set your finished base aside to dry.
