Gus the Ghost's House

Post by **Lucy** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 2:19 am

This is not strictly a Halloween house so I am posting it here. It's a house I made for a friend of mine who told me how one of my other houses reminded her of a book she loved as a kid - What's a Ghost Going to Do? when his home is due to be torn down. I saw the house on the cover and decided that it would be a great house to make.

I made a book base with a drawer to put the house on. There is a hole in the cover of the book base so you can put lights in the drawer to light up the house. This is my first house with a wraparound porch which is rather challenging. And a curved roof cupola. That was a bit of challenge as well.

There's a little more detail on my blog if you would like to read about the making of the house.

Lucy
https://paperglitterglue.com/gus-the-gh ... on-a-book/

Post by **Howard** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 8:04 am

Lucy...
Project inspiration is everywhere...and you've proven it again...I also read all the details over on you blog...
My very best regards...
Howard...

Post by **OKPat** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 9:38 am

Lucy, to me this is one of your most charming houses. The upper window detail is great.
And the finishes are just the right amount of ramshackle. Terrific!

Pat

PS: I have a female cat named Gus, short for Disgusting, but that's another story.

Post by **Lynn** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 4:44 pm

Lucy, you really captured the picture of the house!!
Great colors and textures. I love the fence I am starting to design a Halloween house, would you share some info about it, thanks!

Post by **Lucy** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 5:24 pm

Lynn, the roof is the wrong color but I just couldn't figure out the right one. And I like blue so I used blue. It matches the siding. I love the way the illustrator, Seymour Fleishman, colored the siding so I tried to mimic that.

I'll make some pictures of what I used to make the fencing that surrounds the porch.

Did you say that you just got a cutting machine? That may be the way to go for the fencing.

OKPat, a cat named Gus short for Disgusting. Personally, I would love to hear that story. I bet it is FUNNY.

Howard, thank you for stopping by my blog. You are right, inspiration is everywhere. You can see from the cover of the book that it is a very compelling little house. There are a few pictures inside that helped me with the structure. I simplified the roof line. It was very complicated that wasn't really evident on the front cover. I have never figured out how to add cornices because I don't have a solid flat edge to attach them to. I omit them or add a flat detail around the edge like I did on the Wilkins House.

Post by **Lee** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 5:38 pm

Lucy, I love this! Thank you for sharing.

Robin S · Post by **Robin S** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 7:43 pm

Lucy,

I am admiring the roof slates/shingles. I have seen this style on some other houses and wonder how you did yours? Is it one long strip that you cut different shingle shapes on or are they individual shakes? Lovely little house by the way and I think Gus would live to live there.

Robin

Post by **Lucy** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 10:53 pm

Robin,

Often I use a die to make shingles as in this case, but I have cut out shingles as a strip by hand or even as individual shakes. I included a few examples of hand cut roof shingles in the photos. Or you could use paper edger scissors for roof shingles.

Lucy

Robin S · Post by **Robin S** » Wed Apr 11, 2018 11:06 pm

Thanks Lucy. I have looked at so many houses lately that I didn't realize that first photo of the Irish house was yours. I really like that roof and think it might be appropriate for the Great Hall of Hogwarts which I'm currently working on. I'll have to make some test strips to see if I can achieve that look.

Robin

Laney · Post by **Laney** » Sat Apr 14, 2018 4:20 pm

I love Gus's house - as you already know! I think you did a great job on the roof even if it does not match the one from the book. The blue looks great. I also enjoyed seeing all of the roof examples in this thread. Very creative ideas and inspiration. Thank you for sharing.