2026 Project No. 2 – Santa’s Castle Candy Box Reproduction

[Howard]

Greetings to everyone,

Introduction
With the arrival of a new month in just a few days, I am excited to introduce another creative project: a reproduction of a vintage candy box inspired by a piece I saw on an antiques website. Unfortunately, I am unable to share a photograph of the original, as it is protected by copyright. However, I believe you can easily spot the original if you search “Japan putz candy box” on the internet.

My interpretation of the candy box may be slightly larger than the antique original, and it is not intended to be an exact replica. However, I have strived to capture the spirit and charm of the original using a similar brick pattern, color palette, and other details.

Project Construction and Details
The accompanying work-in-progress photographs and PDF pattern files provide a comprehensive guide to the project. I will share additional information soon regarding the stick-on windows, printed brick graphics, and other decorative features.

Santa Figure Tutorial
For those interested in constructing the Santa figure that accompanies the candy box, please refer to the following link. Once opened, scroll down to the reply dated March 8, 2018. While you will first encounter instructions for a larger Santa figure, the construction process for the smaller version is fundamentally the same.
https://www.cardboardchristmas.com/foru ... php?t=1422

Upcoming Projects
Stay tuned to the Cardboard Christmas Forum throughout 2026, as I have planned a series of engaging projects that I look forward to sharing.

Howard

[Howard]

Project Update: Santa’s Candy Box Castle...02/04/2026

Greetings to all,

This project has been a source of creative satisfaction for me and is just one of many planned for 2026.

Brick Paper Graphics
The brick paper graphics, which I will post shortly, were created by hand. I drew the bricks on tan card stock using a brown pencil, and then the design was reproduced using color laser printing.

Tree Construction
For the two small trees on the project, I used short lengths of "Canadian Pine Wired Stems." Each stem was topped with a red stamen. Both materials are commonly found in craft stores and can also be purchased online.

Printed Stick-On Windows
There are two options for the printed stick-on windows used in the project. Preprinted versions are available from Pete Ohemen at oehman@sbcglobal.net Alternatively, you can download and print your own. Go here and scroll down to Stick-On (Candy Box) Doors.
https://cardboardchristmas.com/html/pri ... urces.html

Base and Trim Decoration
Before painting and adding glitter to the base and trim, I sprinkled a little sand to create surface interest and texture. I’m having good success using Mod Podge® to adhere the sand to the raw cardboard.

Share Your Creations
If you have created your own version of Santa’s Candy Box Castle or any other pieces for which I have posted patterns, please consider sharing them with us on the forum.

Stay creative and stay tuned.

Howard

[Howard]

UPDATE 2/5/2026 - - Brick Paper Graphics

Greetings to all,

Provided PDF and Quality Notice
Attached is a PDF containing the brick paper graphics. Please note that the quality of the scan may not be perfect, as my scanner is currently not functioning as reliably as usual. You will have to print out the file two times to cover the walls of the two castle pieces.

Alternative Method for Creating Brick Patterns
If the printout from the provided file does not meet your expectations, you can easily create a brick pattern yourself. Use tan paper and a brown pencil, which is the method I originally used. To do this, draw parallel horizontal lines approximately 1/4 inch apart. Then, add vertical lines about 5/8 inch apart to represent the mortar joints.

Recommended Tool
For this task, I recommend using the Westcott® B-70 ruler. This ruler measures 2 inches wide by 12 inches long and is clear with red markings, making it easy to align and draw accurate lines for the brick pattern.

Should my scanner begin working properly again, I will upload a PDF containing the exact graphics I used originally. Fingers crossed for a quick resolution!

Howard