Different kind of base for a house - a Book Base

Post by **Lucy** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 6:26 pm

I made some houses early on that I thought were a little dull so I figured I would put them on a "book" as a base. I made a few books - stacks of cardboard inside covered with paper that I stained with tea and scored to look like pages. Then I glued 2 larger pieces of cardboard covered with card stock and made a rounded spine. I embossed the cover using a Spellbinder's embossing pattern and stamped the title with a regular "Happy Halloween" stamp. Still debating on whether to add the title to the area in front of the little house. This is the first one that I have completely finished.

This house pattern is called triple gable gothic (though there are 4 gables with the portico). When I made this house, I was still using glitter paper for to make the roof. I was afraid to use glitter because I thought it would get all over my house. Silly me.

Finally bought some blue poster board as my photo background for the houses. I think it makes the houses show up better. Thank you Howard for all the ideas that you share with us.

Post by **Howard** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 7:43 pm

OH, BOY!...outstanding work...what's next?...(just had to ask)...

Howard..

Post by **Lucy** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 8:20 pm

Howard,

I am just finishing my first house with a porch. I used some of your techniques from your recent Feb 2002 and Nov 2003 houses of the month houses. It's not quite ready yet. I am going to make some skeleton flatties from scrapbook paper and maybe a witch with a cauldron flattie from a halloween paper punch.

Thank you for your kind words and encouragement.
Lucy

Post by **paulrace** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 9:53 pm

Lucy, the faux-book-as-base look is great!

Post by **Lynn** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 9:16 am

Everything looks great I just love how your book came out. Glitter paper I never would have thought of that it, looks nice.

Post by **debquilts** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 8:22 am

Looks awesome. Love the Glitter paper roof, What are the little pumpkins? Candy?
Debbie W

Post by **paulrace** » Mon Sep 21, 2015 9:43 am

Totally off-topic idea spawned by the unusual texture of the walls in this building.

Would it be feasible to make a "wood siding" look by taking open-faced corrugated cardboard and ironing the corrugations flat in one direction? Seems like it would be a great texture for a haunted house's walls.

Sorry, we now return you to our regularly scheduled celebration of Lucy's accomplishments.

Post by **Lucy** » Tue Sep 22, 2015 3:27 pm

Paul,
I was very surprised that anyone noticed the texture of the walls. I scored that card stock to simulate wood walls. I think your idea of wood siding using flattened exposed corrugated cardboard is very intriguing. Once again you've set me on another experimental journey.

I only have one more Halloween house to post because that's the last one to be finished before my deadline of October 1st. I will take all the houses to work on that day to sell them for our fundraiser. I will take a photo of the entire Halloween village display before I do that. I'm painting a chalkboard background which I hope will look good.

Then I get to do Christmas houses which I am very excited about.

Thank you for your kind comments. I am somewhat paranoid about posting too often. I am just having so much fun making the little houses that I wanted to share them. Lucy

P.S. Deb asked about the pumpkins. I made them out of polymer clay. It's really easy - just warm up some orange clay (I use sculpey) and roll into a ball. Put it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to get firm again, then get a toothpick or even a piece of cardboard and press creases in the pumpkin, put a small indentation in the top of the pumpkin and put a small green wire or green clay as the stem. Bake according the instructions and boom! you have a little pumpkin the perfect size for your little house.

Post by **paulrace** » Tue Sep 22, 2015 9:58 pm

Lucy, your projects are delightful and folks appreciate them greatly. I don't think you COULD post too often.

Thanks for the tip about the sculpey pumpkins, too!