Getting Started

[paulrace]

A reader writes:

What is the skill level of building the houses? I am thinking of trying to do a project with my nieces and nephews.

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Thanks for getting in touch. The hard part is usually cutting out the cardboard frame, including the windows. Some folks have been able to do that with a craftcutter like a Silhouette. If you own one already and are really good with it, I can convert a file or two you should be able to use. If you don't, then you probably need to get good with a Xacto knife.

Here is a list of articles on various ways folks build replicas:
https://www.cardboardchristmas.com/html ... ouses.html

There's a lot of "hurry up and wait" when you're waiting for the glue to dry, too. Some of the more serious hobbyists will work on several houses at a time so they have something to do when the glue is drying on the other houses. Some people working with children just buy cardboard house shells from Michaels and let the kids decorate them. No, they don't look quite the same, but they save a lot of time, boredom, and tears.

If you have a good color printer, you can print windows and doors on acid-free paper, cut them out and glue them in the way they used to do the cellophane ones.

Here are some other window tips and resources:

https://www.cardboardchristmas.com/html ... ndows.html

Please let me know if you have any questions these articles don't help with. Also if you join the CardboardChristmas.com discussion forums, you'll be able to ask the real experts this kind of question. It costs $1 a month because that's the only way I have found that keeps out fakers. The steps for joining start here:

https://www.cardboardchristmas.com/html/forums.html

Best of luck,

Paul Race

[paulrace]

The reader responded:

Thanks Paul, I do have a Cricut and a Silhouette Cutter -so if you could create a version to put into one of them that would be wonderful. I know the cricut machine the best. My niece and nephews are older, so I don't want to do the Micheal's version. I figured we would order pizza and play some board games while the glue dried. They will be spending the weekend with me- so we have time to do it slowly.

I am headed over to the other site to join the club - thank you for getting back with me. I think this is going to be a great way to make some fun memories with them!