TANDO CHRISTMAS COTTAGE ORNAMENT

Hello fellow mixed media artists!

It's time for another fun project to get your creative juices flowing.  This time, I've combined DecoArt products, Andy SKinner's DecoArt Stencils and a Tando Creative's house from their Mini 3D House Trio set.  I've created a little vintage style stone Christmas cottage that can be used as a beautiful package decoration, just one cottage in an entire handmade Christmas village or a vintage ornament for your Christmas tree.

Now, you may be asking yourself "Christmas cottage? Already?"  But, have you noticed how quickly this year is flying by?  It's already only 5 months until Christmas Eve!  NOW the panic is beginning to set in, huh?

This little ornament using one of the THREE houses you receive in Tando Creative's 3D Mini Houses kit is the perfect size!  It's plain greyboard so each little house can look totally different.  

Let's get started on how this house was made!  First you'll need some supplies:

• DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Paynes Grey
• DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Raw Sienna
• DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide
• DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics English Red Oxide
• DecoArt Media White Modeling Paste
• DecoArt Media Liquid Glass
• DecoArt Snow-Tex
• DecoArt Snow Writer

• 3D Mini House Trio 

• DecoArt Andy Skinner Shredded Stencil

Miscellaneous Items

• Paint Brush
• Scotch Tape
• 1/4" Double Sided Adhesive Scor Tape
• Palette Knife
• Kraft Pick 
• Wire (for creating ornament hook)
• Miniature Bottle Brush Christmas Trees (approximately 1 1/4")
• Miniature Bottle Brush Wreath (approximately 1")
• Sparkle Glitter
• Clear Mica Flakes
• Little Red Beads (for ornaments on the trees and wreath)
• Red and Green Ribbon (for ornament top and wreath bow)
• Heat Tool

Now to put it all together!

Aren't these just the cutest??  

Choose the house you want to use.  There are three different and adorable designs in this kit.  I chose the house on the far right in the picture.  This kit also includes window and door frames for each house.  Those add so much character!

I chose to add a piece of scotch tape on the back side of all of the joints in the house ... just for added support when I would begin adding products and bending the greyboard into shape.  I don't know that it's even necessary but it worked beautifully!

Brush a light layer of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Paynes Grey over the entire house exterior, including the bottom.  This will be the basecoat on the house and look like mortar between the earthy stone exterior that will be started next. Let dry.

Lightly tape Andy Skinner's Shredded Stencil in place along the house form.  Scrape DecoArt Media White Modeling Paste through the stencil with a Palette Knife to create a stone cottage look for the exterior.  Remove the stencil and gently heat set the Modeling Paste.  Move stencil to the next area and tape in place. Repeat this process until all of the house greyboard is covered.  Gently heat set. Immediately wash the stencil!

*DO NOT SCRAPE MODELING PASTE ONTO THE TABS THAT WILL BE FOLDED UNDER TO ATTACH THE HOUSE SIDES,. BOTTOM OR ROOF IN PLACE. If you happen to get Modeling Paste on those tabs, wipe it off before heat setting.

This is what the little house will look like at this point.  Not too impressive but hang on!

Apply 1/4" Double Sided Adhesive Scor Tape along all of the tabs now.  Then you will be ready to fold them to the inside and stick the house together once you finish the exterior walls.

Lightly brush over the entire house, particularly over the "stone" Modeling Paste areas with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Raw Sienna.  Add more paint randomly to some of the "stones" to give them more color.  Gently heat set or air dry. 

* Notice the double sided adhesive tape on the tabs of the house?

To add more depth, randomly brush on DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Burnt Sienna over the stone areas.  Again, randomly add more paint to some stones for randomness.  Gently heat set or air dry.

To add extra warmth and blend the colors all together even more, brush over the house with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide.  Gently heat set or air dry.

Paint the roof, window and door accessories with a nice contrasting color.  In this case, brush these pieces with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics English Red Oxide.  Gently heat set or air dry.

* I also painted the window panes on the actual house with this trim color before gluing the frames on over them.  

If you are creating an ornament, find the center of the roof and pierce a hole into it using a Kraft Pick.

Next  bend the sides of the house and using the Scor Tape tabs, stick the sides and the bottom of the house in place.

Glue the window frames and front door in place using DecoArt Media Liquid Glass.  

Once the window frames and door are tightly in place and dry, add the roof to the house by bending the house tabs inward and attaching the roof to them.  Then paint the underside of the roof that is visible.  Also paint the in the creases.  Gently heat set or air dry.

To give a wintry snow effect, generously apply DecoArt Snow-Tex to the roof of the stone cottage.  I used a thick brush to add the Snow-Tex but several things can work.  Wash the brush immediately after using it! Immediately add sprinkles of Glitter and clear Mica Flakes to the roof while the Snow-Tex is wet.  They will dry along with the Snow-Tex.  Let air dry.

To get a wintry snow effect in a more detailed area, use DecoArt Snow Writer above the door and on the window frames.  Sprinkle with Glitter and clear MIca Flakes while the Snow Writer is still wet.  Let these air dry.  DO NOT HEAT SET.

Add snow to the MIniature Bottle Brush Trees and Wreath with the Snow Writer.  Then sprinkle the Glitter and clear Mica Flakes.  Let air dry.  Glue the miniature trees to the house using DecoArt Media Liquid Glass.

Close up view of the front

Close up view of the back.

Once dry, add little red bead "ornaments" to the trees and wreath using DecoArt Media Liquid Glass.  Tie two bows using the red and green ribbon and glue in place using the Liquid Glass.

You've created the first little house for your Christmas village or your Christmas tree! Wasn't it easy?  Now have fun experimenting and designing an entire village.  See what different looks you can create!

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and it's inspired you.

About the Artist:  Candy Colwell

Blog: http://candycreates.blogspot.com

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