Project demonstrated by Pat DeSantis.
Materials:
Wright's single fold bias tape in two colors
- 3 packages of bias tape - one color for the building
- 1 package of bias tape - one color for the roof
Wright's window and door appliques
four sheets of double-sided adhesive
scissors
several recycled 1/2-gallon juice or milk cartons
fabric glue
Steps:
1. Thoroughly clean and dry cartons. If there is a plastic pour spout on the carton, carefully remove it.
2. Open up the top of the carton to create the roof (figure A).
3. Cut out the bottom of the carton.
4. Cover the four sides of the carton with double-sided adhesive sheets, leaving the protective backing on the top side of the adhesive (figure B).
5. Lift approximately two inches of the protective backing, exposing the top side of the adhesive.
6. Using the color of bias tape that you have chosen for the house, begin at one corner of the carton and start wrapping the bias tape around the carton in a row formation (figure C). Start evenly at the bottom and position one row of bias tape around the carton, then cut the tape when you reach the starting point of the row.
7. Start the second row at the same point as the row above, slightly overlapping the first row.
8. Apply the second row of bias tape in the same manner as the first row, removing the protective backing from the adhesive sheet as you work.
9. Repeat step 8 until the rows of bias tape "siding" reach the top of the square part of the carton (figure D). Now you're ready to make the roof.
10. To prepare for the roof, cut a point from the square part of the carton in the corner to a point in the middle, creating the peak on two sides. Cover these with the double-side adhesive and the second color of bias tape as you did the "house " portion of the carton.
11. Cut a piece of heavy poster paper, slightly longer and wider than the width of the inverted V-shape at the top of the carton.
12. Glue the new pattern over the original top of the carton, creasing in the middle and catching it to the top of the peaks.
13. Cut 1-1/2-inch pieces from the second color of bias tape. You will need several as these pieces will act as "shingles."
14. Apply more double-sided adhesive to the roof in the same manner as you did to the body of the carton.
15. Begin to glue these single pieces to the roof (figure E), singularly and side-by-side, overlapping each row as you did with the building siding.
16. When you reach the peak of the roof, adhere half of the pieces to the crease in one direction and then the second half starting from the bottom again, up to the crease.
17. Glue one long piece of bias tape over the raw edges along the peak of the roof to finish (figure F).
18. To finish the edges on the house, cut a long piece of bias tape and glue it over the raw edges on the corner where the rows start and finish (figure G). Repeat for the other three corners so they all match.
19. Cut holes out from the inside of the carton at spaces where you want to position windows and doors (figure H).
20. Glue door and window appliques (figure I) over the holes cut in step 19 (figure J). Customize the buildings, if desired, by adding signs.
21. Cut out a strip of scrap carton material (1-1/2"x 4-1/3" or similar size) to fashion a chimney (figure K).
22. Fold the strip four times at measured intervals along the length to make a three-dimensional rectangle (figure L). Tape to secure. Paint the outside of the rectangle red. Add black lines to simulate a brick chimney (figure M), then glue it to the top of the house.
23. Make as many buildings as desired. Run a strand of Christmas lights or a single larger bulb (figure N) inside the buildings to create a nice warm look.
Tips:
- Make a larger building by gluing two milk or juice cartons side by side (figure O).
- To add interest and achieve a different look altogether, place a smaller milk carton building beside a taller one (figure P).
- To embellish your bias tape village, purchase pine trees, street lamps and people to populate the village from hobby stores. For trees that have lost their leaves, pick branches from your yard and "plant" them in polyester fiberfill "snow." Make front door steps, side walks, etc., with foamboard and fashion door wreaths from green rickrack.
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