You need a Putz House path to finish your latest Christmas village creation. You looked at all of the glittery examples on Google. Somehow, they didn’t help much; because you’re even more uncertain about what to do next.
Things are even more complicated since Putz houses now come in all sorts of styles. Most people think of modern/classic style houses when they think about Christmas villages. But there are a growing number of photo-realistic designs. And don’t forget the emerging designers who are creating minimalist-style putz houses.
It gets even more confusing. When you think you have found examples that are the same style as yours, it’s not clear how you should go about making a path for your putz house.
You will learn three techniques for each of the three major putz house styles. The nine techniques are easy to do. So you can make the perfect putz house path for your style.
Minimalist Hand-drawn Style
Hand-drawn black ink lines on a white background give this style its minimalist vibe. You can add interest by using the geomorph techniques borrowed from tabletop gaming.
Geomorphs give the impression of three dimensions and textures. Sometimes they are colored in transparent washes so that the underlying line art is visible.
If you are looking for geomorph inspiration, take a look at our Geomorph board.
There are three techniques commonly used to create the hand-drawn style.
Draw Directly On The Base
First, lightly draw the design directly onto the base with a pencil to rough in the path. Then you take a pen, like a felt tip pen, to finalize the shapes. You finish by adding texture.
Be sure to seal the drawing to protect it.
You may want to add colored washes. These are almost always transparent, so the line drawing shows through. If you’re going to keep to a minimalist feel, you can use sepia washes to create a shadow. You can also combine transparent washes in natural colors to brighten the entire project.
Draw Onto A Transfer Sheet
First, determine the size of the feature. Then outline the area in pencil on a transfer sheet. Transfer sheets don’t have to be complicated. You can use a piece of 20lb bond printer paper.
You develop the element just as if you were drawing directly on the base. First, you do a pencil sketch, a final ink drawing, add texture, and any washes you want. When you have completed the element, you will transfer it to the base.
Transferring is easy. First, cut the element out of the transfer sheet. Then apply contact adhesive to the back of the paper and attach it to the base.
Draw With A Vector Graphic Editor
While the name sounds intimidating, it is easy to draw directly using your computer.
A vector graphic is an image made up of lines(vectors). The vector images can be made very large or small without any loss of detail. It is different from bit images like photographs, which get jagged when you try to make them big.
There are several popular vector graphic editors.
You could use a commercial editor like CorelDRAW or Adobe Illustrator. Both of them are excellent tools used by professional graphic designers. They have lots of advanced features, but they are also high priced.
I use Inkscape. It is available for Windows, Apple, and Linux systems. It is open-source software that you can download directly onto your computer. So far, it has every feature I have ever needed. For me, the price is right – free.
You can draw using a mouse. To me, it is very awkward. That is why I use a pen and a Wacom graphics pad. It feels like I am drawing on paper, but the image goes directly to my computer screen.
There is an active community of Inkscape users. You can find online courses and tips for just about anything.
Since it produces SVG files, Inkscape is becoming a favorite with the desktop cutter community.
Photo-realistic Style
In this style, you are trying to create realistic surface details. So you have added elements like shingles and siding to your putz house. Now you want to extend that same realism to a path.
Outline With A Stencil
Stencils can make short work of things like paths. You can find patterns for bricks, stones, or stepping stones.
Once you have selected a stencil, you proceed like you would when you hand draw the path. You can apply the stencil directly to the base, or you can use a transfer.
Draw With A Raster Graphic Editor
This computer technique is no more difficult than drawing vector images.
A raster graphic is an image made up of spots of color. They are like photographs, so there are limits to how much you can change their size. They get jagged when you try to make them big.
Perhaps, the most widely used commercial editor is Adobe Photoshop. It is an excellent tool used by professional photographers and designers. It has lots of features.
I use GIMP. It is available for Windows, Apple, and Linux systems. It is open-source software that you can download directly onto your computer. There are all sorts of online courses available for everyone, from beginners to advanced.
Once you have created your image on the computer, you print it. You use the picture like you would any transfer. You cut out the element and glue it to the putz house base.
Edit Photo Texture Images
You are looking for a special kind of photograph for this technique. The pictures are called textures. They are pictures of things like a brick wall.
You want to make sure you get a seamless texture. It is a special kind of picture that hides the lines between repeats.
You can find them by searching for seamless textures. Two popular creative commons sources are Pexels and Pixaby.
You use seamless texture images like you would a floor tile. You place several side-by-side until you cover the area.
Once you have covered an area, you can edit it. Then you print it and use it like any other transfer.
Classic/Modern Style
Both the Classic and Modern styles aim to evoke a snowy Christmas scene. Neither type is trying for realism.
Thus buildings are simplified, as are all the other elements. Even when extending the style to other holidays, it seeks to create an impression rather than reality.
So you will want to continue this idea to your path. It should make the eye believe there is a path. There should be just enough detail for the mind’s eye to complete the picture.
Crafters use three materials to create paths.
Paperboard
Paperboard is the main building ingredient in putz houses. It works out to be great at creating paths also. Each element of the path is cut from the paperboard. Then it is glued to the base. Afterward, it is finished just like the rest of the scene.
Hand-cut Elements
- The first step is to create a transfer. You are going to make a simple outline of the path or its elements.
- Then you use contact adhesive to stick it to a sheet of paperboard. Next, you cut out the elements using a craft knife. Make sure to remove the transfer paper before you use the pieces.
- Finally, you glue the elements to the base and finish them.
Computer cut Elements
- The first step is to create a vector drawing of the elements. Save it as an SVG file.
- Now you import it into your desktop cutter’s software. There you will finalize the element and make it.
- Finally, you glue the elements to the base and finish them.
Clay
Clay lets you create more texture and detail than simply using paperboard. You need to select a lightweight clay that sets to a hard dry surface. Once the clay is set, you can glue it to the path and finish it.
There are two types of clay which commonly used when making putz house paths.
Paper clay – paper clay combines a binder(usually ceramic clay) and cellulose fibers into a clay-like substance. It takes detail well and dries to a hard finish.
Air Dry Clay – air dry clay combines water and polymer binders to create a fine texture. Doll makers use it to make faces, hands, and feet for dolls. It takes detail well and dries to a hard finish.
No matter which clay you choose, the process is the same:
- First, you create a transfer.
- Then you will tape it face down to a sheet of wax paper. Turn the article over and form the elements on the front of the wax paper. Be sure to follow the transfer pattern.
- Once the clay dries, you have two choices. You can finish the elements on the wax paper and then glue them to the base. Or you could glue them to the base first and then finish them.
Papier Mache
Most of us are familiar with papier mache made with strips of paper. But there are several ways to create papier mache.
Papier Mache Clay – papier mache clay is made from finly ground paper flour, and glue. You can make your own or purchase it in dry form at your local craft store. It acts like clay so that you can create fine detail. It is easy to use because you follow the steps for clay.
The Egg Carton Hack – this trick uses something most of us have – eggs. When you buy eggs, they come in a box to protect them. Some packages are a rough gray material – papier mache. You can cut the the stepping stones for your path from the packaging material. Then you dampen it to help it lie flat and take the shape you want. Once they set, you glue them to the base and finish them.
Final Thoughts
You may have created a classic-style putz house that duplicates the originals from the early 20th century. Then again, you may have ventured into newer designs following the lead of the minimalist and photo-realist designers.
No matter which style you prefer, it is clear one size doesn’t fit all. So you have seen three techniques for each of the significant types.
The nine techniques covered in this article give you a solid foundation to create a putz house path in any style. Once you have become comfortable with a particular style, you should feel free to experiment.
After all, celebrating holidays like Christmas or Halloween through crafts is a personal expression. So follow the design cues, use the techniques you have learned here and stamp your holiday village with your unique impression.