When Christmas approaches, I always feel inspired to make more decorations for my home. To save money, I prefer making my own instead of buying them. I usually start planning in August by collecting ideas, themes, and color schemes for the year. Even with an early start, I never seem to have enough time to create everything I imagine—I’m sure many of you can relate! This year, I was especially inspired by a creator I found on TikTok.

Her name is Maren Baxter. Maren Baxter (@marenbaxter) | TikTok

Maren creates the most incredible miniature villages. Her work inspired me so much that I couldn’t wait to try making a small village for my own home. At first, Maren didn’t share tutorials, so I had to figure out the process myself. Recently, however, I discovered that she has started posting tutorials. To start, I researched what kind of cardboard I thought she was using. I found some on Amazon: 8 X 10 corrugated cardboard sheets. The cardboard I purchased was easy enough to work with, but in hindsight, I think poster board might have worked better.

For the detailed drawing, I used paint pens. Also found on Amazon. The pens are quick-dry and permanent, oil-based, waterproof markers. They made the job easier and less messy than painting.

For the windows, I used this product. Haodong Beef Silver Leaf Gelatin Sheets. This gave the windows a beautiful effect. You must be careful when using this product. It tends to break easily.

How I drew the houses, I looked at Maren Baxter’s houses, and I copied bits and pieces from many of the houses I could see. I did not want to copy her houses exactly. This project took me about a week to do.

A ruler is your friend on this project. It is noticeable when you do not. When putting the snow on the roof, it is cut out of a separate piece of cardboard and glued on.

You should decide how many houses you want to complete your project. I made my project round. I already had the piece of wood I was going to mount the houses on as a pattern guide me on the size of the houses and how many I wanted.

To form the houses to be able to stand alone and in a circle, the cardboard houses had to be connected. I had to glue strips of cardboard where the houses connected to assemble and strengthen the project.

I used timed fairy lights behind the houses. The lights shining through the plastic on the windows gave it such a beautiful feel.

To enhance this village, I added more houses. This set of houses is made out of wood that I picked up at Michaels and Hobby Lobby, when it was on sale, if possible.

The designs on the two houses in the middle I used ideas again from Marin Baxter. The paint that I used was the same as the one used on the cardboard houses.

The paint I used first was the paint pen. To give the house a raised look, I used puff paint. It worked really well with the snow on the roof.

The blue and white house is also done with the paint pen.

The houses were all painted a solid color to begin with. The black house is painted with the paint pen. I have tiny LED lights on timers inside the houses.

If you decide to give any of these a try, I would love to see them.

Till next time,

Roxanne