For the first time this year, I signed up for a volunteer shift at the Junior League of Jackson’s Mistloetoe Marketplace as a Sustainer. I figured, “Why not?” I loved my active years in JLJ, but I guess I felt like a needed a break from Mistletoe once I became a Sustainer; that’s been a while ago!
The theme for the holiday shopping extravaganza this year was “Oh, What Fun!” I was stationed at the information booth behind some pretty cute little glitter houses. Almost as many times as I got asked, “Where’s the women’s restroom? (Answer: “Retrace your steps to the opposite end of the Trademart, past the men’s restroom.”), I was asked, “Where can I buy these adorable houses?”
JLJ sells the décor for Mistletoe, but these were not listed. Maybe they’d sold out? By the end of my shift, I had started googling the cute houses and directing people to various websites. I was incredulous at the prices on these little decorations!
I studied them a bit and decided that they couldn’t be that difficult to make.
With a little research on Pinterest, I discovered that they are called “Putz” houses, and there are lots of ways to make them. The best explanation on why they’re called “Putz” is here.
Just for fun and to see if I could make something worth selling to add to my daughter’s book art fundraiser, I purchased three birdhouses from Michaels and some supplies. Walking down the aisle for miniatures, I began to get a clearer picture as to why Putz houses carry such a high price tag! Every little detail, bottle brush tree, picket fence, figurine, etc. carries a significant price and the costs add up quickly!
For a little post-Thanksgiving fun, I pulled the bird houses out, along with art supplies. My sister painted the pink one, my niece painted the teal one, and I glued glitter paper to the church. We added trees, wreaths, garlands, and snow. Since then, I’ve Modge-Podged on some glitter and glued down the trees.
This week, Liz and I are attaching the birdhouses to 9”x12” boards and adding fun-in-the-snow figurines from the Dollar Tree and Michaels. (Don’t worry: those boards are going to be covered in glittery snow.) I’m not sure that these Putz houses will fetch a tidy sum, but they sure were fun to make!
