A while back I posted sweet little paper houses that were so much fun to make that I thought it would be timely to add a little spookiness and re-design them into cute little haunted house luminaries and party treat boxes! You can follow the basic directions for folding and gluing the boxes on that post along with some additional notes below.
The houses are made using 12″ x 12″ Black Glitter Scrapbook Cardstock found at most scrapbook and craft stores and online. You can fit two houses to a sheet. But keep in mind, quantities are usually limited on the glitter stock, so if you plan to make quantities of these, you need to get them soon before the Halloween rush hits!
Please note that the luminaries are only to be used with battery-operated LED flameless tealight candles, NOT real flame candles. The flickering flame ones create a spookier effect.
Click on the images below to download the free PDF files for printing the house templates as luminaries or treat boxes. The only difference between the two is the bottom section. The luminaries have separate bottoms and the treat boxes are attached. (Trust me, there’s a method to that madness.) Each template has additional window options (so multiple houses don’t look too “cookie-cutter”) and lil’ bats in motion.
It’s a good idea to print templates to cardstock if possible for easier tracing. Trim out the house outline and windows with a craft knife along the solid lines. Trace around the cut-out template onto the backside of the glitter stock being sure to allow space for an additional full template tracing on the remaining section. Before removing the template, add small marks to show fold mark areas, then once the template is removed, draw those lines in (dashed if it helps you remember not to cut those lines.)
Assemble the house using a good strong glue. Use pinking shears or other decorative edge scissors along the roof edges and top.
For the luminaries, simply turn on the candle switch, place onto the house bottom and cover with the house. The beauty of glitter paper is that it creates enough friction from the textured surface to keep it tucked snugly in place, even allowing you to lift the luminary without the bottom dropping out.
If you’re making party treat houses, simply place candy, a message, or other treat inside and close from the bottom. The treats can be removed the same way without damaging the house.
Luminary ideas: Make a row of houses on a shelf strung with bats and glittery scrapbook letters…
or hang with bats from string from your chandelier, porch, mantle, etc. (You may want to blacken the backsides of the bats with a marker.)
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