Papercut Canal Houses for Christmas
Sometimes, really simple crafts can make such beautiful holiday décor. Take these paper canal houses, for instance! They’re easy to make, yet they look so elegant on my mantel with just a few LED lights and some fresh greenery. If you like decorating your home with paper houses for the holidays, you might also like our 3D paper Christmas village and our paper house ornament.
Goodies You Can't Google
You've found a member-exclusive project. But for less than the price of a fancy coffee... You'll get instant access to this and over 2,000 other premium projects inside the Lia Griffith membership!
Become a Member
Christmas Canal Houses
A lot of our DIY projects are inspired by nature, our travels, and what surrounds us. Today it’s the canal houses of Amsterdam that inspired us to make these paper versions. To make them look like the real thing, we designed these houses to be slimmer and taller compared to some of the other paper houses we’ve made.
Since there are a lot of small windows and little details on these paper canal houses, we recommend using a cutting machine. This will speed up the DIY process and make it much simpler too. However, you can cut these by hand using our PDF template below and a craft knife.
After you assemble your paper canal houses, we think they’d look pretty with some LED candles inside of them or a string of fairy lights. This plus the vellum sheets will give them that warm holiday glow! We’d love to see how you use these houses as Christmas decorations, so make sure to use the hashtag #MadeWithLia if you make your own version.
How to Make a Paper Canal House Luminary
- Gather your craft tools and materials. Then download the template below.
- Cut out and score your paper house and vellum window pieces according to the template using a cutting machine (recommended). Need help? Read this post. Or use our PDF to cut by hand with a craft knife and score along the dotted lines with a scoring tool. Note: the PDF houses are slightly smaller to fit onto 8.5” x 11” cardstock when printed.
- Fold along score lines and glue the vellum piece to the inside of the house windows.
- Glue the tab on the base to the inside of the house. Fold the non-tabbed bottom piece on top and glue in place.
Full tutorial available for members only. Join here!
Join Us for More Holiday Fun
As we get closer to Christmas, we’ll be posting new projects and old favorites on our social channels. You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for daily DIY inspiration. Or browse our video tutorials on our YouTube channel.
To download this project and other seasonal crafts, become a member! Already a member? Gift one to your crafting buddy!
Tools
This content uses links from which we may earn a commission. Disclosure.
- Cutting Machine (recommended)
- Craft Knife, Ruler, and Cutting Mat (if cutting by hand)
- Scoring Tool
Materials
All the Goodies You Can't Google 🎁
Tired of scrolling endlessly for the perfect project? Save time, money, and Google-induced headaches with us! Our membership makes it easy to create beautifully finished crafts without needing to look all over the internet for ideas and materials or spend lots of money on individual videos and templates.
Become a Member
Discussion
Ask Lia or the community!
27 Comments
-
Jacquelyn
December 12, 2023 at 12:43pm
-
Lia
December 12, 2023 at 12:54pm
@Jacquelyn
-
Elizabeth
November 30, 2021 at 11:53am
-
Lia
December 2, 2021 at 10:02am
@Elizabeth
-
Julia
December 10, 2019 at 12:43pm
-
Lia
December 12, 2019 at 8:48am
@Julia
-
Julia
December 18, 2019 at 2:39pm
@Lia
-
Pilar
November 23, 2019 at 9:58am
-
Lia
November 26, 2019 at 9:45am
@Pilar
-
Pilar
December 10, 2019 at 9:06am
@Pilar
-
Susanne
October 27, 2019 at 9:03am
-
Lia
October 28, 2019 at 12:29pm
@Susanne
-
Mike
September 26, 2019 at 4:04pm
-
Lia
September 27, 2019 at 11:37am
@Mike
-
Mike
September 28, 2019 at 7:01am
@Lia
-
Marijean
December 19, 2018 at 2:31pm
-
Lia
December 19, 2018 at 3:36pm
@Marijean
-
janice
December 16, 2018 at 4:01pm
-
Lia
December 17, 2018 at 8:44am
@janice
-
Paige
November 27, 2018 at 4:20pm
-
Lia
November 27, 2018 at 5:22pm
@Paige
-
Nancy
November 23, 2018 at 12:51pm
-
Lia
November 23, 2018 at 1:10pm
@Nancy
-
Kerstin
November 23, 2018 at 12:05am
-
Lia
November 23, 2018 at 11:08am
@Kerstin
-
Kerstin
November 24, 2018 at 8:10am
@Lia
-
Lia
November 26, 2018 at 7:50am
@Kerstin
Leave a CommentOn my IPad, I am unable to download SVG files. Any suggestions?
Do you have access to a computer where you can download them and put them into a folder that you can share to your iPad?
HI what weight card stock do you recommend? I am going to use these for cookie boxes and would like a heavier brown cardstock. Thank you
Since weight varies per manufacturer, I would say anything that is 90lb or heavier. These will make adorable cookie boxes! Share photos. 😉
I can’t seem to find the trees…clue please?
Hi Julia
The trees are included in our newest paper houses post! https://liagriffith.com/papercut-european-houses-trees/
Found it! Thank you!
Hello…what are sheets 6 through 10 that appear black? I do not see these on the PDF instruction pattern sheets.
Thank you!
Hi Pilar,
If you are in design space, sheets 6-10 are the score lines. You need to change each score line from cut to score then attach it to the corresponding cut shape. Take a look at our How to Use SVG Cut Files video here! https://liagriffith.com/how-to-use-svg-files-for-cricut/ This video shows you exactly how to set core lines better than I can tell you here 🙂
Thank you… I will check this out in a few days!
I understand how to get my cricut to cut these files but how do I set it to also score the fold lines at the same time? Can this be done?
Thank you
Hi Susanne,
Yes this can be done! While holding down SHIFT you must select the line you have set to score and the house to cut to select both at the same time, then click attach. You can find instructions where we show this process in design space in our video starting at minute 1:00 https://liagriffith.com/how-to-use-svg-files-for-cricut/
Hi. I am having a devil of a time setting the score lines for the House Luminaries. I can’t find any scissors mentioned in the instructions.
Why aren’t the score lines part of the program?
Can you help?
If you’re using the PDF, the score lines are the thin dotted lines. If you’re using the SVG, the instructions mention the score lines are the thicker black lines that you need to set to “score” in your cutting machine software. I hope that helps!
Thanks. I appreciate your help. The houses are turning out great. My daughter and I really like your site. Again, thank you.
I have a Silhouette portrait machine and when I bring them onto my work space they are to big to fit on the mat. Can I resize them or am I destined to cut them with and exacto knife ?
Thank you
Hi! We’re not familiar with the Silhouette software, but if it’s anything like Cricut’s then you should be able to ungroup/separate the houses so they fit on the size mat you choose. Hopefully Silhouette’s customer service can help you more!
Another great project — I’ve got a thing for paper cut houses — so I mixed these with another project found here – the glitter ones, and the window cling hurricanes — and my dining room sideboard looks beautiful. The only downfall is those dang tea lights are manicure busters. I need to find some remote control ones 🙂
Sounds so beautiful Janice!!
how do I get the score lines to go onto the same mat as the cut lines? right now the design shows as 10 mats and the last 4 are just the score lines? thanks!!
You have to change the lines to “score”, then “attach” them to the cut layer. Check out our post here for more info on using SVG cut files: https://liagriffith.com/how-to-use-svg-files-for-cricut/
Lia,
Just finished my set! Love them! Thank you!
Nancy
That’s great Nancy!
Inspired by Amsterdam and/or Brussels houses?
sending a smile and greetings
Very inspired!! 🙂
If you ever come again to Europe, try to visit Brugge / Bruegge (Belgium). It’s a must, when you like these houses. Or do a Google search for photographs of Brugge / Bruegge houses. You will love them.
Yes! I have visited and they were my inspiration.
Back to the Top