One of my favorite things about Christmas, is counting down to it.
When I saw these paper advent houses from Grosgrain, I fell in love! I wanted to recreate the same thing for my house, but I needed the paper houses to be smaller. I don’t have a mantle, so I’m planning on putting them on the top of my piano.
I decided to take on the challenge of designing my own paper houses using my Silhouette and I think they turned out pretty cute!
They are a lot simpler in design which makes them great for personalizing however you want. Dress them up with snowy glitter on the roofs, paint on fine details, or choose a gradient of papers in pink or green. I chose to keep things uniform, and simple in all kraft paper. There are lots of possibilities!
Plus, the cutting files are free!
MATERIALS
25 + pieces of 8.5 x 11 inch card stock paper (the extras are for contingencies)
Silhouette cutting machine and accessories
low temperature glue gun
optional: votive candles
STEP ONE: Download the cut files.
Click the link below to download a ZIP file of the svg files:
DELIA CREATES Advent Houses SVG FILES
Click the links below (be sure to grab both for all 25 houses!) for zip files for the Silhouette Studio files:
DELIA CREATES Advent Houses 1-18 SILHOUETTE FILES.zip
DELIA CREATES Advent Houses 19-25 SILHOUETTE FILES.zip
If these links don’t work for you, I have download buttons at the very end of this post that may work better for you. You can also email me at [email protected] and I’d be happy to email them to you by attachment. Please be advised that there may be delays in response, especially as the holidays near.
If you don’t have Silhouette here is a pdf version that is similar. It only has three houses styles and no numbers, but you can easily add them yourself.
I actually designed five houses (three for the pdf file), and repeated the design five times to achieve 25 houses.
To help break up the monotony I exchanged the roofs and the little portico awnings. I have also included extra chimneys and portico awnings with the first two houses. You may need to trim some roof lines down, if you switch them up, but that is an easy fix and can even be done after gluing the roof on.
STEP TWO: Cut the files and weed them out.
The houses include the numbers already cut into the houses, so that helps save a step!
***Be sure to set your cut settings to overcut by .1 or .2. This will help you achieve a cleaner cut and will make the window weeding soooo much easier.
TIP: This is a lot to cut. I recommend cleaning out your blade and physically resetting the blade setting every few houses or so. I’m not sure if my blade is getting dull, but after about 2-3 houses, if I twisted the blade numbers up and down and then back to the original number I needed, it just seemed to cut better. If you run into trouble, try that and see if it helps.
STEP THREE: Assemble the houses.
The fold lines are perforated, except for the roofs. Those are left flat, so you can have flexibility to fold them how you want. I didn’t make any of my roofs asymmetrical, but with this cut file design, you have that option.
The chimney is assembled like so…
And the rest is all glued at the tabs with low temperature hot glue. Easy peasy!
You can put little pieces of candy or a scripture verse under each house. My plan is to place a flame-less tea light under a new house each day. I’m already planning on the process being a little tedious as we get closer to Christmas, but I have lots of little hands I know will be more than happy to help! I might revert to one traveling tea light as well… We’ll see how things go by the 25th. 😉
It sure is fun to see all the houses lit up.
If you like a more modern house, Brooklyn Berry create cut files for THE cutest 60’s/70’s style paper houses. Go HERE to check them out!
Disclaimer: This post was created in partnership with Silhouette. All content and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help support this site!
P.S. If the previous file links did not work for you, here they are again with download buttons:
arlyna says
WOW! Been thinking of making something like this but have been daunted about the amount of work involved! But seeing this, I am not so very very very inspired! Thank you so much!!!
Delia says
I am so glad it inspires you! Having a cutting machine helps so much. The cutting process still takes a little while, but it’s easily done while doing other things…like assembling the houses. 🙂 I got it all done in one late night. It took me a few hours (but I was creating and tweaking the files as I went) so it should be even faster for you!
arlyna says
Awesome!!! Now I want to try this tonight! Thank you once again for sharing these! I was wondering about adding a flap/closure at the bottom so I can hang these up instead because we don’t have any mantle or piano wide enough… 🙂
Delia says
Oooh…you could totally mess around with the Silhouette studio file and try that. You may have to cut the roof out on another piece of paper but that’s easily done. I love that idea!
Dia says
Thanks a lot for these, almost all were paid until I found this page!!! I can’t thank you enough, you have a amazing soul ❣️
Jacobiene says
What a pity….2015!!!! Like your Village..
Delia says
Thank you! 🙂 The giveaway is over but you can still use the house download for free!
Kit says
LOVE this!
Delia says
Thank you!
Jill says
Cute idea!
JessZ says
These are lovely! I would love to try the Cameo and Curio for things like this and cards. Thanks for the files and hosting this giveaway! 🙂
Julia B says
These little houses are adorable!!
I haven’t tried any of there products, so any and all?!
Tracee says
I love this giveaway! And all that work designing the houses, thank you! They are adorable. I’ve used a cricut for many years and there’s just no comparison when it comes to the creativity available from the silhouette, so I’d love to win one. Thanks!
Tracee says
Also, I tried entering from my phone but was having issues, so I switched to my computer. So there might be a duplicate entry under my email, just disregard and sorry about that!
Delia says
No worries! 🙂 Thanks for letting me know.
Kiki says
These are beautiful! can’t wait to make them.❤️
Riet says
Discovered too late you have to live in the US of in Canada, though I would cover the shipping costs with a smile… too bad. 😉 Tagged an American friend anyway!
Delia says
Sorry about that!
Sarah McCormack says
The little houses are beautiful! I don’t have any of their products and I have wanted to try the cameo for a while! I would love to win, thanks for the giveaway. Happy thanksgiving!
Erin says
I’d love to try making stencils for using in my sewing
Kelly Jo says
Simply wonderful!
Ann F says
I love the simplicity. I would love to make these. 🙂
Ajaire says
These are adorable!! I don’t do as much crafting these days as my time is so limited so I’m always thinking I don’t really NEED a silhouette. But then I see an amazing project like this and I want to buy ALL the silhouette gear and make everything. Haha. Great job Delia!
Sandra says
I would really love the stamping kit, my kids would have hours of fun using them!
Mary Ann says
I am hoping for a set of sketch pens and some replacement blades and mats. An extra machine wouldn’t be sad though!
Miriam Prantner says
The CAMEO is at the top of my list, but I’m also intrigued by the Curio and I could use some basic accessories too.
DJ says
Love! I would like to make some nice cards for my family.
Kara o says
I would love to win a cameo for my mom for Christmas.
Amanda K says
I have been DYING to get a cameo. I hope I win!!
erinmalia says
Just in time as my SD seems to be dying. 🙂
Jason says
Cheers!
Alessandra Cataldi says
I can’t download the file SVG. 😔
Delia says
I’m sorry you’re having download issues. Google just issued an update to Google Drive recently and it has caused a lot of issues for my links. I’m working on fixing this issue. In the mean time, please email me: [email protected] and I can email you the files directly.
Jillian says
I LOVE advents! This is absolutely adorable. Thank you so much for sharing the files!!!
WhitRain says
These are so cute!
Stephanie says
I would love to make my own crafts instead of having to buy kits. Making cut-outs to give as gifts would be lovely, too.
kelly tuttle says
I would love to try the Cameo cutter- I have seen these things on the market for years and there are so many things to use them for! I’d love to try making those advent houses- my kids would love them (and also probably wreck them, lol) and also try my hand at making cards.
Katharine Mead says
I love those houses! This type of project would be painstaking to do by hand. Need a Silhouette!
Shaunna says
I love vinyl!! silhouette is perfect for that!
Nicole P. says
Super cute idea! If I win the silhouette, I’m totally doing this! Thank you for the giveaway!
Michelle says
Wow! What a great idea!
Annet M says
I love that it is also open to Canada – normally these giveaways are not, so yay! 🙂
I have been dreaming of one of these, but too many projects on the go, not enough time to justify. But hey, if I win one… 🙂
Rebecca Pelletier says
I want all the silhouette items!! Love my portrait. I just need everything silhouette!! Such a great product and a boost to anyone’s creativity.
Alexis says
Oooo, these are so great! Love the monochrome look with the Kraft paper. With a little tweaking you could create a ghost town for Halloween, too. Silhouette makes such amazing products. The Cameo has been on my list for quite some time.
Beverly says
I have been trying to decide been one of the new Cricut machines and the Silhoutte Cameo. Based on a ton of reviews that I’ve read, I am going to get the Cameo. I still have to save up money for it so I might not get it soon, but I know my daughter and I will have a ton of fun using it. We love to craft together. (And when you find things that your teenagers are willing to do with you – you do a lot of it!)
Thanks so much for the opportunity to win one of these machines! Love your blog!
Diana says
I have wanted a Cameo for so long, and already have a long list of projects that I want to make with it. It would be nice to have a deep cutting blade to go with it to to tackle the harder items to cut.
Megan says
Would love a silhouette to do vinyl projects with!
Amanda says
Any of the Silhouette products would be a fantastic upgrade from my 10 year old, 6 in, cartridge-driven Cricut cutter!
Also, as a mom of a child who has fructose malabsorption, I’m REALLY loving this non-candy advent option! I love the idea of putting one light in at a time, to eventually light up the entire village.
Julie R. says
These are gorgeous! I’ve always wanted a Silhouette Cameo, but have never had the money to buy one. That’s the product I’d like this holiday season.
Marisol says
I would love to win. I have been wanting a shillouete for a long time!
Laura says
I’ve been wanting a silhouette for a long time now. The possibilities are just too good. 🙂
Ursula says
These are absolutely adorable! I love the idea, but have a narrow mantle, so I may have to spread them around…if I win the silhouette, that is. It would be the most amazing Christmas gift!!! Thank you for the chance to win!
Katie Lin says
I would love to try out the glass etching , heat transfer, or fabric ink products. Those all look so fun! I love your advent calendar. So cool! If i win, i’d make that thing even if it comes after xmas! Ha 🙂
Holly says
Such a great giveaway … and I love this idea! I would love to have something like this in our home. The Silhouette Cameo would be an awesome addition to my crafting arsenal. Maybe, just maybe I’ll ask for one (if I don’t win this one, of course). 🙂
Amy Lam says
I love the little homes, how clever and stunning! My daughters and I would love the cutter, it would be so fun to try so many neat crafts on the Cameo. We have the older Cricut sliding paper cutter, I’m guessing it would take forever if we attempted it on that.
Emily says
These are really cute. And I’d love to win a silhouette!
Abby Warnke says
Such an awesome giveaway! I’m just finally looking into taking the plunge and hoping for a cameo… i have a huge list of stuff to make!
Jennifer K says
I don’t have any silhouette products yet, so I’d be happy with anything. I’m especially interested in creating templates for glass etching and cutting fabric for appliqués.
Kayley says
I like the Mint because it’s cute and portable.
Paulina M says
I would love to try the adhesive vinyl.
Kathleen Robins says
I have love little Christmas houses since I was a little girl, and this tutorial is fabulous. Thank you.
Krystle says
These are so cute! I love the simplicity and yet it looks so cozy.
Lisa says
just a regular old Sillouette would be amazing!! 🙂 thank you!!!
Nicki says
I’d love a cameo – it’s been on my list for a long time. 🙂
Lindsay says
I really want a cameo and tons and tons of vinyl! I have so projects that I’ve been imagining for years! I just needf the cameo to make them happen! Thanks for the giveaway.
Anne says
I would love to get just the actual machine! I really want to add so appliqué to my quilts!!!
nell says
I have been looking all over for these! These are perfect! Thanks so much for sharing and for making them free! You are the best! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Caylan says
I’ve been wanting to try one of these for awhile! I have so many ideas from cards to tee shirt designs! I would love this! Thanks for the giveaway!
Nallely Llamas says
I need this!!
Alyssa Harper says
This looks amazing!
Ledys says
I’d love a cameo! The more I see the more impressed I am 🙂 thanks for the giveaway, Delia, and happy thanksgiving!
Amber T says
I love seeing projects like this that go beyond vinyl letters. I would love anything silhouette for Christmas, crossing my fingers for the win!!
Brenda says
The Silhouette Cameo looks great. I’d love to do more applique and this looks like it would really come in handy. Thanks so much for the chance to win.
Jen w says
Those houses are so cute!! I would love to win a silhouette! Always wanted one!
Melanie Lashua says
I would love to win this for my daughter, Thanks for the chance.
Charity says
Those are really cute! I love the windows!
kim watson says
Who wouldn’t want a Cameo. It has been on my list forever! And thank you for a very fun post. Love the Christmas village!
Barb Andrews says
I’ve been trying to justify buying one. I’d LOVE to win any Silhouette product!!
Ashley says
I would like to try the cameo or the glass etching
Lauren says
I have always wanted to try a cameo to make vinyl cutouts and fun designs! Thanks for doing this giveaway. Hope I win!
Lindsey thigpen says
Well if those aren’t the cutest houses!!! I love all of the creativity that can be inspired by the silhoutte! From my classroom to my home, the options are endless! Thanks for the opportunity to participate in this giveaway! Blessings and Happy Thanksgiving!
Kirsten N says
I love these house, and your blog. Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
Hayley Pickett says
I would love to win a silhouette! I own four sewing machines but no cutting machines, so I feel like this would round out my collection nicely. Thank you for the generous giveaway! Hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving!
Allison says
These look awesome! Thank you for sharing!
Gwen Hawkes says
These are so cute!
Kathleen says
Lighting up another house each night is a fabulous idea. I’ll have to look for some patterns to cut by hand. Thanks for the inspiration!
Andrea says
These are so cute! I want these in my home!
Andrea
http://www.thebeautydojo.com
Christine says
I love my Silhouette, that I bought last year, and love these little buildings – they’ll make a great little putz village, – thank you so much
Robyn says
Thanks so much! It must’ve been a ton of work to get these all designed! Thank You! I’m making them tomorrow afternoon! Yay!
Delia says
Thanks Robyn! It was, but it was fun too! Happy crafting!
Sarah says
This is amazing – thank you for your generosity! I need to whip these babies up for NEXT Christmas 😀
Delia says
Thank you! My pleasure!
neus says
Hola Delia estoy enamorada de tus casitas, e intentado bajarlas pero no me deja,quiero hacerle un pueblo a mis nietecitas y no puedo gracias
Hello Delia’m in love with your houses, and tried to lower them but not let me, I want to give a people to my granddaughters and I can not Neus
Delia says
Hi Neus!
Sorry about the download trouble. Email me: [email protected] and I can send the files to you that way.
Delia 🙂
Gladys says
Hola quisiera hacer estas casitas están hermosas podrías pasarme los moldes porfavor te dejo mi correo [email protected] te lo agradecería muchísimo …
Saludos desde Tamaulipas Mexico
Delia says
Sure thing! I just emailed you the files. 🙂
made says
Awesome! Thank you for the lot of work you put into these free files and tutorial. I appreciate it and will surely make these houses for next Christmas! (Found you on Pinterest.) Thank you a lot and keep on your good work! Gabi
Delia says
Thank you Gabi. I appreciate your kindness! <3
Sandy Risner says
I love your little Christmas houses, unfortunately I can’t open them. 🙁 I would appreciate it very much if you could email the patterns to me.
Delia says
Sandy,
Of course! I just emailed them to you.
Delia 🙂
Lori Hothan says
I absolutely love these adorable and beautiful little paper houses. What is there not to love!!
I would love to try the various different things on the Cameo that you find on Pinterest.
Delia says
Thank you Lori!
Bonnie says
Thanks so much, houses are my favorite design tools. I have made them with my silhouette out of white cardstock and placed on my christmas tree over the lights.. and made them as table center piece groupings for my friends party.. and so much more.. I just love them.. and also love to decorate each one. I can’t thank you enough for the files you created/modified, I will really enjoy them.
Delia says
What great ideas! I love that you put them on your tree! I’m so happy you like them. Thank you for your kind and thoughtful comment! <3
Christi says
These are amazing! I wish I had found them sooner – I would of made ornaments out of them! There is always next year, and I can start now for next year! It’s never too early for DIY stuff and you have made it so so so easy for those of us who can’t design a THING with our Silhouettes! Thank you, thank you!!
Delia says
Thanks Christi! What a kind thing to say! Happy Holidays! <3
Cindy says
Hey Delia
I know you said the houses were silhouette. I’d need SVG files.
I have and love my brother scan n cut.
I love your Christmas houses and would love to make them next year.
And if I tweek any or come up with something new added I’ll share with you
I bought my daughter a die cut for a basic house, she loves having “her own” to make and color design and fold. But is getting board. These would be fun for her and friends cut out in white.
Gwenda says
Working on Christmas 2017. I have a Silhouette Cameo 3 and a Cricut Air Explore 2. I have designed many things in my Silhouette so I know it took some time to design all of these adorable little houses. Thank you for sharing. I am looking forward to making them. Perhaps I will cut out several sets and get together with family and have a day of fun, sharing and making them.
Jenn says
Where did you get the cardstock and what brand and thickness is it?
Delia says
Great question. It’s kraft paper from Micahels, Recollections brand. I don’t have the packaging anymore so I believe it’s 50 lb. or 60 lb. paper. I hope that helps!
Jenny Cain says
Hi. Love your houses but don’t have a Silhouette Cameo. I have seen something similar with battery tea lights hung from a wooden embroidery hoop and they looked stunning! Also love the tiny baby cribs I have seen in explosion cards on Pinterest. Are you or anyone you know willing to cut me some? I live in Australia.Of course, I would be willing to pay for both materials and postage.
Thanks, Jenny
Delia says
Thanks Jenny! Your best bet might be to use the pdf template and hand cut them yourself. Especially if you’re not making the full 25 houses for the advent, it would be easy to trace and cut as many as you need. If you need that file sent by attachment, email me: [email protected] and I’ll send the file right over.
Lorena says
Thanks very much!! They are beautiful!!
Kitzia Casasola says
Hi! I tried printing the PDF file, but when the page comes out of my printer, only the text is visible. The house templates will not print no matter what I try. Has anyone else encountered this issue? Not sure what to do. I’ve never come across this problem before. Please advise! Thanks!
Delia says
I am so sorry it’s giving you issues. I have not had anyone else complain of the same issue. Maybe if I email you the file it will do better? Email me: [email protected] and I’ll send it to you.
lori vandoorselaere says
Thankyouso much awesome of you totake the time to share this
Diane Stewart says
Is this still available? It’s now December 2018.
Delia says
It is! You can cut the advent houses any time. If you can’t access the files, email me: [email protected] and I’ll send the files to you.
Bonnie says
Thank you so much .. this is so cute. I have cut several paper houses over the years with my silhouette , to hang on the tree, to take to the cabin with grandkids so they can color and assemble, to make halloween houses for my nieces and nephews rooms and so many things.. because I love houses, but I also love advent calendars or count down gifts. These houses would be cute on top of little boxes with gifts for advent, but also for anything else.. I will def. be using them, thanks again!!
Pris says
Will these files work for a Cricut machine as well?
Delia says
Yes! The SVG files will work with a Cricut. 🙂
[email protected] says
I’m trying to use your beautiful houses but it says I need a dxf files since I use the basic design studio. Is there a work around or do you have them in dxf? I tried a converter and it didn’t work
Delia says
So sorry for just now seeing this comment. If I don’t answer, please email me [email protected] or dm me on instagram and I’ll answer sooner. Unfortunately, you need to upgrade your design studio to use the .svg files. I wish I had a better work around, but the .dxf files are actually pretty wonky to use and won’t be sized properly when opened using the basic design studio. Whenever I try to open a .dxf file in there I have to resize everything. I hope you were able to find a way to cut the houses. Another option is printing a template. You can trace and cut by hand. Best of luck!
kira says
how to cut using the cameo silhouette?
Delia says
I suggest going to https://www.silhouetteamerica.com/ to learn all about the Cameo. It’s a really fun tool to use!
Elisabeth Antoine says
Merci pour tous ces fichiers ! je vais essayer de faire quelques maisons ! c’est tellement joli ! Merci encore !
Pam says
Hi Delia,
Love all of your ideas!!! I was wondering if you were going to do a new calendar for 2021? Hope you are! Thanks.
Iris, form Germany says
Hello, the houses are so beautiful. Thank you for the free cutting file.
Iris, form Germany
Delia says
So glad you enjoyed them! <3
Nancy de souza says
Hi Delia
I have seen your blog and loved the Advent Houses. Had to make them. I didn’t have Kraft paper so just used what I had at home. Making them on my Silhouette Cameo was so easy – U would never be able to cut the tiny windows by hand. Reduced the size . I am unable to copy /paste a picture. Thank you very much for sharing the svg files. Have a Happy Christmas!
Delia says
So glad you enjoyed them! Yes…cutting the windows by hand would be a lot of work. If you ever do it by hand you can simplify the windows into larger squares or just print them and not cut all the windows. So glad you had a Silhouette to do the work for you! <3
Carole says
Not that I can’t find house patterns online (or even at Silhouette), but these files list as ’empty’.
That said, I know that this post is a few years old. 🙂
Love the grouping of houses. I am trying to make more paper ornaments so there’s less to store throughout the year. 😉
Delia says
Sorry about that Carole! Google recently implemented an update that has really messed up a lot of my links to Google Drive. You can email me and I’d be happy to email them to you by attachment.
Kristina says
Hi! Tryed to download these beautiful houses, but links and download buttons didnt work. Can you send it via email? Would be very grateful 🙂
Delia says
Sure thing! I’ll send them now.
Maite Hernandez says
I’m wondering if anyone else used a Cricut. I download the file and upload it to Cricut. I see red lines that seem like they would be scoring lines. When I add the image to the canvas it turns all the lines to cut lines. There aren’t any perforated for folding.
Delia says
I have had another person using a Cricut this year who said the same thing (these files are several years old…don’t know if that makes a difference?).I am going to try to get DXF files up for next year. They seem to do better for both machines. Sorry for the issues. The other person who had the same problem, clicked on each line to change it to score lines. I know that can get tedious (sorry!). If it helps, the houses are the same four home designs on repeat.
Debby Chell says
Been hunting for days for simple house cut files. There are wonderful !! Thank you so much!
Delia says
Thank you! I’m so happy they are what you are looking for. Enjoy!
Christina says
Thank you so much for sharing the pdf version and for offering it free. I have been looking for a free version of simple paper houses and it is very hard to find!
Delia says
Of course! So glad you found mine. 🙂 Happy making!