I do suggest printing out one full-sized PDF as-is (to actually see where all of the fold lines are), however, I opened the PDF in Adobe Photoshop and shrunk the image down to 1000 pixels wide at 350 DPI. (Making the main part of the house only about an inch wide when printed.) By shrinking it down so dramatically, we create a paper house small enough that the pins will look proportional and pass for the hundreds of balloons that carry the house away to new lands!
Additional items you will need to make your own UP House Pincushion are:
– The house pattern printed out
– Scraps of upholstery or other foam (even a new kitchen sponge would work)
– A very sharp Xacto knife and cutting board
– Ruler or straight edge
– Mod Podge
– Rubber Cement
– Old Paintbrushes
– A slice of tree branch any size (this becomes our “Tepui”)
– A few bits of dried moss
– A small container of dried Dillweed
– Toothpicks
– LOTS of glass head sewing pins
After printing out a few color copies of my mini house pattern, I used a ruler and Xacto knife to carefully cut out all of the paper house pieces. I then assembled them using rubber cement; dabbing a little bit of glue on all parts of the paper patten that would be touching, and letting them dry for a few seconds before pressing the paper together. This creates a MUCH stronger bond.
Next, I used my Xacto knife again to cut thin pieces of foam to fit in each compartment of the house. I glued the foam bits inside the house using the rubber cement as well.
When the house was completely assembled and full of foam, I used a generous amount of rubber cement on the center of the branch slice, and on the bottom of the house. Since the bottom of the house has so much exposed foam, and the slice of tree branch is quite porous, I applied the glue liberally.
Next, I sealed my entire house and the top of the wooden platform with Mod Podge. I wanted to increase the structural integrity of the house and begin creating the plant-rich environment of the Tepuis!
To create a miniature plant-scape around the house, I used tiny bits of dried moss and dill weed (from my kitchen cupboard!) and sprinkled the various greens around the surface of the wooden disk. Be careful not to sprinkle any on the house itself!
The addition of the green “plant-life” really seemed to bring the piece to life.
I *should* have let the house dry completely before jamming it full of pins, but I was so excited to see my pincushion in action, couldn’t help but start jamming them in!
ADORABLE!!!! this is too awesome!
Too cute!
That is so stinkin’ adorable!!
What a cute idea. Two of my favorite things– Crafting and Pixar!
Thanks so much you guys! So glad you like!!!
xoxo
radmegan
Loooove that!!! Pinned it! 😀
This is priceless! Love it!
This is absolutely BRILLIANT! I am honestly so impressed, by this project, it shows such ingenuity and creativity!
this turned out so cute!!
Again, so darn cute! One of my absolute favorite movies. Love this! Rad Megan is Rad!!!
Thank you Tabitha & Seesue!!
Awww Andrea! That is so darn nice of you! I’m blushing!!!! I appreciate it!
Yay! Thanks Devon
Cassandra I love it too!!!!! Thanks pal
xoxo
radmegan
My daughter will L.O.V.E. this !
And in our house, “Up” quotes are a daily, if not hourly, thing. An instant hit & instant classic.
This is so incredibly cute, great job!
Just found you over at Pinterest…this is just too adorable and “Up,” is one of my fav movies…watched it with my grandsons…we still occasionally will say the random “squirrel” during a conversation. Many laughs!!
Oh, that’s so cleverly wonderful!
Wonderful tutorial! and I like your use of dill.
LOVE this! Great work and very inspiring!
up house
Cute! I love that movie and this is such a creative way to capture that image.
This is so cute, I believe I will try and make this not just for myself but also for my grandchild who likes to sew with me. I am going to try and print the house design out on fabric, then sew it together. Thanks for the inspiration. Suzanne
That’s adorable! Like Anonymous, I was sitting here thinking how it would work out with fabric instead of paper…
Thanks for all the comments! If anyone makes one out of fabric, I would love to see it!!! I’m honestly not that great at sewing, so making a house that tiny out of fabric was something I thought a lot about, but when I found the paper pattern… ahhh! All my tiny sewing worries vanished!
So glad you enjoy!
xoxo
radmegan
This is so creative and amazing. It makes me happy just looking at it. You should sell these on Etsy!
Thanks!
Adventures From Dar
This is so beautiful. What a brilliant idea!
Awesome. Very inspiring/inspired!
Making this for my daughter who’s a Disney fan.
Just found this pinned and had to come to your blog. I HAVE to make this! Up is our favorite Disney movie of all-time! We still quote it almost daily. When it came out, my daughter was 4 and she had the entire scene memorized where Russell first comes to Carl’s door to ask if he can help him. Thanks so much for posting this!
cutest pincushion ever!