How to make a house tealight holder

These house tealight holders are a fun way to add a touch of winter magic and are easy to make with our free templates.

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Holly Spanner

Published: October 13, 2020 at 12:00 pm

These house tealight holders are sure to be your family's next handmade heirloom. Decorated in seasonal style, one for Halloween and one for Christmas, they make a perfect addition to your seasonal traditions and can be used year after year.

Don't worry if it looks too tricky, just download our free template for a quick and easy, yet super cute and fun paper craft project. All you need to do is choose papers that suit the occasion – we've gone for a spooky black and festive red and white combo – then decorate with seasonal embellishments such as cobwebs, spiders and delicate snowflakes. Don't have any patterned paper and don't want to venture out to the shops? We've got you covered! Take a look at our library of patterned papers - all free to download today!

These houses look great during the day but they're even prettier at night, with their warm glow of light that's perfect for your cosy night in!

Or, if you want to display you houses all year round, choose non-seasonal papers such as a timeless floral pattern.

How to make a house tealight holder

You will need:

White card
Patterned paper
Stamps
Dies
Die-cutting machine

Step 1

How to make a house tealight holder – step 1

Using the free template, cut out the house, tealight shelf, roof and windows. Stick vellum to the back of the windows – when the light shines through, the vellum will create a warm glow. Score the fold lines on the reverse and fold. Add details with a gel pen – we have added dotted lines around the doors and window.

Step 2

Make a Christmas house tealight holder

Add strips of double-sided tape along each fold flap except for the back of the house. Start to assemble the house by sticking the sides of the house to the base, followed by the roof.

Step 3

Make a Christmas house tealight holder

Cut out the shelf from the template and attach the shelf close to the roof, just above the window with double-sided tape. Slot the tealight into the hole upside down, so that the light will shine through the cut-out windows. Secure the separate roof and attach die-cut details. Pop your house tealight holder onto a shelf, or even turned outwards on a windowsill so that your neighbours (or postie!) can admire it!

For more papercraft projects check out these makes:

Staff Writer, BBC Science Focus

Holly is the Staff Writer for BBC Science Focus and looks after the popular Q&A section. She holds an MSc (distinction) in Geoscience (Space and Climate Physics) from UCL, and specialises in astronomy and earth sciences. Before joining Our Media, she worked as a geoenvironmental consultant and engineer, informing on ground risk and remediation in the north of England, while hunting for exoplanets in her spare time. Alongside this, she was regional editor of a popular theatre website for nine years, and has a solid background in curating and developing content for the digital space. Holly is also an artist and illustrator, and regular contributor to the craft website, Gathered. She has previously worked with the RSPB, English Heritage, Disney, Pilot and Brother, as well as on BBC Good Food magazine, Home Style magazine, and Papercraft inspirations magazine. She enjoys photography and has a sustained interest in antiques.