Make a Church for the Christmas Village!

Village Church Assembly

Introducing the crowning jewel in the Smile Mercantile putz collection: the Village Church! This vintage-inspired church makes a charming centerpiece for a Christmas village.  The design was based on vintage Made-in-Japan examples from the 1930s-50s.  It features gothic windows, a tall bell tower (complete with brass bell!) and a pointy spire.  You can paint and decorate to suit your own style.  The kit comes with all of the chipboard pieces already cut out and scored for folding.

Get your kit here.

Assembly Notes: 
- For crisp edges, fold all of the components along the scored lines against an object with a straight edge like a bone folder, metal ruler, or acrylic block.  Assemble the pieces in the order shown.
- Use a fast-drying liquid glue such as Aleene’s Turbo Tacky Glue or Beacon 3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue. Apply the glue to the components to be joined, and hold each piece in place for 20 seconds to secure a bond. Let each piece dry before adding the next component.
- If  you are planning on painting your church it is recommended to assemble the walls and roof before painting to avoid paint cracking at the corners.

Step 1: Main Walls

Fold walls and tabs along the scored lines. Connect the two wall pieces by attaching the glue tabs to the inside edge of the opposite wall. This will make a rectangular building. Let dry.

Step 2: Transept Entry

Fold walls and tabs along the scored lines. Glue the tab to the inside right wall.  Apply glue to the back panel all the way around the rectangle cutout.  Line up the rectangle cutout with the matching shape on the main church building.  Press the two pieces together, and hold until the glue has set and the transept is attached to the church.

Step 3: Roof

Fold the large roof panel along the scored line.
Apply glue to the six tabs on the main church building. Center the panel so that the overhang is equal on both sides and press down onto the tabs.  The cutout in the roof panel will hook over each side of the transept entry.

Fold the smaller roof panel. Apply glue to the two tabs on the transept entry as well as the two tabs and edges on the back of the roof panel. Set the roof down onto the transept, and then press the back edge against the larger roof panel. Line up the lower edges of both roof panels, and hold until the glue sets. 

Step 4: Bell Tower & Spire

Fold both spire pieces along the scored lines. Using a straight-edged tool like a metal ruler will be helpful in creasing the folds that come to a point. Fold the tower into a long rectangle and glue the side tab to the inside of the back wall.  Glue the small tab at the top of the tower to the inside of the opposite wall.  Use the length of wire to attach the bell to the center of the top tab so that the bell hangs at the level of the tower windows.

Fold the spire roof into a pyramid shape, and glue the left tab to the inside of the right wall. Hold until the glue sets.

Apply glue to the top edge of the tower and affix the pointed spire roof.  

Apply glue to the lower edges of the tower, and set on top of the roof with the flat lower edge oriented to the back wall of the church.

Step 5: Windows and Door

If you are painting the church, do so at this point before adding windows/doors. The vellum sheet comes with extra round rose windows to choose from. Cut windows and doors slightly larger than the openings. Use a paint brush to apply glue to the inside of the walls around the window and door openings.  Position the windows and door inside the church through the open base, and press against the inside of the walls to attach.  

Step 6: Base

Apply glue to the bottom edges of the church and center on the base.  If the walls have bowed from painting, gently squeeze them back to square as you secure the church to the base.