Sparkle Craft: DIY Wooden Buildings

In the Martin & Sylvia: Saturdays! story, “Our Own Town,” Sylvia is a little distressed at the thought that their downtown might be changing. Daddy helps her to understand the process the planning committee is going through by having Martin and Sylvia build a little town of their own, imagining things differently than they are right now.

Perhaps you’d like to build a town, as well. Why not start with some handmade wooden buildings?

Diy-Wooden-Village

You Will Need

  • Wood (2×4)
  • Saw
  • Sandpaper
  • Acrylic Paint
  • Paintbrush

What To Do

Using the diagram below, and your saw, cut your 2×4 into house shapes along the dotted lines. Make your houses as tall or short as you’d like, or make them in a variety of sizes! Make as many as your 2×4 will allow.

Wooden-Houses-Cutting-Diagram1

Once you’ve cut the houses, use your sandpaper (or an electric sander) to smooth the rough edges, especially along the cut sides.

Wipe each house down with a dry cloth, to get all the dust off.

Painting-Play-Town

Paint each house with acrylic paint.

Painting-Wooden-Houses

Let the main coat dry overnight.

Leave the buildings a solid color or use a contrasting color to add detail.

Adding-Detail-to-DIY-Wooden-Houses

Let the paint dry.

Take your buildings and make your own town!

Explore More & Make Connections

What else might you add to your town? Can you find it around your house or do you have to make it?

About the authors

  • Andrea Folsom

    Andrea Folsom

    Sparkle Crafts Blogger

    Andrea Folsom describes herself as a writer, editor, creative maker, and eternal optimist. She is passionate about learning and sharing new creative techniques, making beautiful spaces, and talking about the social-emotional benefits of creativity and art. She runs [Crafting Connections](http://www.craftingconnections.net/) – a website providing inspiration, practical advice, and projects for creative families – with her close friend Danielle Reiner.

  • Danielle Reiner

    Danielle Reiner

    Sparkle Crafts Blogger

    Danielle Reiner describes herself as a creative, a maker, and a mama. At the heart of her story is creativity, though that hasn’t always been the case. She rediscovered her deeply hidden creativity early in adulthood – with a ball of yarn and a couple of knitting needles – and hasn’t stopped since. Danielle also runs [Crafting Connections](http://www.craftingconnections.net/) – a website providing inspiration, practical advice, and projects for creative families – with her close friend Andrea Folsom.