For my final putz house design of 2015, Pam prodded me to create a mini vintage travel trailer inspired by the relaunch of the 1961 Shasta Airflyte trailer last September. Time to add some new elements to our growing Christmas Village subdivision!
This little travel trailer has a secret underneath it — an opening for you to place over your flameless tea light.
Since the trailer is not anchored to the felt snow, I created a little forest scene, complete with several species of trees, and some miniature deer who are stopping by to investigate this visitor.
Assembly tips for this design:
- Use lightweight cardboard (from cereal boxes or similar) or heavy weight card stock for this design. Skip the too thick cardboard boxes, which become too bulky to create the curve of the front, roof and back of the trailer.
- No metallic silver paint? Use aluminum foil to create the chrome.
- Once all pieces are cut out and painted, make sure to glue the wheels to each side before attaching the bottom of the trailer.
- I attached the sides to the bottom first, then started at the back of the trailer and attached it to both sides, working my way slowly to the front.
- Getting cardboard or card stock to curve in the right places can be tricky! Make sure to go slow — also, snow (glitter) can hide many sins. This is a difficult design to assemble folks! Pam says that for the curved top/front/back portion, she might try a coffee cup sleeve that is sort of pre-corrugated to curve easily.
After seeing my initial photos of the mini travel trailer putz, Pam said, “This needs a little something more!” and she searched out this flashing holiday lights necklace from Amazon that can be either draped over the top of the camper or arranged around the base. Once my necklace came in the mail, I could see that only one in three of the lights lights up, still, it’s a pretty addition.
What do you think? Cuteness overload?
Get our free pattern:
- Click here to download Kate’s free Putz travel trailer pattern
- For basic instructions and a list of materials needed for this project, see my first mid century Putz house pattern.
Make more midcentury “Putz” style houses:
- See all the designs
- Want to know why these houses called “Putz”? Read our vintage Putz house history and online guide.
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Vintage Putz Houses — A history and online guide 
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Best bottlebrush trees for putz houses and other Christmas crafting 
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Erin says
Super cute! Once in architecture school, I steam-bent museum board (like mat board for framing pictures) with an electric tea kettle. It worked beautifully-might be something to try here!
Donna says
1961 Shasta Airflyte trailer putz house is just TOO CUTE!!! You do beautiful work.
Carolyn says
If we keep in mind that putz houses are to be enjoyed for being uniquely cute and adorable and (insert your own adjective), we can take some of the pressure off to make them ‘perfect’ and just have fun with it.
This would be a great project for the glampers who have to wait for warmer weather to take their rigs out again or to preserve memories of family vacations.
Tracy says
these are all adorable, but this one tickles my tinsel!
Electrachime says
Well said.
linda h says
How fun! I like Pam’s idea of using a coffee sleeve. I have a paper crinkler, but then both sides would be crinkled. I guess I need to look the Shasta up online to see if that would work or if it would just look wrong.
linda h says
Well, since it has crinkly panels on the sides, I guess it would be OK to reverse that to smooth sides and crinkly top to make the top curve better.
linda h says
And maybe cut a piece of tissue paper into strips and glue them to another piece of tissue paper for jalousie windows.
Kate says
great idea Linda!
Jay says
Hey! Nice putz. The woodsy setting is a great change from the subdivision. Shame all the bulbs don’t light, maybe a small battery operated set, because I think it adds a nice touch to the scene.
Carolyn says
It was very early this morning when I read this post so just now caught the reference to a subdivision.
Are these little boxes on the hillside, little boxes made of ticky tacky?
That song was on a PBS special about folk singing in the ’50’ & ’60’s and my husband was amazed I was singing along. I think that strange look was amazement…Ach, he didn’t know trailers have wings either!
pam kueber says
By Malvinas Reynolds – a wonderful singer songwriter – YouTube her!
Mary Elizabeth says
Malvina, right?
pam kueber says
Yes typing on my iPhone while out and about
Christy says
I feel compelled to make this – not just because it’s super cute – but because I actually got one of the Airflyte re-issue campers after seeing a snippet about them on Retro Renovation.
My “Putz” will be Matador Red, just like the real thing! 😉
Love, love, love this site!
Kate says
🙂
Mary Elizabeth says
Wonderful! I think everyone who makes one should adjust the pattern to make their own trailer.
When I was camping, I had Christmas ornaments that were various designs of trailers so that I could think of the spring season coming up!
Laurie Louise says
Oh, Kate, I love it! This may be enough to convert even craft-resistant me!
Kate says
Give in to the inner Krazy Krafty! 🙂
tammyCA says
Adorable! This is such a fun series..the handmade is precious & people appreciate all the hard work you put into it, Kate. 🙂
Kate says
Awww thanks Tammy! They are fun (and challenging) to create and I’m so glad that I have the opportunity to share my creations with you all! It is so much fun!
Mary Elizabeth says
Tammy, do post your trailer Christmas tree on the uploader.