Belgian Paperworks

Toy Shop Christmas Village Luminary - handmade heirloom holiday decor, folds completely flat to store

$38.00

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Seasonal decorations don't have to be bulky. This meticulously detailed and easy-to-store paper luminary folds perfectly flat so you can tuck it away in seconds, and your post-holiday cleanup is done. Perfect for gifting, or a treasure for yourself.

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Ah, the toy shop -- every child's favorite destination, a magical and marvelous place. Bring a cozy glow to your winter evenings by adding the toy shop paper luminary to your family's favorite holiday decorations.

Place it on the windowsill, or gather a little village on the mantel. Got a little nook in need of sparkle? Tuck the toy shop among your favorite books, or place several different luminaries into the special places around your home to be discovered one by one.

It was designed to pair perfectly with all of my Christmas villages, here: https://belgianpaperworks.etsy.com?section_id=31496937

Featuring a brick facade, sweet chimneys, and big shop windows with layers of lovely trim, you'll want to zoom in on every delightful detail. Watch closely as evening falls, and you will see: that's when a Belgian Paperworks luminary really shines.

And I always cut with a blade, never a laser, so no matter how closely you look, you will never find a “toasted” edge in my work.


DESIGN

I use creamy, cold-pressed watercolor paper (acid-free and very strong) as the foundation for each piece. Then, I assemble every luminary by hand, adding layers of meticulously cut paper until every piece is literally ready to shine. Layers enhance their strength and durability, too. And I always cut with a blade, never a laser, so no matter how closely you look, you will never find a "toasted" edge in my work. Zoom right in to see every crisp detail.

SET UP & STORAGE

Your luminary will arrive fully assembled. Just pop it up and put the tabs through the slots - no glue or tape is required. Tuck in the LED tea light included with US shipments, and sit back to enjoy the glow.

At the end of the season, simply fold your luminary back into its shipping box and slip it into a drawer. It hardly needs any storage space, because no one needs more bulky stuff.

SUSTAINABILITY

Here in Northern California, sustainability is a way of life. Please see my FAQs or About section for information on my sustainability practices. Thank you.

~ Paper is flammable. Use flameless LED lights only.
~ This listing is for one luminary. The other luminaries pictured are available here: https://belgianpaperworks.etsy.com.

© 2023 Anne Louvau, all rights reserved. Usage, reproduction, or altering of artwork is not permitted without permission. Each piece of artwork is an intellectual property and is protected by copyright law.

Shipping from United States

Processing time

1-2 business days

Customs and import taxes

Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.

Payment Options

Secure options
  • Accepts Etsy gift cards

Returns & Exchanges

I gladly accept returns, exchanges, and cancellations

Just contact me within: 14 days of delivery

Ship items back to me within: 30 days of delivery

  • Custom or personalized orders
  • Items on sale

    • Conditions of return

    Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs. If the item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value.

    Questions about your order?

    Please contact me if you have any problems with your order.

    Privacy policy

    Information collected when you purchase from Belgian Paperworks will only be used to process your order.

    All payments are handled through Etsy’s third-party payment processor and/or Paypal. Other than the amount of your order, your financial information is never shared with Belgian Paperworks.

    Personal information, including name, address, email, and other details of your order will be shared with shipping providers as needed to deliver your order to you, and will never be shared with any other third party. For the purposes of maintaining the shop owner’s tax records, your information will be retained for a period not to exceed seven years.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How I make my paper houses

    I use creamy French watercolor paper, beautifully textured and very strong, as the foundation for each building.

    I cut meticulous details with a blade, not a laser -- this means every cut is crisp and beautiful, never "toasted".

    Everything is hand-assembled, with some luminaries having as many as nine layers, or close to 80 pieces.

    Finally the most delicate bits are reinforced until every house is, literally, ready to shine.

    The finished houses are folded flat for shipping and storage.

    Your paper lanterns may differ slightly from the photos. As each one is made especially for you, every building is unique.

    Set up instructions

    Your pieces will arrive fully assembled. All you need to do is pop them up and put the tabs through the slots - no glue or tape is required. Tuck in the LED tea lights included with US shipments, and sit back to enjoy the glow.

    At the end of the season, simply fold your luminaries back into their small shipping box and slip them into a drawer until next time.

    They take up almost no space, because no one needs more bulky stuff to store.

    The surprising durability of folding paper lanterns

    Far thicker than traditional card stock, my 140 pound French watercolor paper is not only beautiful, it is strong.

    With this mighty paper for a foundation, my buildings are designed to last for years. And unlike ceramic or wooden Christmas villages, these resilient paper lanterns are more likely to survive an accidental fall from a mantel, or from curious little hands.

    Storages tips

    Paper naturally absorbs humidity from the air over time, so it's important to stow your houses in a dry location with a constant temperature.

    An interior space, such as a closet or a small box under the bed, would be ideal.

    Then, when you pull your houses out next winter, they will be fresh and ready to go. Or, to glow!

    Sustainability

    Here in Northern California, sustainability is a way of life at home as well as in my business. I am proud to say that my studio is largely powered by geothermal energy.

    I constantly search out papers from climate-mindful mills sharing my concern for our planet, including papers that are FSC-certified, CO2-neutral, or Cradle-to-Cradle Certified Silver. And because my papers are acid-free and archival, they'll last for decades.

    My ornaments are created from the paper offcuts left after cutting larger pieces, allowing me to substantially minimize waste in the studio. And because my luminaries fold flat and ship in a small box, they require significantly less shipping materials (and less transport fuel) as they make their way to you.

    Reviews (10)

    Average:

    Excellent experience and craftsmanship that we'll treasure for years to come.

    Was so impressed by the ease of setting this up and the quality!!! So gorgeous already ordered another.

    Absolutely beautiful. Reminds me of my childhood Christmases!

    Purchased as a gift, it was beautifully packaged and well received. Thank you for your personal touch and care you put into your work.

    Such a great shop! my order arrived on time and the shop owner included an extra gift! Would highly recommend purchasing from this shop


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