Christmas Village Church - handmade luminary crafted of artisan papers, holiday mantel decor
$148.00
Ready to sprinkle some twinkling magic over your mantel for the holidays, or all year round? The elegant half-timbered church, glowing with cozy light through its many diamond-paned windows, is just the thing.
It's a perfect centerpiece for any of my Christmas villages, too.
Small enough to fit anywhere, yet detailed enough to create a striking statement, its's meticulous details make it irresistible -- with its finials, layer upon layer of intricately cut trim, and even the deeply inset grand doorway, it is by far my most elaborate piece to date.
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 its 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 church will arrive fully assembled. All you need to do is 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 church back into its small shipping box and slip it into a drawer until next time. They take up almost no space, because no one needs more bulky stuff to store. (Because of its unique steeple design, this piece is thicker than most when folded -- close to 1".)
SUSTAINABILITY
Here in Northern California, sustainability is a way of life, and my luminaries are made with eco-friendly, acid free, archival papers.
Please see my FAQs or About section for information on my sustainability practices. Thank you.
Got questions? Send them my way and I'll get right back to you.
~Use flameless LED lights only.
~Listing is for one church; village is available separately.
© 2020 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
1-3 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
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
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
I, Belgian Paperworks, am the data controller of your personal information as it relates to my shop. When you place an order, I will receive your name, delivery address and email address from Etsy. I will use these details only to process and deliver your order, or deal with any queries you have related to that order.
If you send me a message using the contact button on Etsy, I will receive your user name and email address. The only circumstances in which I will share your data are in processing your order or complying with the law.
I will not add you to any mailing list without your explicit consent. I will never use or pass on your information to third parties for marketing purposes or any other purpose, other than the circumstances listed, below:
The circumstances in which I may share your data are as follows: with Etsy to comply with my obligations, with delivery companies to fulfill your order, and to comply with legal or tax obligations.
I will retain your details for as long as necessary in order to process the transaction and I will securely store any data collected during that period. I retain personal data related to orders or customer queries for a period not to exceed seven years. After this time I will delete your data from my records.
If you have any concerns about your personal data, please contact support@Etsy. You have the right to know what personal data I hold about you, and to ask for that data to be changed or deleted. Should you wish to report a complaint or if you feel that Etsy or Belgian Paperworks has not addressed your concern in a satisfactory manner, you may contact the Information Commissioner’s Office.
In addition to my own privacy policy, if you pay with PayPal, your data will be protected by PayPal's privacy policy. If you pay directly by card on Etsy, your personal data is protected by Etsy's privacy policy.
Contact details for Belgian Paperworks can be found below, under seller details. Belgian Paperworks keeps its privacy policy under regular review and places any updates on this web page. This privacy policy was last updated on 12 October 2024.
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 (13)
Average:
Sep 6, 2024
This is my favorite piece. The details are amazing. This Church and village will look wonderful for the holiday and winter season. So nicely wrapped in tissue and thank you for the nice notes and cute Halloween bat house ornament. I highly recommend this seller. So glad to have found your beautiful art.
Shannon Wynne
Aug 13, 2024
The amount of detail in the houses and especially the church is overwhelming to me, I can't come up with words to praise this highly enough. Treat yourself ! Outstanding product, beautifully packaged. Thank you Anne ! Robert in Atlanta
robert andersen
May 14, 2024
I have collected many of her beautifully constructed buildings. The design, fit and finish are second to none! Shipping is quick and each building folds flat for shipping and storage. Great design.
Ann Baines
Dec 10, 2023
Stunning detail, the perfect addition to any holiday decor!
Carolyn Powers
Jan 14, 2023
Love the half-timbered cathedral! Very well made and I can only imagine how much work goes into making it. I have a book shelf that is in a darker part of a room. I put the cathedral on the shelf and it gives out a very cosy feeling. I am saving up for a village next! Thank you Anne for a lovely piece of art.
Ove Veggerby