Christmas Village Displays

A question about : Christmas Village Displays

Anyone do any little village displays of cottages etc?

Just starting one this year as was able to buy five battery models for Ј11 on Aces sale - plus I have a few from charity shops.

Started off by printing and laminating a background:

Then used boxes to add height and bought two metres of white lining for the snowy base;

Best answers:

• Now I really want lots of cheap water features.
  Just testing out that cheap blue hair gel from Ј1 shop (have since found Tesco do it for 15p)
  The 'pond' is just a clear plastic lid with some gel in
  Have tried making 'rivers' and 'waterfalls' from tubes of clingfilm filled with gel:
  Anyone know if I can set the gel with gelatine? Would it work better if I painted the clingfilm with a transparent paint instead - and if so what sort of paint can be used on clingfilm.
  Have also heard of clear silicone filler being used but not tried that yet.
• Cant help with your questions but wanted to say it looks fab!!
• Thanks - have more Christmas stuff to add later but just starting out.
  Loads of info on Youtube but they all go in for it in a big way - and I want to keep it easy and cheap!
• I have one that is all by Lemax or similar name . The scenes you can create are gorgeous and I add to it every year.
• Hi 7roland8
  I like what you've done so far and the different heights are brilliant. They are a must
  You could even put those string lights from the Јshop under the white covering , it gives a mystical feel.
  On my blog is a paper village I did last year
  I used little stones for walkways, perhaps you could paint them blue
  Think gel will evaporate
  Last year I asked everyone who was buying me a Christmas present for anything to do with lemax villages. Prices range from a couple of ЈЈЈ's up to Ј100's
  Have been lucky to buy a biggish collections and then resale what I don'twant so my pieces are free and sometimes in profit.
  I have started building my collection and started blogging it.
  For the water I have painted a board blue and bought a tube of clear acrylic in the Ј shop. I then dispensed the acrylic onto the board and formed waves
  This year for the pavements I have made air drying clay bricks . They are tiny 20mm by 10mm but they are very effective for my harbour.
  I also made the harbour walls out of sticks .
  And the fences out of lollipop sticks
  The little Xmas trees I have purchased on eBay, you can get 10 for Ј3 snowy covered Xmas trees.
  It is a work in progress I must admit and am blogging it slowly. I'm not an old hat , this is the first year I've took an interest really. And have found pinterest a good source of info. I have so many pins that I don't know what to look at.
• Thanks Susan - nice to meet a fellow enthusiast!
  I love the USA Dept 56 stuff - if I could afford it all!
  Shall have to check out your blog - is it via your profile - will check now.
  Oh gosh Pinterest - was on it last night!!
• That looks brilliant - i like the fake snow that you add water to, and it all puffs up.
• These look great 7roland8.
  You may have inspired me! I have some Department 56 buildings and accessories which I've brought home from various trips to the US and Canada over the years however I never really thought I had enough to make any kind of display so they have languished in the back of a cupboard for years.
  I'm going to dig them out at the weekend and see what is there and I'll post back a list and get some opinions on whether I have enough to make any kind of meaningful display. It seems such a waste not to show them off but I get a bit overawed by the fabulous displays in the shops and decide I don't have anything worthwhile showing.
  Maybe this will be the first year they get an airing!
  Will be back at the weekend to update
• Definitely go for it Scottishminnie. It does't matter how many or how few.
  Previous years I only had four or five from charity shops but I would put them on a tray with some tiny trees and all embedded in that fake snow mixture that usually lasted tow or three weeks (I would spray it with water form time to time to keep it fresh).
  image from Pinterest
  Have also seen a lovely way to display them in glass jars. You can use Epsom Salts for fake snow and them you only need one cottage and a tree - plus you can use the salts in the bath after new year!
• That's beautiful. We are in the US a couple of times a year and I've noticed that this is a popular way of displaying things. Some people change the dome every season which I think seems a nice idea.
  I bought a clear glass Christmas tree shaped jar from Cox and Cox which I planned to fill with "snow" and something Christmassy. Maybe one of the small Department 56 pieces would be a nice idea.
  I'll be back over the weekend when I've got an idea of what I actually have. I'm a bit embarrassed that they are stashed in various cupboards and I don't know what is there. Feel like a bit of a hoarder!
• Ok, so I've had a bit of a rummage. I still have a large plastic storage box which I haven't gotten to however I suspect it is full of small prices like trees, a telephone booth and Snow Village sign etc.
  I have found though:
  All from the Original Snow Village
  Timber Knoll Log Cabin
  Shelleys diner
  The Brandon Bungalow
  Thomas Mudge Timepieces Shop (from the Dickens range , was a gift)
  Loon lake Cabin
  Secret Garden Greenhouse
  And I'm awaiting delivery of The Elf House from an ebay auction.
  I also found two small pieces-
  Gingers house and
  The finishing touch.
  So I'm thinking I have enough to make some sort of display. I think when I'm buying my next piece in the US I should make it a house of some description and in the meantime I'll keep my eye on that well known auction site for anything else popping up.
• That sounds plenty to start off a lovely village display Scottishminnie.
• I started collecting bits for a village over the past year or two. I never know where to put it!
  I've seen people making a mini village all along the centre of the Christmas dinner table which looks amazing, especially all lit up in the evening. Might try that this year.
• I've seen on Pinterest some done on mantle pieces, slhef units or special tables.
  I am using a big corner desk but even a coffee table would hold a lot.
  One nice one too was done around the snowy base of a Christmas tree but your idea is a new one on me.
  Wonder what hubby would say if I took over the kitchen table!!
• Have seen a lovely twig tree done as a backdrop for the villages. Just a big twig with snowflake decorations. Have ordered 36 online from ebay for Ј1! So will see how it works!
• Have made myself a large pond using 15p tubes of Tesco hair gel, put on top of a round mirror and then covering it all with cling film and wrapping it round to the back to stop it all leaking out (I hope!).
  Did make one with blue paint covered with clear glue but think I like this sort of water effect the best.
  Have ordered a Toy Shop from Studio24 online and also a set of 12 more little fir trees from Aliexpress for about Ј4.60.
• Tesco are doing a 24 piece starter kit for Ј25 half price (from Ј50) has anyone seen/got it? Is it nice?