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The Heathered Nest

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Dept. 56 Christmas Village Houses at Dollar Store Prices

Christmas· diy projects· Everything Else· Holidays

how to paint  Christmas village houses?

There’s something calming and magical about Christmas village houses.

A DIY Christmas Village for a fraction of the cost! What a beautiful, heirloom collection this creates! LOVE this idea!!

*This post contains some affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.*

 

 

As a child, my favorite thing to do during the holidays was to curl up under the tree, next to my Mom’s ceramic village and while away the hours just looking and imagining.

 

I adore Christmas stores…especially ones with the big Department 56 layouts. I love all the intricate little details of those ceramic wonderlands.

 

 

Problem is, the price tags are enough to twist that love into loathing.

 

 

My Mom’s Christmas village was not the typical store-bought-pre-finished variety. Somehow, she won a full Currier & Ives set back in the day. She has always been amazing with a paint brush in hand, and I loved watching her work.

 

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When I was about 8, she got me an inexpensive ceramic church from the craft store, and told me that I could start my own set, if I wanted to. Of course I did! Here’s my church, painted circa age 8…

 

 

 

That was the beginning. And for many years, around Thanksgiving time, I’d start to work painting a new piece for my village.

 

 

Just 17 years later (yes, that does make me 25) I now have a nice little Christmas town for my family to enjoy, at a FRACTION of the cost of a pre-painted set.

 

 

NO, this is ABSOLUTELY NOT a quick and easy project. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

 

 

But, it is an endeavor that you will take immense pride in, when complete. And it is also a project that your family, and hopefully generations to follow, will pass down and make part of their own holiday traditions.

 

 

Many craft stores carry unpainted village pieces. There are also some great online sources. Here is the basic supply list you’ll need to tackle this project.

 

 

DIY Christmas Village Houses Supplies:

  • unpainted ceramic village houses/pieces – many of ours came from R&R Ceramics, an online storefront out of Arkansas. If you’re lucky, you’ll find them at the Dollar Store or Michaels.
  • acrylic paint
  • detail paintbrush set(you’ll want a variety of brushes)
  • acrylic spray sealer (pick a sheen and stick with it for all pieces to keep a uniform look)

 

 

 

I do have a few actual Dept. 56 pieces that I’ve acquired for Christmas presents, etc. No buildings though, just people and accessories. The little campfire crew below is one of those pieces.

 

 

This year, my daughter, who is 6, wants to paint her first ceramic ornament. I am hoping she falls in love with these projects as much as I did. Sharing a love of painting is the perfect Christmas gift for me to give.

 

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It’s one that I was blessed that my mother gave to me, and I am hopeful that my daughter will continue the tradition.

 

 

Giving thanks this day for all of my old and new-found blog-reading and blogging friends out there in cyberspace.

 

 

I hope that you each have a blessed and wonderful holiday.

 

 

 

 

Too much to do over the holiday season? I get it COMPLETELY. Here are some Christmas village houses you can buy!

 

 

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Comments

  1. I am having the hardest time finding unpainted village houses in stores. I don’t want to order them online because I’d love to see how big they are and what the quality is like on them. Any tips on which stores might have them? I’ve checked Hobby Lobby and Michaels as well as several little artsy stores around town. Even Amazon doesn’t have much!

    Reply

    • I feel your pain Jasmin!! I was in the same boat for a while. The best places I’ve found are the following:

      1. eBay…here’s a link to the search I just did for the brand that many of our village pieces are from: http://bit.ly/2Ch2rZw
      2. a family owned store in Arkansas that I found online, and their selection is AMAZING. Now, it IS online, but all the sizing is listed there: https://www.bisqueceramics.com/

      Good luck, and let me know if you find pieces you love!! Heather

      Reply

  2. Hi! I’m so glad you posted about this, you have no idea.

    My mother had a great collection of painted snow village houses she would put out at Christmas time. They were her favorite. She passed away 10 years ago and her husband threw most of her belongings away (much to my heartbreak). I’ve been searching for the houses she painted ever since. I remember she was very particular about the brand but I don’t know what it was called – but the blue church with snow on the roof that your mother painted is one she used to have!! Do you happen to know the name of that brand?

    Reply

    • Hi Amanda! I’m so touched to read your comment, and hear that these villages were a special part of your Christmas and your relationship with your mom, as it is very much the same for me. The little blue church is one I painted when I was around 8, but I know what the brand is, and I found one that’s available…MANY, in fact! Here’s a link to the church and other items in the set on ebay: http://bit.ly/2QBaqoY …the exact product is no longer made, but you can find whole sets of the same kind on ebay still. It’s from “Wee Crafts”. Hope that helps, and let me know!! Happy holidays!! Heather

      Reply

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