Saturday, August 28, 2010

Halloween Village Platform

Don't you just love Halloween villages? This is my favorite time of year because Michael's craft store puts out all of their Lemax village pieces. I just drool over all the amazing houses with moving parts, sounds, and mini strobe lights. Well, I can't afford those houses unless I wait until after Halloween to get the discount prices (and then all the really cool houses are gone). And I can just forget about ever having a Department 56 village! My solution was to buy cheaper houses that don't have all the whistles and bells, but make a really cool platform to display them.

You will need to get several long pieces of styrofoam (I found mine at Michael's), aquarium gravel, sand, some cool rocks, plastic greenery, styrofoam glue (this glue is AMAZING), spray paint, resin, and a moss display mat.


I wanted my platform to have multiple levels. To do this I took several long pieces of styrofoam and layered them on top of each other, gluing each level with my incredible styro-glue. I also wanted a pond so I cut an irregular oval out of one piece of styrofoam and glued it on top of a solid piece. I feel like I'm not explaining this very clearly, so check out the picture below.

Once I had the different layers all glued together, I decided exactly where I wanted my houses to sit. I took a pen and traced around the bottom of the houses.

Then I mashed the styrofoam down with my thumb (about quarter of an inch) so the houses would sit a little lower on the platform. I also mashed the edges of the hills so they looked like mother nature made them. Next, I spray painted the crap out of the platform. Luckily I got two cans of spray paint because the styrofoam drinks it up and I had to put on a few coats. Now comes the fun part, decorating the platform with sand, rocks, and any other natural looking junk you like.

To make the path ways, just draw out the design you want and smoosh down the styrofoam with your thumb (or the cap of a pen if your hands are getting tired by now).

For the pond I mashed the styrofoam down a little deeper in some parts and dumped sand into the depressions. Look at those little cat tails! I made them out of florist wire that I painted gold and little strips of brown felt. Once I had the pond looking the way I wanted, I poured in the resin (do this outside on a trash bag because a bit of the resin will soak through the styrofoam). To create a waterfall I wadded up some Saran wrap and glued it in place.

Even though I can't afford Department 56 or Lemax houses full price, I can afford the accessories. Michael's puts the accessories on sale when Halloween is nearing. I also got some good deals on trees, head stones, and fences on ebay.

Here is the finished product and I must say, I really love the way it turned out!











19 comments:

  1. That truly looks incredible!! It looks like you put so much work into this and it really shows! I have to admit that Michael Myers totally creeps me out and I almost got goosebumps when I saw the pic, but I love everything else, lol.

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  2. What a little ingenuity won't do! It looks awesome!

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  3. It turned out so wonderful. Very creative.

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  4. Ha ha I love it!
    I made something like this once but in a easter theme when the kiddos where very small. Though, not in the great detail you have. The house with the carnage on the porch made me giggle...is that weird?

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  5. so cool! You are so creative

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  6. this is the best thing ever, and i want it! job well done!

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  7. That is amazing! You did such a great job! I don't have a Halloween village, I'm sure my husband would roll his eyes at me :) Found you on Made by you Monday.
    Liz
    http://projectnaptime.blogspot.com/

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  8. Very well done. Such attention to detail. Makes me excited to get out the few halloween pieces I have.

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  9. This is UH-MAZING!! I cant afford those fancy houses either, but this I could do!

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  10. Holy Macaroni, that looks like a lot of work...but it turned out SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO cool! Totally worth it! Thanks so much for linking up to gettin' crafty on hump day! :)

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  11. That looks amazing! Thanks for linking up to the Mad Skills party!

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  12. I love it still! I gave you an award, go check it out!
    Liz
    http://projectnaptime.blogspot.com/

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  13. Loved those Halloween signs. I gave you a stylish blogger award. Check my blog for details. Your blog is so cool.

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  14. Beautiful! Just a quick question, why did you choose to make the platform out of foam? I'm thinking about making one or two different ones for my boyfriend and I'm still in the research phase but your platform is amazing, tons of great ideas. Thank you!

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  15. Your Department 56 village looks amazing!! I am making a big display this year. I love the fountain! Please let me know where you got it! Been searching the web-can't find it anywhere!

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  16. Hi! I love your display! I am DYING to know the height of those Freddy, Michael Myers, Leatherface, and Jason figures? And where on earth did you find them?

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  17. She **is** very excited! And she doesn't want to hear our talk of getting a milking machine...she wants to "do it like Laura and Mary!"
    fence boards

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