Making a DIY Christmas village has become a tradition here on the blog and we always love dreaming up a mini Christmas scene year after year. We’ve made them from a variety of surfaces and in several different styles, and this year’s is no different!
When I was living in NYC there was a beautiful row of brownstones in my neighborhood and right in the middle was one that was a perfect shade of blue. At Christmastime that particular row of brownstones was always decorated so beautifully with garlands and wreaths lining the windows and railings, and when it would snow you’d feel like you were basically in a Hallmark movie every time you walked past. So, when I came across a brownstone birdhouse at Michaels recently I knew I had to channel those gorgeous NYC brownstones for this year’s DIY Christmas village!
You’re going to love putting this darling project together, and if you happen to live in a small apartment in an NYC brownstone, you’ll be pleased that it doesn’t take up nearly as much space as more traditional villages! Here is what you need to get started:
Supplies needed to Make Your Own DIY Christmas Village
Brownstone Birdhouse
FolkArt Paint (We used Ochre, Silver Marlin, Whicker White, and Vintage Tea Rose)
Paint Brushes
Green Pipe Cleaners
Small Wood Beads
Small Gold Seed Beads
Iridescent Snow Flakes
Hot Glue Gun + Hot Glue Sticks
How to Make Your Own DIY Christmas Village
Step 1: Paint your birdhouses as desired. We painted one Ochre, one Silver Marlin, and one Vintage Tea Rose. Apply the desired number of coats and let dry completely.
Step 2: Paint wooden beads in the same colors that you painted your houses. Let dry completely and set aside.
Step 3: To make the mini wreaths, twist one of the green pipe cleaners around two of your fingers to make a small circle. Twists the ends around itself to secure. Then, take another pipe cleaner and twist it around the first pipe cleaner circle and twist the ends around the circle to secure. To make the mini garland, twist two green pipe cleaners together. We made 3 wreaths and 1 garland.
Step 4: Apply a light coat of white paint on the pipe cleaner wreaths and garlands. Let dry completely.
Step 5: Using a hot glue gun, glue the painted wood beads and gold seed beads onto the pipe cleaner wreaths and garland to decorate them.
Step 6: Attach the finished wreaths and garlands to the houses using a hot glue gun.
Step 7: Attach snow on the roofs and ground of the houses using a hot glue gun.
That’s it! Aren’t these brownstones the cutest? I love that one in the perfect shade of blue reminding me of my old neighborhood. Just so charming!
Do you have a Christmas village you set up every year? We’d love to hear about them!
Happy Making!
ox. Liz
