Department 56 Snow Village, Christmas Miniature Villages, and Halloween Village Displays
4 Tips for Easy Department 56 Halloween Decorating
1) Dead Forest.
Create a haunted forest out of small twigs and branches. Collect an array of branches and twigs in different sizes, shapes and heights. Cut bases out of styrofoam, dab some glue on the ends of the twigs and press into the base. Spray the dead trees using a matte black paint. Cover the base with craft moss to hide the styrofoam. For even more creepiness, tip branch ends or streak the trunks of the trees with a glow in the dark paint, and use funky mini black lights (found in Michael's craft stores) to illuminate your forest.
2) Foggy graveyard
Cover your display area with pieces of cotton gauze or cheesecloth. Let the gauze bunch and fold to create texture. Or take a large piece of cotton batting (the same stuff you probably already use for snow), and tease out the batting to get the shape and texture you want. Use a tombstone accessories package or make your own headstones using styrofoam or balsa wood and grey and black craft paint.
3) Mad Scientist's Laboratory
Ideal if you have Dr. Lunatic's Laboratory. Position your village building and then "accessorize" with Mason's jars filled with disgusting specimens. Use cauliflower for brains, cooked spaghetti for intestines, olives for eyes, and mini vienna sausages for spare fingers. Don't forget to have odd shaped jars and bottles filled with different looking fluids.
4) Candy bowl.
Great idea for a smaller size building such as "Howl Radio" or "Dead Creek Mill". Find a really big bowl for your candy (wide and shallow) and simply nestle your building amongst the treats. Make sure you plug it in too and hide the cord.
