Are you doing small or larger houses? I use to do mostly the little houses and used the people anyway. For the larger houses mine seemed to fit.

lol - been setting up Christmas and train villages for over 40 years. Nothing is to scale with any of them - thats what makes it so whimsical. My houses are all different scales and different eras. I just have fun with it :) ......

Lynne

all scales of people in the same scene

I have a fairly extensive collection and prefer not using the people in the scene. I agree that they seem just too out of scale. I'd rather just imagine them in there, doing various activities rather than frozen into a single activity.

Lynne, you have a nice collection, I really like the way you did the last one--the colors and houses just seem right together. Luvs

Well heck, I've never cared about scale in my villages. It's what gives you pleasure that matters. I mix D56 and Lemax houses (totally different scale) and even Boyds Bears. Do what makes you happy and don't worry about the preciseness:

Beautiful villages ladies and set up so prettily.

Some of my people are too large. I try to keep them away from the buildings so it's not as noticeable. I have some houses that are smaller too. I put them at the rear and pretend that it's perspective. - Gail

Oooh, I love the villages....but seems I love it all, so go figure!

To me, go with what you have and what you like, that's where the true magic lies.....just create your own!

Beautiful, everyone....just makes me smile and get that warm fuzzy feeling inside.

Alex

ooh -- I have some pieces but the reason I haven't been using them is because they are so helter skelter in scale. For instance, I have a car with a christmas tree tied to the back that's bigger than one of the houses! You really think that would be okay? Also, I can't seem to figure out where to set it up. Do you think it looks funny on medium sized accent tables?

Pdg, maybe you could use that little house in a separate little scene somewhere. Did you see the one OA put together for her bar?

I'm loving all these pretty houses, I never started collecting them because I've never felt I had room to properly them, but why do they all have to be used together in one scene? I can imagine doing little scenes throughout the house even. Might have to think about that some more. ;o)

Luvs

Luvs - I do small little scenes where ever I can with just a couple of houses - I have well over 200 (all different styles) and never use all of them each year - no room - lol

Windowsill over my kitchen sink - these are actually Christmas ornaments - they are only 1/2 metal houses - there are no backs but work perfect in the windowsill. I just loved the detail on them and got them 75% off one year after Christmas. I knew I could find a use for them

bookcase shelf - I painted all of these

Luvs, no way do they all have to be grouped together! I do 2 vignettes of 6-8 houses apiece. One on top of the Entertainment center and 1 on the bar. Then I also do a single piece display on accent tables, dining room table and one candyland piece under my Candy tree.

Here are some design ideas from Department 56 which is a major manufacturer of lighted houses. Most of the design ideas are for small scenes.

Here is a link that might be useful: D56 Decorating with Village pieces

Lynne, its hard to believe those lovely little houses in the windowsill aren't really "houses". Great detail and so pretty. And your painting on the village is really good too!
My daughter does many little villages around her home. On top of the two big TVs, on some tables and bookcases. Etc.
It all looks wonderful. I can't do that because of my Village Bullies (the cats, LOL). But I like the idea of them around the house and not just one big village.

hugs, Karen

I haven't put my houses up in years. But got them out this year. Sometimes the scale bothers me, but most times it doesn't. I mix and match manufacturers too. I've uploaded a long shot on the Christmas Mantels #1 post if anyone's interested.

OA - I love your village - I have those same street lights - how are you keeping yours to stand upright?? - that is my biggest problem. .....

Lynne

I just love all these pictures. I'm glad the scale question came up. I have had a little church for years that I would set around by it self.. Last year I visited this site and saw all the wonderful villages so through out this last year I've picked up some small houses here and there. They are the cheap ones probably sold at wally world, but I like them! I bought a nativity at the ts for $1 and it's too big. Then I fell in love with a pair of sleds leaning up against a fence the other week at Michaels..1/2 price..it's way too big but I love it. Last night I found some smaller people at wally world for $1.. bought a set.... I can not get addicted!!!

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Hopefully if you click on the pictures they will enlarge. just incase here's a link to my photobucket

Here is a link that might be useful: my Christmas soo far

Lynne,
I can't remember where I saw the idea for the lights, but here it is. I use a base of insulation on which to set all my houses. You can carve and cut it real easily. After I place all my houses, I decide where I want my lights, I stick in a piece of wooden skewer into the insulation, take off the little plastic piece on the buttom of the lamp post and slip the post over the skewer. They CAN'T fall over. I also make grooves in the insulation (heat up the ice pick and melt the grooves) and stick the wires in the grooves. Then I stick down the wires and the bases of the lamp posts with clear packaging tape. Then I sprinkle on the snow.

Now, tell me. Where can we buy more lights? I found only one place on-line that USED to carry them - but no longer. If you find a place, let me know. They are easier to plug in (no wall wart), much cheaper and considerably brighter than the Dept. 56 brand. Keep an eye out for me.
OA

OA - Thanks so much for the tips - I use the insulation also as my base so I am going to try that for my lamps. My lights are well over 20 years old and we did buy two sets when we got them. I will definitely keep an eye out for them. Over the years I have aquired a bunch of the D56 lighting accessories through gifts, ect and was very pleased to see that the Lemax adapters work with them - the Lemax accessories are so much cheaper - gonna get started on my main village in a couple of days .....

Lynne

Bright, your decorations are looking really nice. I think your nativity looks great on your mantel and the angels are so pretty too.

I'm enjoying seeing all these pretty village scenes. I think Karen put some nice ones in the album last year too.

Luvs

Bright,
Thanks for adding your village scene. I especially like the sleds.
I do have a question about another of your pictures. Please tell about the ball ornaments in the red box. Where are they displayed? That is a very cool idea.
OA

Thank you so much for your kind comments.

I'm really enjoying seeing everyone's villages!

Forgot to ask - does anyone know anything about Village D-Lights magazine? Is it worth subscribing to?

OA, that's a picture I saved from another web site... It's a coke case with orni's displayed. I haven't done one yet myself.

Hey! I have a coke case. Maybe I'll go out in the garage and dust it off.
Thanks,
OA

OA, don't forget to take a picture!!

I painted mine many years ago and they're all pretty much from the same set, so the people fit the scenes. I have added the stone walls, some of the trees, the nativity by the church and the foxes (love them!) over the years, though. The premade buildings and people I see in stores now won't work with my set, unfortunately.
These are pics from last year, as I don't have my decs up yet. I put the village up on my foyer hutch.
Lynn
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OMG Lynn - you did a fantastic job in painting them. I love the house with Santa going over the top - very well done. I have painted well over 30 over the years and yes they are a smaller size. I have done several sets of people and just this year got a pond with trees around it and a bench with people. I got it from Micheals .....

Lynne

I saw this idea for a Village piece and thought it was really appealing, and have it in our Album now too. The building is a Dept 56 Bookstore, which makes it even cuter for the vignette I think.

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hugs, Karen

I love all your villages! Now I'm getting the itch to set mine up - maybe tomorrow since we are getting some snow tonight and I don't feel like going shopping. I also don't worry much about scale. Most of my houses are the Dept. 56 Snow Village, but my kids have purchased other houses, plus I have purchased people, trees and other pieces at Walmart.

Biz, can't wait to see your photos.

Tally, I never heard of that magazine. I would be interested to hear more about it too.

Gosh, I forgot how much I had to set up with my Village and its been a project the last two days. I emptied 4 of the 5 shelves in the huge china cabinet. And tonight I finished setting up all except the Farm, which will be on the bottom shelf. I also had forgotten I have several different sizes of people. The smaller ones do well with the Currier & Ives buildings I have. (Tho they come with people glued on them too, that are good scale.) Being "me", I have lots of farm animals and wild critters to set up on that last shelf. Then I probably will need to tweak things and add more trees and such. I'm not very good at making villages look so real and interesting like others here, but maybe I'll learn some things about doing so.
I got slowed down last two days with my back, my Dad fell (again) and getting him up by myself was really difficult.
His legs are so weak that he can't help at all and is dead weight. But I figure the way things are going the last few weeks, I can expect my back and legs to stay on the warpath till at least sometime in Feb. LOL.
After UN-decorating and getting house back to normal.
Meanwhile, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel
(hope that isn't a TRAIN !!) with the decorating.

Oh, saw these cool tips for some village accents....

"Another easy ground cover found in the kitchen is spice. All those aging cans and bottles of parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme make great grassy areas and might provide an extra bouquet to the display."

"simple way of making dirt for a village display, use old dried up Coffee Grounds."

"Purchase cans of Blitz Sno when it goes on sale after the holidays. Spray a thick coat on a large sheet of waxed paper and let it dry thoroughly (at least 12 hours, more depending on thickness). Use a butter knife or other flat-edged object to scrape the snow off of the waxed paper and into a zip-lock bag. Then, if you want more, simply re-use the waxed paper until it tears up.
It takes a little time, but in the end you have a more realistic looking snow to sprinkle over your village, especially nice effect to accumulate freshly fallen snow on roof edges. It wipes off of the buildings with a clean, soft cloth. Also, a little surprisingly goes a long way."

"For village water, use the Blue colored Saran Wrap over blue styrofoam. Use about 8 layers of saran wrap stretched in different directions across the foam board. This will give the water a deep blue look."

"My Dept 56 collection is getting so huge that I've decided to put it up "Piece meal" throughout the fall season. I've started by going to the dollar store and picking up autumn leaves, tiny little scare crows, bales of hay, etc. Then I put out my Harley shop, the new garage sale piece and a few houses and all of the mountains and streams and trees. By adding the fall touches you get more use out of your display. Simply remove Halloween items and replace with thanksgiving decorations and a few more stores. Then by the busy Christmas season your display is ready to go with just a few adjustments!"

I've saved all these ideas to my files.
hugs, Karen

Thanks for the tips Karen, I can't wait to see pictures. I need lots more trees. I did finish the twigs with glitter and that helped. I have a mirror used as a pond..wonder if i could use the saran wrap to make it more realistic. What I'd really like are some roads and sidewalks. I like the lamp posts everyone has too. I've looked at some pictures and do not notice roads does anyone do this?

WOW! I think the picture may show up with out clickin!