7 Vintage Style Christmas Dioramas
If you’ve wondered what to do with the crafty Christmas bits and bobs you have lying around, I’ve got just the thing: vintage style Christmas dioramas.
Once you’ve found a suitable container, like a cigar box, it’s just a matter of creating a charming Christmas scene using small items like deer, trees, and wreaths.
Not only fun to make and display, they also sell extremely well for $15-25 at the Holiday Market I participate in every year at the Shaker Heritage Society.
Read other articles about Christmas dioramas here and here.
Materials to Create Dioramas
What sorts of supplies should you be gathering to make your dioramas?
First, you’ll need a container of some sort to place your scenery and deer and whatever else into. The more you think outside the box on this one, the more interesting and unique your project will be.
Collect small deer, bottle brush trees, and small knobs to use as handles on the top of wooden boxes. Make some cute-as-can-be mini wreaths, which I often use when making these dioramas.
You’ll need white paint and/or faux snow to put on the bottom of your container and hot glue to attached all the bits and pieces.
Note: This post contains affiliate links for [the same or similar] products used to complete this project. This is both for your convenience as well as to support my website, since I receive a small compensation whenever you click on a link and make any sort of purchase, for which I thank you 🙂 See my full disclosure here.
Materials:
- Containers, like vintage cigar boxes or these rustic boxes
- Small deer
- Bottle brush trees
- Mini wreaths (make your own) or try these
- Small knobs or wooden balls
- White paint and/or faux snow
- Hot glue gun
- Hot glue sticks
1. Rustic Box Diorama
When I saw this rustic wooden box at a recent garage sale, I knew it would be perfect for a diorama. I added a knob to the top and painted the “ground” with white acrylic craft paint.
You can find this diorama in my craft booth, hopefully, not for long. UPDATE: Sold for $15
2. Vintage Copper Light Fixture Diorma
This diorama, which sold in 2016 for $25.00, involved more work than the previous one.
It all started when I “matched” these two pieces of junk that I had collected over the years. Inspiration finally struck one day.
I painted the disc thing-y with copper spray paint and attached it to the bottom of the cloche-like thing-y with wire. Ta da! The perfect setting for a Christmas diorama.
I inserted this rather handsome deer and three vintage plastic trees that I had on hand.
I ran some green garland around the top and added a few mini wreaths to finish it off.
3. Vintage Brass & Glass Diorama
For a more classic, less farmhouse look, try a small glass container, like this brass and glass one I picked up at a thrift store.
I glued some faux snow to the bottom and then added my features after it dried. It sold for $18.
4. Pierced Lantern Diorama
I think using this antique-style lantern is one of my cleverest ideas. A few simple decorations turned it into a charming farmhouse style decoration.
It sold in 2016 for $15.00, but looking at it now, I think it would have benefited from some faux snow on the “ground,” and a white bottle brush tree rather than a green one.
5. Vintage Recipe Box Diorama
Believe it or not, but I made two dioramas from this vintage recipe box.
I disassembled it by removing its hinges, and as I had surmised, each piece made a perfect container for a diorama. A coat of chalk paint changed their look completely, and then I distressed and waxed them.
I added a knob to the top of each and painted the “ground” white. A bottle brush tree and wreath worked best with the otherwise black interior, and another vintage deer finished off the project. It sold for $15.
UPDATES
6. Small Wooden Box Diorama
This cutie features a vintage ceramic Santa and bottle brush tree in an antique ironstone cup. It is the first diorama that I used an antique postcard as a back drop. I added a small white knob and wrapped it with ribbon. It sold in 2023 for $18.
7. Vintage Wooden Drawer Diorama
A drawer from an old non-functioning set of drawers serves as the container for this deer with bottle brush trees diorama. I offered it for sale in 2024, but it failed to sell.
So I made a couple of embellishments: Pearls on the tips of the trees and a “merry christmas” tag. We’ll see if that makes it more saleable!
Final Thoughts
If you’re a diorama admirer, then I hope I’ve given you some inspiration today. By assembling some interesting “containers” and cute vintage-y embellishments, like bottle brush trees and ceramic deer, you can create one of your very own.
Please, grab some coffee or tea and visit the other Creative Christmas Link Party posts below. I promise, you won’t regret it!
Other Christmas Projects You’ll Enjoy
Thanks for stopping by–
If you enjoyed this post, subscribe today
and get a FREE copy of my eBook:
Bye for now,
I’d love it if you’d pin me for later 🙂
These are adorable, Diana! It’s been awhile since I’ve done any crafting like this…you make me remember how fun it is!
Aww, I’m so glad, Linda 🙂 Glad you like them–happy crafting!
I love these dioramas! Where do you find your trees and deer? Do you collect them throughout the year? And how is the faux snow glued down?
I’m so glad you like them, Kathie 🙂 Yes, I pick them up at garage sales throughout the year, and sometimes I buy the bottle brush trees at craft stores if I need to. I apply a thin layer of modge podge and then put on a thick layer of faux snow and tamp it down. After it dries, I shake off the excess. Hope that helps!
These are adorable! The cloche thingy stole my heart. So unique. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much! Glad you liked my cloche thingy, lol.
Pinned this! Great ideas, love the deer! Personal favorites would be the first one and the recipe box. Thanks for sharing and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Thanks for the pin! I’m all sold out now and am hoping to make at least a couple more. Hope your holiday was blessed 🙂
Those are super cute! My mom and I made dioramas one year with candy boxes and I made some last year with vintage ornament boxes. They are fun to make aren’t they!?
Tania
Thanks Tania! What great ideas, using candy and ornament boxes to make these. Did you post about them? I kinda remember a tiny Shiny Brite box with a diorama in it–was that yours? Yes, they are SO fun–
I did post about them!! 🙂 They are here: http://www.littlevintagecottage.com/2016/12/vintage-ornament-box-dioramas.html
Tania
I have a similar metal thing that looks like the one you use in your Pin picture. I think it used to be an outdoor light because one if the six sides is solid with holes in it where the wires were. Right now there is a fragrance warmer inside of it with glass half marbles, but I think a diorama would be fitting for the approaching holiday season! I was looking for trees the other day at a thrift shop but didn’t find any. They had every other Christmas decoration ever made, but no trees. I wish I had picked up the nativity pieces I saw, but I felt I just had too much inventory right now and really need to sell before buying more. Maybe I’ll sneak back to see if they’re still there.
It sounds like your outdoor light fixture would make a great diorama. Would love to see what you come up with 🙂 Happy hunting!
Very, very sweet! I love the use of boxes or drawers. I have been making mine in glass jars which is fun too!
Yes, I’ve done a couple in larger jars, but they don’t seem as popular 🙁
I’m headed to the thrift store to see what I can find! You are always so inspiring!
Anita
I’ve made a bunch of non vintage ones in glass jars–waterless snow globes. I always keep my eyes out for containers/boxes,drawers now. I got a bag of what looks like vintage shredded cotton with silver glitter that glues down well. I usually mix it with some “diamond dust” (snow looking glitter) caz I like the effect. I have used the shredded plastic stuff and diamond dust in some “shaker” ornaments–a Petrie dish with lid with vintage Santa cloth or penquin napkin decoupaged in place. Look great backlit on the tree. I scored a bunch of new bottle brush trees at the mall where I have a booth–$1 a small bag. Hurrah! Got all sizes. Dollhouse people need LOTS of Christmas trees, too!
These are SO cute Diana! I always like to do something different each year, even if it’s a little thing like these. They look so cute on a shelf and, of course, make great inventory for resale! Thanks for sharing, and have a great weekend.
Your welcome Rita! They are super simple and can be made with items that would be readily available to you at estate and other sales. So far I’ve sold two of the three “new” ones, so just one left to sell. I’m going to try to whip up at least two more to add to my display before the show ends. Hope your Thanksgiving was sweet!
I love these, Diana! They are so innovative and cute. Now I gotta go look in my “stuff” to see if I have something to use to make one. Thanks for the inspiration!
You’re welcome, Naomi, and you know, I’d love to see what you come up with!! Be sure to post them in our FB group–
Cute dioramas!!!
Thanks Rose!
Love these — especially the one with the copper-painted base that you added. I would have never guessed the base wasn’t original to the cloche if you wouldn’t have pointed it out.
So glad you liked them, Lisa! Thanks for the visit 🙂
I love vintage ornaments, they hold a special place in my heart since many were my mom’s and also vintage ornaments used to hold a special place in someone home and now they are ready to be loved by some one else. Happy Thanksgiving
I feel the same way, Maria 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by–hope your Thanksgiving was blessed!
I love the vintage ornaments. The are incredibly beautiful.
I SO agree, Libbie!!
How cute these are. I like how you used all kinds of containers. It must be hard to part with them.
They are cute, but I one only has so much room, right, Debra?!!
You know I love each and every one of these! Very ingenious with all the different containers — I really like that brass and glass one! Vintage deer are just too cute:) Pinned.
xo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home
Thanks for the pin, Kathleen!! They remind me (of course) of your amazing gumball machine dioramas 🙂
Oh, my, I’ve probably got all kinds of tidbits in my basement to make some of these. I love all of your scenes and those adorable diy wreaths are so clever. Thanks so much for the inspiration!!
I’m so glad you enjoy my little creations, Amy!