A Cigar Box Christmas Diorama to Make & Sell

Every year, I create Christmas dioramas to sell at the Shaker Holiday Market. Throughout the year I keep my eye out for good “junk” that I can turn into attractive scenes. I use other crafty Christmas supplies, too, like garland, bottle brush trees, and deer.

An old wooden cigar box made the perfect “container” for the one I’m going to show you today, but you can use any similar box that you have on hand.

Materials to Make a Christmas Diorama

• Containers, like vintage cigar boxes or these rustic boxes
• Small deer
• Bottle brush trees
• Small Santa
• 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

The photo ‘s a bit blurry, but you get the idea–old and crusty. After I cleaned it up, it sat on my work bench for quite a while. One day I set some trees inside, another day, a deer, and so on I went, until I came up with a scene that I liked.

1. Paint the Interior White & Add Trim

Before adhering the vintage Santa, deer, and bottle brush trees, I gave the interior one coat of antique white craft paint, to make it look wintery. Then I hot glued a strand of red garland (Target) all the way around the edge.

2. Add a Knob

I also added a knob to the top, which seemed to add a lot of character to the piece and made it easy to pick up and set down. I drilled a hole, inserted the knob shank into the hole, and bolted it in place.

3. Add a Wreath

On the back “wall” I added a mini wreath made with the tinsel and decorated it with a tiny bottle brush tree.

4. Add Other Features

Hot glue other elements, like bottle brush trees, a deer, and a Santa to the base of the box. Here you see the completed diorama sitting in my booth at the Holiday Market. It sold fairly early on for $25.00. 

Final Thoughts

I really enjoy assembling the materials and handcrafting these charming little dioramas. Don’t forget to keep your eye out for suitable boxes, small drawers, or crates while you’re out vintage shopping. Pick up any small embellishments like Santas, deer, and bottle brush trees while you’re at it. And happy crafting!

Check out other Christmas dioramas HERE.

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!