Village Display Tutorials

Tips and Tricks for Using Hot Wire Foam Factory Tools to Create a Captivating Display for Department 56 Villages

Sculpting Tool Basic Techniques by Ken Shirley – Parts 1, 2 & 3

In these videos, Ken demonstrates some basic techniques using the Hot Wire Foam Factory Sculpting Tool to create mountains, texture and water effects for Department 56 village displays.

Products Used

The following tools were used (see 4-in-1 Pro Model Kit) (though you can use a Crafters Deluxe 3-in-1 Kit)

• Hot Wire Foam Factory Pro Variable Heat Power Station (Or the Crafters Power Supply)
• 6 inch Pro Hot Knife (or the 3-Inch Hot Knife)
• Sculpting Tool with Wire Tensioner
• Freehand Router (or use the Sculpting Tool without the Wire Tensioner)
• Precision Engraver

The following products were used:

• Foam Fusion glue (used to glue foam layers)
• Bounce Rubberizer (used for attaching glitter)
• Foam Variety Pack (or get white beaded EPS foam from your local hardware or building supply store as shipping can be expensive for foam)

Here are the basic steps:

Stack up your foam and layout your village pieces on the layers, draw the curves for how you want your basic contours. Cut out the contour curves using the Hot Knife. Glue the layers using Foam Fusion. Let this dry overnight.

Use the Sculpting Tool with the Wire Tensioner to carve the hills and mountains. Shape your Freehand Router heavy wire to a rectangular shape to cut in stair steps and paths. Or, you can use your Sculpting Tool for this, but it won’t cut as fast. Round it to cut curves, such as channels and valleys. Use the Precision Engraver to add in details such as bricks, stones, texture.

Paint, using latex or acrylic paint. We used flat house paint and inexpensive foam and fiber brushes available at any art supply store. Apply Bounce Rubberizer in small sections. Sprinkle on the glitter, shake off excess, let dry. To apply glitter in a small section, such as under the stairs, put glitter into a plastic baggie and snip off a corner; this allows you to apply it carefully to a section. Cut out holes big enough for the lights and wires and under the houses. If there are young children in the house, you might want to glue down the houses to the display using a few drops of Styrogoo Glue. These can be later removed for storage. Plug in the lights, then admire your handiwork!