Department 56 Archives – BRONNER'S BLOG

Department 56 Celebrates 50 Years of Christmas Village Magic

Lori Libka At Bronner's, Decorating, Events and Promotions, Villages and Figurines September 4, 2026September 4, 2026Department 56, Department 56 50th Anniversary, Department 56 limited edition, limited edition 4 Comments

Department 56 celebrates 50 years of Christmas village magic with limited edition pieces that rediscover the magic of life’s small, sparkling moments. What began in 1976 with six lighted houses has grown into multiple villages cherished by collectors. What Department 56 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Pieces Are Available? For their 50th anniversary, Department 56 features a festive clock tower and classic churches and accessories celebrating charitable giving. What’s more, a festive snowman and two Santa accessories join the limited edition

Thanksgiving Decor and Recipe

Lori Libka Celebrations, DIY Projects, Recipes, Villages and Figurines October 31, 2024October 31, 2024Department 56, Department 56 Gather 'Round for Thanksgiving, fruit salad recipe, hot fruit salad, hot fruit salad recipe, Thanksgiving decor, Thanksgiving recipe 0 Comment

Our Thanksgiving decor and recipe ideas are filled with flavor and focus on gratitude. So Gather ‘Round for Thanksgiving and hot fruit salad! Thanksgiving Decor From Department 56 By all means, the Gather ‘Round for Thanksgiving cottage brings a refreshing focus to the Snow Village Halloween line. Indeed, an attitude of gratitude shines from the cottage’s windows and the accessory figure, Touchdowns, Turkey and Pie. No wonder Department 56 shares, ” … time spent gathered is the best time of

Minnie’s Kisses & Candy Corn

Lori Libka At Bronner's September 6, 2024September 13, 2024candy corn, Department 56, Mickey Mouse Department 56, Mickey's Halloween Village, Minnie, Minnie Mouse, Minnie Mouse Department 56, Minnie's Kissing Booth 0 Comment

Let Minnie’s kisses & candy corn deliver a sweet, colorful combo to your fall celebration! Indeed, there’s nothing like love in autumn, whether it’s love for Mickey or the sugary treat we call candy corn. Details About Minnie’s Kisses & Candy Corn All things considered, this 2024 addition to Department 56’s Disney Mickey’s Halloween Village is the sweetest one yet. Minnie’s Kissing Booth, as shown above, is shaped like a piece of bright, tri-colored candy corn. What’s more, Minnie’s open

Make It Meatloaf With “A Christmas Story”

Lori Libka At Bronner's, Recipes, Villages and Figurines August 2, 2023August 4, 2023A Christmas Story, A Christmas Story village, Christmas cookbook, Department 56, Department 56 A Christmas Story, meatloaf recipe, The Christmas Movie Cookbook 0 Comment

Make it meatloaf with “A Christmas Story” this holiday season and enjoy a tasty, vintage meatloaf dinner. No way you’ll shoot your eye out. We promise! “Meatloaf, smeatloaf, double beatloaf. I hate meatloaf,” said my husband never. Actually, he loves meatloaf. It was, after all, Randy, little brother of Ralphie, the main character in “A Christmas Story,” who loathed meatloaf and said those words. Nevertheless, food historian Andrew Smith reports that the first recipe for what we consider American meatloaf

The Snowpinions® Award Goes to … + GIVEAWAY

Aileen Libbey At Bronner's, Behind The Scenes, Meet The Staff, Ornaments July 6, 2023May 21, 2024Christmas in July, D56, Department 56, Gift Giving, Giveaway, Snowpinions 18 Comments

FULL of snow much personal-ity, it’s hard not to think of someone when you see any one of Department 56’s® popular line of Snowpinions®, designed by artist Kristi Jensen Pierro! As a result, we had so much fun pairing up staff with different pieces during the launch of Bronner’s blog in 2016 in this popular post. Our newest arrival of frosty friends once again begs the question — just who will the Snowpinions® awards go to this time around?!

Mickey’s and Minnie’s Pumpkintown Houses

Lori Libka At Bronner's, Decorating, DIY Projects, How-To's, Villages and Figurines October 8, 2021October 8, 2021Department 56, Department 56 Halloween Village, Halloween Decorations, Mickey Mouse, Mickey's Pumpkintown House, Minnie Mouse, Minnie's Pumpkintown House 0 Comment

Bring on traditional Halloween fun with Mickey’s and Minnie’s Pumpkintown Houses from Department 56! No doubt, these delightfully designed, lighted orbs will bring Disney charm to your Halloween decor. After all, Mickey and Minnie are right at home in their Pumpkintown houses created by Department 56. They’ve certainly welcomed the Halloween festivities, donning costumes and decorating with pumpkins and candy corn. Indeed, from young whippersnappers to old bats – everyone is welcome! Mickey’s and Minnie’s Pumpkintown Houses Display Supplies side

Decorating Tips for Halloween

Lori Libka Decorating, DIY Projects, How-To's, Lights, Recipes, Villages and Figurines October 7, 2020October 7, 2020Caramel Layer Choco-Squares, caramel layer choco-squares recipe, decorating a fireplace mantel for Halloween, decorating for lights for Halloween, decorating stairs for Halloween, decorating tips, decorating tips for Halloween, Department 56, Department 56 Halloween Village, Department 56 village, Halloween, Halloween craft, how to wrap lights on a corn stalk, how to wrap lights on pumpkins, lights for Halloween, macaroni and cheese, macaroni and cheese recipe, spider craft, spider sucker craft 0 Comment

Our 4 fab decorating tips for Halloween will help you make fun the focus. In brief, use lights and color, keep it crafty, make it sweet and, last but not least, start a village! Use Lights & Color! Lights aren’t just for Christmas decorating! By comparison, they’re important for setting the scene for Halloween, too. In addition to clear lights, broaden your color palette to include purple, orange and green. Another decorating tip for Halloween: don’t limit yourself to the

Halloween Village Display Features Giant Jack-o’-lantern

Lori Libka At Bronner's, Decorating, DIY Projects, How-To's, Villages and Figurines July 30, 2020September 10, 2020Department 56, Department 56 Display, Department 56 Halloween Village, foam cutter, Halloween, Halloween Decorations, Halloween display, Halloween Silhouette, Halloween village, Halloween village display, Haunted Huntsman House, hot knife, Midnight Fright Light, Swinging Ghoulies, wall-washer light, Wicked Wax Works 6 Comments

Bronner’s has rebuilt it’s Department 56 Halloween Village display! Without a doubt, the focal point of the new display is the giant jack-o’-lantern named “Jack.” Carving the Jack-o’-lantern First, Bronner’s decorator Eileen Boone carved the giant pumpkin out of Styrofoam. She used a hot knife, also called a foam cutter. Next, she painted his exterior using three shades of acrylic paint. As can be seen, this created dimension, subtly emphasizing light and shadow. Finally, she painted the interior of the

Department 56 for Fall

Lori Libka Decorating, Villages and Figurines September 11, 2019September 16, 2020Department 56, Department 56 display for Day of the Dead, Department 56 display for fall 0 Comment

No time or money to buy and set up a huge Department 56 display for fall? No problem! Use one or two village pieces and accents to create an attractive seasonal display for your home. Fireplace mantels, end tables, side tables … all work well for a Department 56 village display. I wanted to try something different. Something I hadn’t seen before. Something simple you can do at home, too. So I borrowed an empty wine barrel from a coworker!

Advent and the Nativity Share the CHRISTmas Story

Aileen Libbey Decorating December 3, 2018July 12, 2023Advent, bronner, bronner's, Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland, christmas, Christmas Countdown, Christmas ornaments, Cookies, Decorate, decorating, decorations, Department 56, display, family, Fisher Price, Fontanini, Kelly, kids, Little People, nativity, Willow Tree 2 Comments

What would CHRISTmas be without the Nativity?! We’ve got a few fun ideas of different ways you can share HIStory whether you have sweet littles or an empty nest, traditional or themed décor, and a large or limited space!

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