Recycle lightbulbs as Christmas
ornaments with this whimsical snowman!
(Click
here For Pattern)
Supplies:
#3 round bristle brush or stippling
brush of your choice #1 small round detail brush Paints: white,
black, orange, red flat white spray paint small scrab of fabric 6 oz. styrofoam
cup small gold thread or cord for hanger
Preparation:
1) For hat: preheat oven to 350 degrees. Turn styrofoam cup unpside
down on cookie sheet and place in oven. As it warms, it will shrink.
Remove from oven and immediately turn up some of the edge for a brim.
Do in well ventilated room. The fumes
from melting styrofoam could be hazardous to some folks.
Note: No two hats turn out alike. You get some really interesting
shapes.
2) Wash lightbulb with vinegar and water. Cute a piece of gold cord
approx. 18 inches long. Wrap from the middle around the metal part of the
bulb and tie a knot. Then pull the two ends up and knot them. This will
be your hanger. Hold the bulb by the thread and lightly spray with
flat white paint. Hang to dry.
Painting Procedure:
1) Using the sipplish brush, dab white on the entire bulb. Let dry.
2) With black, base eyes, pull eyelashes, and smile lines and mouth.
You can also outline arms. Put a small white highlight in each eye.
3) With red, make a wash and paint circles for the cheeks and pull
a small stroke under the center of the mouth.
4) With orange, pull a carrot nose.
Irreguarly line along bottom with orange plus a little black.
5) Paint hat black or dark blue or green. Try picking a color from
your fabric. When dry, dab a little white on the edges and crown for snow.
6) Cut a strib of fabrice about 3/8 inches wide and 12 inches long.
Tie a knot in each end. Fold and scrunch and glue around neck. Make a small
bow for hat by tieing a knot in a strip of fabric and trimming ends at
an angle. Glue this to the hat.
7) Use a sharp pencil or large needle to gently poke a hole in the
top of the hat. Thread hanger up through the hat and place the hat down
over the metal part of the bulb. Glue, if needed.Your snowman is now ready
to hang!!!
Other ideas:
1) Stuff raffia up under the hat for hair.
2) Use Creative Paper Clay or Model Magic to make arms dimensional.
3) Use raffia or straw and a toothpick and make a broom to
glue under the arm.
4) Paint a candy cane, birdhouse, etc. hanging from
his hand. |
Easy Snowman
Pin:
(Click
Here for Graphic)
You will need:
Lightweight cardboard
Brown paper bag
Polyfill
Man's black sock
White acrylic paint
Craft glue
Hot glue
Buttons for the belly
Small beads, embossing powder or black
felt pen
Ribbon or strip of fabric
Pin backing
Draw two circles on the cardboard to make your pattern, about 2
inches for bottom and 1 inches for head. Fold brown bag in half, trace
snowman, and cut out two pieces at same time. Paint with two or more coats
of white paint. Make a small slit in the center of back bottom (this will
be used to stuff a little poly fill in after glue is dry). Glue together
around outer edge. I used Aleene's tacky glue. Hot glue two buttons on
belly, I used a small red and green one. I put two dots for eyes and five
dots for mouth. I used embossing powder for mine but if you have small
beads that would look great. The hat is made with a man's black sock. Cut
a strip from top about 1 1/2 inches x 3 inches and hot glue around top
of head. Tie ribbon or a strip of fabric around hat and neck. Hot glue
a pin on back. Add some glitter highlights for a little more sparkle.
Preserving Holly:
I use a solution of 2 parts boiling water and 1 part glycerine plus
plenty of food coloring to maintain the green color. Immerse them in the
solution. Some greens uptake the solution and through the stems and some
don't. So it is best to immerse the whole stem if you are not sure. I think
a nice bath of the wax solution of (acrylic floor wax, 4 parts water to
1 part wax, with some color added) would be a nice finish to help lock
in the moisture, and give the leaves a nice shine.
Frost On Windows
For those who live in warm climates but would like to have frosted
windows at holiday time....try beer and epsom salts.
..dissolve a couple of tablespoons of epsom salts in a can of flat
beer and daub on the window with a large ball of cotton. When it dries
, it crystallizes on the glass. It is a bit difficult to remove... takes
lots of elbow grease but pretty to see and worth it if your childhood memories
include snow and frost. Or just sponge on glass cleaner, the milky white
kind that comes in a can, like they use for soaping the windows of closed-down
stores, etc. Buffs right off, since it's made for glass.
Ice Lanterns
It is actually made from water not-quite-frozen
in a bucket or some other container, the excess unfrozen water is poured
off, and a candle is inserted inside. They are left outside on sidewalks
or driveways. I would like to put mine out on my deck.
Diane |
Snow Woman
I took two small Styrofoam balls and joined them with glue and a
toothpick. I used spray adhesive to glue on the clear sparkles. The eyes
are gems shaped like stars. The mouth a heart shaped gem. Glued on for
the face. The arms are toothpicks with little white paper mittens, enforced
with glue, for gloves. Her hair is raffia. glued to the top of her head.
Her scarf is satin ribbon, doubled with a small tassel hanging from it.
The hat is a small straw hat I embellished with the satin ribbon and I
put a wooden apple on top. I made the green leaf from knotting a piece
of ribbon then cutting at a slant close to the knot. Then gluing to the
top of the little apple. Take either small black beads for her buttons
or use fabric paint to make dots. She is absolutely adorable and all your
woman friends will love her. Debi
Flower Pot Angel
Take terra cotta flower pot invert. add croched
doily allowing enough over hang to form two inch collar. glue styrofoam
ball to the doily. paint ball and add hair or spanish moss to make hair.
add wings to back of pot,wood , cloth or metal filagree. take 6 inch piece
of muslin seam it to for a tube for the arms. glue the two ends to back
of pot. measure to center of tube in front add raffia bow and ribbon roses
and glue tube,bow, and flowers to pot. cute homey look. cost
depends on size of materials used. small,
medium, or large angel, its your choice. have fun linda |
A Christmas
Angel
Cheryl Lynn
Materials:
Tacky Glue
1 Yard of white tulle net
22 guage wire
20 mm Christmas ornmanet ball (gold)
4" chenille glitter stem
Glitter
Gold thread hanger
Gold paper
Ribbon bow
Mini Blonde Curly Doll Hair
Small gold wire garland (for halo)
1. To make the angel's body, use one yard of
net and fold in half lengthwise. Bend a hook in a piece of 22 guage wire
and slip the hook under the fold. Gather the net up tightly, twist the
wires and attach to the stem of a 20mm Christmas
ornament ball.
2. Add a 4" chenille stem for the arms. Open
up the net into a fluffy ball and glitter the edges by dipping them into
a 50/50 mixture of Tacky Glue and water and then dip into a bowl of glitter.
Tie on a hanger and hang to dry.
3. Use Tacky Glue to add gold paper wings
(or purchase pre-made wings at your local craft store), a bow at the neck,
Curly Hair and a halo.
|
Tomato
Cage Angel
Materials Needed:
36"x72" piece netting
Florist's wire: 26-gauge, 18-gauge
3-foot tall wire tomato cage
Aleen's Designer Tacky Glue or craft glue
Red plaid fabric ( or a fabric of your chose ) 1 (36" x 44" ) piece,
2 ( 18" x 20" ) pieces
6" x 10" piece peach felt
30" x 321/2" piece gold lame
Aleene's Fusible web
Batting: 14" x 31" piece, scraps
6"-diameter Battenberge lace doily
14" length 1/2"-wide red ribbon
( you can have your favorite
ribbon )
6"-diameter Styrofoam ball
Serrated knife
24" square peach fabric
Yellow fake fur: 1 ( 41/2" x 12" ) piece, 2 (21/4" x 12" ) pieces
comb
30" length gold star garland
2 ( 11/4" ) black buttons
Fine-tip permanent black marker
Directions:
1) Fold netting in thirds widthwise. Using 26-gauge florist's wire
and working through all layers, run wire along 1 long edge of folded netting.
Gather netting to fit top of tomato cage. Wrap netting around tomato cage
about 2" from top. Twist wire ends together to secure netting. Squeeze
thin line of glue on wrong side along 1 ( 44" ) edge of 36" x 44" piece
of red plaid for dress. Turn under 1/2" and glue for hem. Let dry. Using
26- gauge florist's wire, run wire along unhemmed 44" edge of red plaid.Gather
fabric to fit top of tomato cage. Wrap fabric around tomato cage on top
of netting, with gathered edge of fabric about 2" from top of cage. Twist
wire ends together to secure.
2) For each sleeve, squeeze thin line of glue on wrong side along
1 (20") edge of 1 (18" x 20") piece of red plaid. Turn under 1/2" and glue
for hem. Squeeze thin line of glue on the right side along 1 (18") edge
of red plaid. Overlap 18" edges and glue to make tube. Let dry. Using 26-gauge
florist's wire, run wire along unhemmed 20" edge of fabric. Gather sleeve
tightly. Cut 1 (36") lenght of 18-gauge florist's wire for arms. Slightly
bend wire at center to shape. With gathered edge at top, slip 1 sleeve
on each end of wire. Glue gathered edge of sleeve to wire near bend in
center of wire. Let dry. Cut 1 (5") piece of 18 gauge florist's wire. Use
5" wire lenght to wire arms to top of tomato cage. Glue gathered edge of
sleeves and arms to dress to secure. Let dry.
3) Transfer pattern to felt and cut 4 hands. With edges aligned
and wire sandwiched between, glue 2 hands together at end of each arm.
Let dry.
4) Cut 2 (36") lengths of 18-gauge florist's wire for wings. Bend
each wire in half to form a right angle. With right sides facing and 321/2"
edges aligned, fold lame in half. Cut 4 (1/2" x15") strips of fusible web.
Slip web strips between web
strips between lame layers at each open edge,leaving opening in
center of 321/2" edge, and fuse. Turn wings right side out. Slip 14" x31"
piece of batting into wings. Place 1 prepared wire inside wings at each
top corner. Glue opening closed. Let dry.
5) Cut 1 (10") length of 18-gauge florist's wire. With folded edge
at top, fanfold center of wings to gather. Wrap 10" wire length around
center of wings and twist ends together at top of wings to secure gathers.
Form wire ends into a loop to attach wings to tomato cage. Slip wire loop
over top of tomato cage at back of angel.
6) Slip edge of doily over top of tomato cage at front of angel.
Tie ribbon in a bow. Glue bow to doily. Let dry. Press foam ball onto top
of tomato cage to form indentation. Using serrated knife, carve out indented
area of foam ball to fit tomato cage. Glue scraps of batting to cover foam
ball, leaving indentation uncovered. Let dry. Cover ball with peach fabric,
gathering excess at bottom. Glue fabric edges inside indentation in ball,
trimming to fit as needed. Let dry.
7) For hair, with right side facing face, pin 1 (12") edges of 41/2"
x 12" fur piece to top and sides of head to form hairline around face.
Fold fur toward back of head and pin remaining edges in place. In same
manner, pin 1 (21/4" x 12") fur piece in place to cover back of head. Roll
remaining fur piece to form bun. Pin bun to head. Comb fur to fluff. Curve
star garland into a circle for halo and glue to head. Glue button eyes
in place on face. Draw mouth on face with black
marker. Press head in place on angel, gluing to secure as needed.
Let dry.
Ice Cream Cone Ornament
Glue a 3-4" diameter red satin ball ornament
to a sugar cone. Add cotton around juncture between cone and ball and on
top of ball. Use hanger from satin ball extending through cotton fluff
on top to hang from tree. (Can use a piece of yarn or ornamental string
or ribbon for hanger also.)
Wooden Reindeers
You will need 5 corks (large wine ones are best). Glue two end to
end for the body. Glue a third on its side to one side of the body for
the head. Glue one each under body for the legs (it will appear to have
only two legs). - let dry.
Using a pointed object poke two holes in top of head. Insert two
brown pipe cleaners (cut small) for antlers. Cut a piece of Christmas Ribbon
to make the saddle. Glue on body. Draw eyes with marker, or buy "google
eyes" and glue on. Draw on nose, or use tiny pom-pom. Glue on piece of
red or green wool from head to body on each side, to looklike reigns. |
PineCone
Ornaments
Idea 1
Collect a good supply of little pine cones.
Purchase some model paint and some thin brushes along with some clear spray
lacquer. Purchase some of those screw in eyebolts to use as hangers. Paint
the cones as you would like. Makes fantastic hand made ornaments. Also
make great gifts.
Idea 2
Place glue on ends of individual cone "leaves"
and sprinkle glitter on. Or, you can use glitter colored fabric paint glued
directly to ends of cone "leaves."
Idea 3
The pine cones you could partially dip into
paint, allow to drip dry. Use a thin satin ribbon to match or raffia for
hanger. Spray with a glue adhesive and sprinkle with choice of glitter.
Then tie a bow at the top or bottom.
Dough Ornaments
Idea 1
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water
Add water slowly as you may not need all of
it. Then try using a garlic press and press some green dough(made with
food coloring)through and shape it into christmas trees.
Decorate with plain dough ie. make balls,
presents, candy canes and stick on tree. If you have a good garlic press
it should work fine.After making the ornaments you can either bake them
for 2 hours at about 225F or let them air dry for about 48 hours.
Get some waterbase acrylic paints and paint
away! They make great presents. --Denise
Idea 2
Floured board
Rolling pin
Cookie cutters
Whole allspice and cloves
Small paint brush
Garlic press
Drinking straw
Vegetable cooking spray
1 pie plate (10")
Dough:
2 1/4 c All purp flour
3/4 c salt
1/4 c ground cinnamon
1 T ground allspice
1 T ground cloves
3/4 t powdered alum
1 1.4 c water
Mix and knead like bread dough. roll 1/4 inch
thick. Cut, decorate... (punch hanging hole now)
Microcook on sprayed plate at 30% 5-8 minutes
till tops are dry to the touch. checking every 2 mins. dry on rack for
24 hours.
Ribbon Ornament
Fold a 4-6" length of 1 BD" Christmas ribbon
and staple at top with a tree hanger or silver or gold ornament string.
Inside the ribbon loop, insert a piece of colorful tinsel. Glue a small
figure over staple (with more tinsel).
Victorian Tassel Ornament
Materials needed (for one):
24" of Morocco, Gold*
21" of Firefly, #1 H Gold*
12" of Dainty M, Gold*
6-8 Mini Pine cones
Spanish Moss
Hot Glue Gun
Wire
* Ribbons & tassels used above are made
by the Lion Ribbon Co., Inc., which is available at Michael's.
1. Cut Morocco in half and tie a knot at each
end, forming 1 1/2" long tassels.
2. Form Firefly into a small 6 loop bow with
3" streamers; wire center securely, leaving wire ends.
3. Place tassel lengths together at middle,
slightly staggered and at uneven lengths; wire to bottom of bow.
4. Hot glue mini pine cones out from beneath
bow. Hot glue a small amount of Spanish moss into top of bow.
5. Make hanger loop from Dainty M and hot
glue into top of ornament.
Candy Cane Candle Holder
Materials:
Candy
canes
Piller candle
Hot glue gun
Ribbon or raffia
Instructions:
Glue one candy cane to side of piller candle
with hook part of candy can facing down and out. Glue second candy cane
directly opposite first candy cane. You want to have the hooked part of
the candy cane as a support base so be careful to glue on a flat surface
to assure balance.
Continue by glueing third candy cane to candle
at a right angle to the two glued (similar to a compass at North, South,
East and West). Glue fourth candy cane opposite to third. Continue filling
in areas with candy canes. Remember to assure balance when doing this.
Once done
glueing candy canes on tie a ribbon or raffia
around bottom of candy canes and it is complete! Note: Keep plastic on
candy canes. Canes should not be sticking above candle when complete so
make sure the
candle is tall enough. Never leave candles
unattended when burning. |
| Santa
Centre Piece
Materials:
Rose bowl
Red felt
White cotton
balls
White glue
Black felt
Googly eyes
(optional)
Instructions:
Fill rose bowl with cotton balls. Using two
pieces of red felt,
cut a triangle shape so that bottom of hat
will fit half of rose
bowl. Stitch two pieces of felt together to
make hat. Or glue
hat sides together. Once dry open bottom and
sit on top of
rose bowl. Decorate band of hat with cotton
balls, as well glue one
cotton ball to top of hat at peek.
Glue goodly eyes to front of bowl, glue cotton
balls on bowl to resemble beard, mustache, sideburns and hair. Santa's
nose can be cut from red felt. Eyes can be cut from white felt with black
felt centers if googly eyes are not available.
|
Golden
Ornaments
Materials:
Glue Gun
Glue sticks
Freezer paper
Cardboard
Black marker
Masking tape
Dish washing soap - liquid
Container/bowl filled with water
Gold spray paint Scissors
gold thread for hanging, paper towels
Instructions:
On plastic coated side of freezer paper draw
outlines of various Christmas shapes with black marker. i.e. Christmas
tree, Candy Cane, Angel, Christmas package, Stocking, Gingerbread man.
For stability place cardboard underneath. Heat glue gun. With your fingers
spread a thin layer of dishwasher soap over patterns on freezer paper.
Using the glue gun outline each pattern with glue. Experiment with doing
inner lines as well. Let glue set firmly. Once dry carefully peel ornaments
from paper. Gently wash and dry to remove any soap residue. Spray the front
of each ornament with gold paint. Just the front, not the back, flat side.
Allow paint to dry completely before completing. Once ornament is dry gently
float in water with gold side down. Using glue gun put glue inside each
ornament making sure it comes in contact with the outline at some point.
You do not have to fill the entire ornament - instead leave gaps to give
the appearance of crystal once dry. Do one ornament at a time in the water.
Do not spray paint new glued areas. Once done carefully remove from water
and pat dry. Hang with gold thread. Additional gold bows or metallic ribbon
can be added for decoration. |