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If you have access to some small wood scraps, or perhaps a board you can cut up,
you can make these cute little additions to your holiday shelves. But wait,
don't stop there! The creative possibilities of this craft are endless; try
Santas, Christmas trees, reindeer, Nativity scenes, elves, and more!
You will need
wood scraps in various sizes and shapes
sandpaper
acrylic paint in white, black, and orange
brown antiquing stain
material scraps
children's socks
ribbon
raffia
buttons
white craft glue
small and large paintbrushes
dry rag
Sanding & Painting
Begin by sanding any rough edges from the wood to avoid painful splinters. Paint
wood white on all sides and at one end (the other end will be covered with a
hat). Allow paint to dry, then apply a second coat and allow that to dry as
well.
Leaving enough room at the top of the "head" for the hat's brim, paint on face
by dotting on two black eyes and black dots for the mouth. Using a small, fine
paintbrush, paint on an orange nose. Allow to dry completely or the antiquing
you do below will smear your hard work!
Prepare Your Embellishments
While waiting for the paint to dry, choose and trim your embellishments. Use tea
dyed socks and gingham prints for the antiqued snowmen, use traditional primary
colors, or the popular ice blue, for your white snowmen. Fringe the ends of your
scarves with sharp fabric scissors, string small pieces of raffia through button
holes and tie in knots or bows, cut small scraps for patches, trim the feet off
of children's socks and fringe ankle ends for hats.
The Antique Look
This step is optional. Some of ours are antiqued, some are not. When the paint
has dried completely, brush on a layer of brown antiquing stain, ensuring that
all cracks and crevices are filled. Immediately wipe off with a dry rag. This
will create an antiqued look. Notice how the brown stain remains darker inside
the little cracks and crevices giving it an aged look. Allow the stain to dry.
Finishing Touches
Tie scarf around neck, reinforce it with a bit of craft glue. Place the cuff of
the children's sock on the snowman's head (the end that is not painted!), glue
brim in place. Trim the "top" of the hat but cutting it in a fringe fashion. Tie
a ribbon or piece of raffia around the fringed top and tighten. Fluff up the
fringe by pulling and adjusting the fringes with your fingers. Add buttons to
hat and/or body, you can also glue a small patch on the hat brim. You may also
use material scraps to fashion a hat and glue a pom pom on the top.
About the author
Amanda Formaro is the entrepreneurial mother of four children. Subscribe to her
free weekly kid's craft newsletter, Busy Little Hands, by sending any email
message tomailto:kidscrafts-on@mail-list.com or by visiting her website at
http://familycorner.com.
SeptemberLady "Born and have lived in Southern MD most of my life. My husband and I just finished building a new home on the family farm, where I hope to retire in the near future.
My interests: Doll collecting, cookbook collector (especially old ones), antiques, family/friend get-togethers, cooking/baking, flower and vegetable gardening, bird-watching."
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling Memorial Day signals the start of barbecue season. Everyone wants to light that fire and charcoal that first meal. A few tips might pre- vent your entree from becoming a "Burnt Offering."
Read these tips for plenty of grilling ideas, make this year's barbecue perfect!
Growing and Using Garlic Chives Garlic chives, Allium tuberosum, is a hardy perennial (Zones 3-9) that will grow to about 12 inches high. The stems are skinnier and flat, instead of hollow as are regular chives, with greenish white blooms that are about an inch wide and not as rounded. They bloom in the summer rather than spring. The bloom stalks grow much taller than the leaves, sometimes up to 30 inches.
The stems and blooms are both edible and have a mild garlic onion taste. I've noticed many writers will list this as primarily as an Asian herb, as they are also known as Chinese chives, Chinese leeks, ku chai (China) or Nira (Japan), but it has many other uses as well!
The Perfect Porch Swing Perhaps it is the soothing rhythm or the reassuring creak of the porch swing that attracts us. Perhaps it is the companionable silence or quiet conversation. Or maybe swings simply remind us of more genteel times.
Although porch swings can be purchased in a wide range of materials, the most common are wicker and wood. You can also make your own porch swing from one of the myriad of woodworking patterns available at garden centers, hardware stores, or on the Internet.
If you have access to some small wood scraps, or perhaps a board you can cut up,
you can make these cute little additions to your holiday shelves. But wait,
don't stop there! The creative possibilities of this craft are endless; try
Santas, Christmas trees, reindeer, Nativity scenes, elves, and more!
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling
Growing and Using Garlic Chives
The Perfect Porch Swing