Clothespin Snowman Tree Ornaments

I stumbled upon these

sweet little

covered clothespin snowmen

and decided I'd make a few for our

annual church Bazaar.

Click here ,or on the photo, to go to that post.

I dug out a package of clothespins

from my stash of craft supplies,

some natural batting to cover them, 

and black felt for the hats....

But, hmm...
the whole time I was
working with them
I couldn't help thinking
they looked like
....uh..

um.....like,
well, 
    
like tampons. 
Sorry,
I just couldn't shake that thought.

So I did a little alteration
and redesign.

Wrapping a little Fiberfil or polyester batting

around the bottom half of the clothespin

before covering him with the natural batting

gives him a little fuller shape.

I like it!

To make them even more
"my own",
instead of the hand-stitching the
eyes, nose and buttons
as in the inspiration clothespin snowmen,
I used embroidery floss french knots
 for eyes and buttons.

and used the pointy end of a toothpick
painted orange for a nose.

A homespun scarf

and a jaunty little black felt hat.

Update:  To make the hat, I cut a piece of black felt

3" long and 2 1/4" wide.

Folded in half.

The Folded side is the top of the hat.

It is now 2 1/4" wide and 1 1/2" top to bottom.

To resemble the top-hat with brim shape, I trimmed  

with scissors at an angle on both sides.  The trimmed hat piece should measure the same 2 1/4" on the bottom and angle up from both sides to the folded top to measure 1 1/4", so there is 1/2" cut off of each top side and angled down to the full 2 1/4" bottom of the hat.

I hope that makes sense, I don't have a photo.

Run a thin bead of hot glue to close both sides of the hat.

Inserted a bit of fiber-fil stuffing.

Then hot glued around the snowman head 

and positioned the hat.

Tied on a piece of jute twine to cinch the hat a bit and knot.

A little dusting of glittery "snow" on the hat,

and he's all ready to go to the Bazaar.

I'll be showing more

handmade Christmas ornaments

at our next Tea Party

so please, do plan to attend won't you.

Warm hugs,

BettyJean

Rose Trellis Angel and Christmas Doors & Porches

click photo to enlarge

 

 

 

Here she is all finished and waiting to go

to the Church Bazaar.

 

Of the pieces I donated to the annual Bazaar fundraiser,

she was the first to find a new home.

 

 

 

Transformed from a few odd pieces...

 

a small rose trellis on a summer clearance

sale for just a couple dollars,

a white painted wreath for under a dollar at

a resale thrift shop,

and a glittered, white painted bunch of twigs

from a crafters garage sale

still sealed in the bag.

 

 

 

 

 

First I removed the outdated existing decoration on 

 the wreath.

 

Then hot glued and wired everything together

like this...

 

 

 

Added some faux pine branches

and a big bow made from upholsterer's webbing.

 

 

 

 

Sorry she doesn't show up very well in these photos

against this stone wall.

 

 

 

 

But I'm sure she will look amazing in her

new home...

...I imagine her on a porch

next to the front door welcoming guests

for the holiday season.

 

Here are some Holiday decorated

Doors and Porches found around the internet...

 

 See 10 more porch decorating ideas at

Front Porch Ideas and More


 

 

 

A Whole Bunch of Porch Decorating Ideas

 

 

 

 

 

HGTV Rate My Space--Christmas on a Country Porch

 

 

 

 

My dream house has a big wrap around porch... 

 

click photo to enlarge

 

Do you live in a house with a front porch?

 

 

 



Lighted Glass Block Update

 



click photos to enlarge

 

 

As promised in an earlier post

here is the lighted cardinal block.

 

I tried several different ribbons

patterned...solid...glittery...red...blue...gold,

wrapped around the block with a big bow,

with holly/pines poked in 

but couldn't get anything to look "right".

 

I felt it was just all too much

and distracted from main focal point.

I preferred it left without any additional

decoration.

 

Here is another block I painted with the

Plaid Gallery Glass paint.

 

I know it's not Christmasy, it can be enjoyed

throughout the year.

 

 

 

I only managed to get two cardinal blocks

and this one rose block

completed for the church bazaar.

 

I'm happy to report that

they all 3 sold and I have an order for

another cardinal.

 

So glad to have done my small

part in helping raise money for this 

annual worthwhile fundraiser.

 

Warm Hugs,



Another Burlap Wreath

 

 

 

 

This wreath is decorated with burlap roses,

real pinecones, (faux)pine branches,

 and holly leaves.

 

Take a closer look at the holly leaves.

 

 

 

They're made from a music page

with an antiqued edge.

 

 

 

 

The inspiration for these came from

Karen at Todolwen.

Karen is so talented in making the most

beautiful creations.

You must visit her blog here.

 

I can't decide whether I prefer the wreath

to be hung with the decoration at the bottom

or to the lower side.

 

Which do you prefer?

 

 

 

You may read about another one
of my Fall Burlap Wreaths

in a previous post here .

Today I'm partying here
 Six Sisters
Homa Styles No Red Christmas Decor Party
Join us won't you!!


 

Warm Hugs,

 

 

 

 



More Pedestal Snowmen

 

 

Meet my trio of snowmen.

 

Dressed in their hats and scarves

they stare in wonder and anxious anticipation

 as they wait to

go to the Church Bazaar.

 

 

It will be a day filled with lots

hustling, bustling of shoppers.

 

The sounds of laughter and conversation

mixed with

Christmas music playing in the background.

 

The mouthwatering aroma

of something delicious wafting  from the

adjoining banquet room.

 

Some will stop to admire the trio,

picking them up and repositioning them on the table.

 

Who will fall in love with each of them

to give them a new home

or think they will be "the perfect gift" for

someone on their Christmas list.

 

Although a bit larger in size and

standing in a slightly taller pedestal,

 

Mr. Green looks very

similar to...

 

 

...Mr. Blue 

from my previous post here

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then there is the man in the Red hat.

 

 

Mr. Red is the smallest

of the three

 

but in my opinion has the biggest personality.



 

He is dressed in a white scarf,

 

 

has jingle bell buttons

 

 and wears a black belt

around his middle bump.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He has a little jingle bell

on the

curly tip of

his hat.

 

 

 

He is positioned on a very familiar style of

red boot.

 

With a little pile of glittery "white stuff " on the toe.

 

 

 

Before the end of the day,

I'm happy to report they each found a new

home where they will be well-loved

and displayed in a place of honor.

 

 



 

 

 

 

Warm Hugs for the Holidays,

 

 

My Pedestal Snowman Project

 

 

 

 

My inspiration came from here

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 76

 

 

 

They used clay....

 

I used styrofoam

 

 

 

 

 

with gloved hands and drywall joint compound

I covered the styrofoam balls

 

just smear it on

 

 

 

 

then let the joint compound dry thoroughly 

 

 

 

paint with acrylic craft paints and let dry

 

brush on a little decoupage glue and apply glitter to the upper half of the "snowballs"

 

add buttons...

tinsel

 

 

wire arms...

 

 

 vintage style snowman face with

 a little styrofoam bump glued on for a nose...

a tall narrow cone hat
as pictured in the inspiration photo

 

 

I chose to glue my snowman to a

pedestal  (small chrome candle holder)

 

I love how he turned out !!!

I'm off to make a few more for our upcoming

Annual Church Bazaar.

  

Go here to see a different snowman I made

 for last year's Bazaar.

 

 

Warm Hugs,