Posts Tagged ‘make it do’

Last year we received a snowman kit from one of my dear friends as a Christmas gift.  A few days after the gift arrived, we had an epic storm and the kids spent hours playing in the snow and building their wonderful snowman.

It was such a fun idea, and I was sure I could make a handmade version for gifts this year.

A snowman is simple.  He needs a hat, eyes, nose, mouth, scarf and buttons down his shirt.  If you want an authentic snowman, you can even add a corncob pipe.

Yesterday I got to work and made my own snowman kit.

I cut a 7 inch width of red polar fleece for a scarf.  Most polar fleece is 60 inches wide which makes a perfect length for a scarf.  Then fray the end by cutting a 3 inch strip every 1/2 inch.  Check it out with a little snowflake:

I traced a snowflake cookie cutter on white craft felt with pencil and cut it out.  Then I stitched around using a machine blanket stitch.  This scarf is so cute, you could steal it from the snowman and wear for Christmas.

Ben and I headed over to a stream by our house and gathered small semi round stones.  When we got home, Ben painted them with black acrylic paint to make the snowman’s mouth.

Boys love rocks.  They love to collect rocks.  They love to paint rocks.  I love rocks because they are the perfect old fashioned look for a snowman… and they are free.

I splurged on a fake carrot from a local craft store for $3.  My husband thinks I should cut the “hairy” things off it it… too gross.  I pulled out the foliage and hot glued a dowel into the hole in the end, to make it easier to stick it into the snowman.  You could also use a real carrot in the kit… which would obviously need to be replaced as needed.

Next were inexpensive buttons for the eyes and down his tummy, big black buttons for the eyes, smaller green buttons for the tummy.   I put the rocks and buttons into this cute little box for the gift.

And last but not least, the hat.  I made it out of cheap black felt.  I sprayed the felt with a little heavy starch to make it less floppy, and it turned out darling.  I will be posting a tutorial on making the hat later today (I hope.)  I still have a few measurements to get right if someone besides me is tried make it…  I had to fudge a few times.  I thought that Geometry teacher was lying when he said I would use these skills someday.  Circumferences anyone?  You could also buy a hat from a thrift store, Halloween close-out, cheap Santa hat, there’s lots of inexpensive choices.

UPDATE:  Here are the directions for making a snowman hat:  Start with at least 3/4 yard of cheap black felt.

1. Cut one circle 12″ inches wide for the brim of the hat.
2. Cut a smaller circle 6 3/4″ in the center of the the brim.
3. Cut one 8″ inch circle for the top of the hat.
4. Cut one rectangle, 6″ x  24″ for the cylinder.
5. Folding the rectangle in half, stitch the end using a 1/4″ seam, making the cylinder.
6. Keeping the cylinder wrong side out, carefully pin the 8″ circle around the top of the hat.  Stitch together.
7. Turn the cylinder right side out.  I used a chopstick to make the turn neat and tidy.
8. Pin the brim of the hat carefully around the cylinder.  Stitch together.
9. Embellish the hat if desired.  Use a piece of red felt or grosgrain ribbon around the hat.  Or throw on a flower or a sprig of holly.  Or just simply leave it a plain black hat… either way it’s going to be a darling snowman.

Last it all goes into a gift box… add a cute little tag that reads, “Just Add Snow.”  And another check off my gift list!

Do you ever feel like this during the Holidays?

Like all of your best laid plans have gotten the better of you?  I have.  So, there is one word to sum up my plans for the Holidays this year:

SIMPLIFY

I am asking myself:  What is important?  What can I do without?  What really matters?

The things that matter to me:  some have to do with favorite traditions, some have to do with love of family, and others have to do with the difficult times we are in, these are the things that guide my plans.

Over the next few weeks, I look forward to sharing more handmade gift ideas, also handmade gifts for kids to make.  I can’t wait to share some of my favorite recipes for Thanksgiving.  I am looking forward to finishing many of the items off of my gift list, so these Holidays can be spent enjoying each other, rather than running from store to store.  I am also working on a Giveaway…  which I am very excited about, so stay tuned.