Great Additions To Your Craft Collection
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 and 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.