Tuesday 10 December 2019

Snowmen Diorama Lanterns

I have only made one of these lanterns this Christmas, I really meant to make another five but with time now ploughing on I doubt that I will make the rest for this year, but at least I still have all the bits to do it, even if it's at Easter!
I got the small, rose gold lanterns from Asda when they were three for £5 (I think they are now £2 each), the small snowman is tree decoration from a Barnardo's charity shop which I think cost no more than 75p.  They were part of Barnardo's line of Christmas products so were new and specially bought in, rather than donated.  The little trees, from memory, were from Debenham's haberdashery department last year.
The scene took me no more than ten minutes to put together, moulding a piece of Air Dough to fit in the bottom of the lantern for the snow.  I cut the metal hanging loop from the top of the snowman's head and then covered over any tiny paint chips with a red Sharpie pen, although they wouldn't have really shown once placed in the lantern. 
I pushed the snowman into the Air Dough adding a little PVA glue to help secure it.  Then taking the wooden base off the trees, pushing the wire into the snow in each corner of the lantern.  That's about it!
On the outside I simply added an assortment of differing sized snowflakes each with tiny, silver domed gem in the centre (so tiny they almost made me go cross-eyed) gluing them to the glass and the frame. I then added clusters of three dots, using Ranger Enamel Accents here and there.
I did experiment by adding either a bow or sprig of holly to the top of the lantern but decided in the end that it looked too much and detracted from the snowman, who I wanted to be the main focus of the decoration.  

Leaving making any more until sometime in the new year gives me time to perhaps experiment a little more.  I am already thinking  about adding a little iridescent glitter to the snow and around the snowman's hat and bobble and perhaps even three tiny buttons down his front ........ we shall see.