Wooden Block Snowmen

Note to self, even if the charity shops are giving them away for free, I DO NOT need any more wooden building blocks, Jenga pieces or dominoes (unless, in the case of the dominoes, they are unusually large!) ……… I really have more than enough!

These snowmen started off as a said charity shop bag of bricks, nine in total measuring 4cms square for just 50p, I could not buy them, because of their decent size and good quality finished wood!

I started off by painting the blocks with a white, Wilko sample pot emulsion, intending on only making snowmen head tree decorations like I had seen on Pinterest ……..

…… but then I got to wondering if I could make a whole snowman by stacking three blocks together.

There was only one way to find out!  I put them together everso slightly out of kilter to make them look a little less formal and hopefully give them character.

I was most worried about how to make the scarves would look right, so added them first, once the glue on the blocks had set.  I glued them round the top of the second cube, hiding any sins with a small, white plastic snowflake (of which I really need to order more).

The rest just came together really easily, various sizes of black, flat back gems for the eyes, mouth and buttons plus an already made orange Fimo nose.

The top hats came from an order from China, which I decorated with a tiny holly punch and equally tiny, red, flat back pearl berries.

The rakes were an after thought, using some pieces from a Jack Straws game bought from The Works during one of their sales because I thought they could be uses as interesting  embellishments.  Three snowmen made for a total of, I guess, 70p each at the very most.

Thank You Paula – Guest Crafters Iris and Bertie

What can I say, but a MAHOOOOOOSIVE “Thank You” to Paula, one of the wonderful friends I’ve made through Fiddle Fart.  She sends me lots of crafty bits and pieces throughout the year, all of which I am always thrilled with, but she topped absolutely everything this Christmas for Iris, Bertie and I ………………

…… with a parcel arriving right at the start of the holidays when I had Iris and Bertie for a couple of days with a sleepover in between to give mum and dad a chance to get a few important things done, as well as getting a few extra zzzzzzz’s in while they could!

Inside said parcel was a set of the much sought after Hobbycraft, ceramic house tealight holders. They sold out instantly online every time they restocked and that was way back in September/October ………. I can’t tell you how thrilled I was, as Marc and I had both been desperate to get our mitts on some.  Sorry Marc!

Also in the parcel was a set of permanent pens, so it goes without saying that two little people were instantly totally absorbed and occupied ………..

………. also giving Nanny at least an hour of peace and quiet too ……

……. and the end results were magical, with Bertie insisting that we put a tealight in them all for the rest of the day, even taking his to bed (with a battery operated candle this time) to gaze at lovingly.

And the other house? Well, it would have been rude for Nanny not to crash the party too. 

The next day I gave all three house at least four coats of clear, gloss varnish, which made the colours pop, sorry no photos.  I also wrote our names and date when painted on the bottom for the little ones to take into their future.

All three were carefully wrapped up and proudly taken home.  I can’t tell you what a brilliant present this was for all of us ………….. Thank you so much Paula, it was a truly inspired gift, that made memories of a wonderful Christmas time spent together, each lost in our own world ………… Thank you. so much.

Memory Glass Snowman Christmas Tree Decorations

I couldn’t wait to try out the snowman stickers I got from One Below (£1 per pack) just before Christmas, to try and see if I could make some memory glass Christmas tree decorations ………

I think they worked ……… and I have to admit they were pretty simple.

I started by sticking  a single snowman in the middle of a 2” x 2” Ranger Memory Glass square.  Yes, I could still see/pick out the clear edging round the sticker, but I found that I could disguise it a little by adding clusters of three white dots using a white acrylic pen on those edges, besides as adding a layer of snow at the bottom of the glass.

When I was sure the paint had dried I put another glass square on top and stuck them together using very narrow, self adhesive, silver aluminium foil tape round the edges.  It didn’t have to be perfect as I was going to cover the foil after.

To make the hanger, I cut a tiny jewellery pendant bail (below) in half and glued it in the middle of the square, on the foil tape with E6000 glue to get a really secure fix.

When the glue was dry I applied two layers of white Ranger Enamel Accents over the foil, on the front and back of the glass ………

…….. which also helped to cover and further secure the bail.

This are my first trail run with this idea,  I think if I get a really small, sharp pair of scissors, I could cut around the snowmen stickers a little more, bearing in mind that these pictures are really close up and have no mercy, hanging on a Christmas tree I think the edging won’t really show that much.

I am chuffed that I succeeded in making a clear Christmas tree decoration that works from both sides. I think I can tweak the idea a little more, perhaps with some tiny, clear, flat backed gems amongst the falling snow or a sprinkling of glitter on the enamel accents, or even an extra bail at the bottom to add a small snowflake charm ……… so many ideas ………. oh, for the time to try them out!

Wood Slice Reindeer Brooch/Badges

Sorry, sorry, sorry…….. but I’ve started Christmas crafting for 2022 already! I just never got everything that I wanted to do done in 2021, which I am putting down to eBaying. I realise after a few weeks off  how much time it was taking up, I am going to continue with it as I love a good, once a week, mooch, but only intend on listing a couple of things per week, so my non school run days aren't broken up by trips to the post office.

So, today I have some wood slice reindeer brooch/badges for your delectation, but there’s not an awful lot to them.

I’ve had a few packets of these small wood slices from a craft shop in Llandudno for quite a while now (£1 for about 12) and they needed using up.

I started by using E6000 glue to stick on the wooden, laser cut antlers that I got from eBay.

Then painted a circle in the middle of each wood slice with a brown emulsion tester pot from Wilko.

This was followed by adding two googly eyes and a very large 12mm flat back red pearl nose with three white acrylic paint dots  ………

……. and three tiny coloured stars on each antler.

…….. and finally, a brooch fitting on the back, glued again with E6000 glue for maximum hold.  Et voila.

I road tested one brooch on my coat in the weeks leading to Christmas and it stood up really well to the wear and tear, but, I now intend to make Christmas tree decorations or parcel charms/tags with all the other wood slices I have left over, by simply adding a tiny screw eye hook between the antlers. I didn’t varnish the wood slices originally, I did try, but the results didn’t look great.  I am also not certain what would happen to the paint if the brooch got wet, so perhaps they’re only really suitable for indoor wear?  They are a novelty, but with hindsight not that practical with all the if’s and but  and I always want my bits and pieces to be fit for the purpose.

However…… to make a a few more similar brooches I have some wooden laser cut circles that I can easily use in place of the wood slices, which in turn would allow any paint used to be varnished.  I would also like to experiment with adding ears and perhaps a fringe, so watch this space …………..

Here'a To Another Year of Crafting and Blogging .........

 Wishing everyone ........

................... a very Happy Christmas

Our Santa Watch Is In Very Safe Hands …………….

Just to let you know……..

……. that Santa Watch this year is in very safe hands!

Crafty Mooching……. And My New Love Of One Below Shops

With all my Christmas crafts all done and dusted for 2021, it doesn’t hurt to have a little mooch, especially thinking that we have a whole new year of crafting ahead of us in but less than two weeks time and taking into consideration that I almost “do” Christmas all year long now.

Firstly, from the charity shops of Evesham this box of 40 “wooden” pieces.  I think the use of the word “wooden” has been used very loosely, because on closer inspection they are more wood effect than wood.

I am not sure what the proper name for the material is, “reconstituted” something? But I thought £1.99 for 40 6cm squares was still a bargain, which should come in handy for tags and tree decorations, if they paint well. I am already thinking snowmen faces?

I don’t have a clue what to do with these pegs, so no doubt I will be spending some time on Pinterest looking for ideas, but for a bag of what I would estimate contains 100 pegs for £1.49 it was worth a punt ……….

…… especially because of their size.  I could break them up and make snowflakes with the wooden parts and then perhaps use the metal clips as a finding for a single bead pendants or charms?

Moving on to “real” shops, I’ve been so disappointed with Poundland and The Works this year, same old, same old, poor quality and fewer embellishments per pack with any of their  new stock (The Works), so on a recent visit to Wolverhampton and Liverpool I was so excited to see what One Below had to offer, needless to say I spent copiously!!!!!

The stickers above were £1 a pack, and may seem a little old hat, but I am hoping that I can make some microscope slide tree decorations with them, having the potential of a double sided element to them when sandwiched between two pieces of glass. That’s the idea running through my mind at the moment, I just need time to play.

I’ve already started using the Christmas Light Trim (£1) as you saw on the reindeer yesterday.  When I go to Wolverhampton again next week, I am tempted to get a couple more packs, however, as I have learned to my cost in the past, with shops like this, you have to buy when you see, because as often is the case, you will never see them again.

As you know I am a sucker for a sticker and One Below had a really good choice, however, since I don’t make that many Christmas cards these days, I was very reserved and just bought several each of the designs above as I could see them, especially the trees, on tags, with a little added glitter and a layer of Ranger Glossy Accents.

I only bought one pack of the snowmen above (again from quite a large choice) but if I nip in again, I might get a few more, even if they’re just for Iris and Bertie to craft with.

I also love a treat bag, something to put a small present in etc. as I hate wrapping presents with vengeance.  These snowmen bags are so cute (8 for £1) ……..

…… as were these reindeer ones (6 for £1) that I have already put into service.

I have left a few things behind at Lu’s, that wouldn’t fit in my bulging suitcase, like bottle brush Christmas trees (6 for £1), so I’ll have another show and tell when I eventually get them home.  But One Below has definitely been my budget shop of choice this Christmas for crafty bits and pieces, even if it was all a little last minute.

And finally, to have you gasping ……. what on earth is this all about, in my favourite charity shop in Evesham?  I can’t believe I didn’t even look for the price tag to see how much it was ……… I think I was too busy looking for the jug, which appears to be missing.

…….. even by my weird and wonderful standards, it’s absolutely ghastly …… but I wonder if it will still be there when I next pop in?

Right, that's me done crafting for 2021.  I'm taking a week or so off to chill, relax and perhaps think about putting all the ideas together that I didn't seem to have time for in the months leading to Christmas .......... I'll be back on Monday 3rd December ................ to start Christmas all over again!!!!!!!

Wishing you all a 

very happy, peaceful and safe 

Christmas 2021