I really love how these mini easels have turned out especially as they were pretty quick to put together ………
………. I just wish I'd ordered more than five of the MDF snowmen at the time, because the company, my usual source for MDF shapes, where I got them from has let me down (not for the first time) with another order. After a month of waiting, several e-mails and the promise to re-send the order, enough is enough and I finally requested a refund. The companies designs are a little bit different and the prices really reasonable, but do I dare risk putting in another order perhaps in September?
I ordered five of the 55/60mm snowmen last year and found them out the other day, wondering if they were in proportion with the Home Bargains mini chalkboard easels (found in the wedding section, 99p for a pack of 4, white or natural) I have stockpiled, just in case they disappear again. They are so versatile, I tend to zhuzh them up instead of making a a card these days.
After giving the blackboard a couple of coats of Wilko, clear, glossy, quick drying varnish to prevent any ink bleeding into the wood, I started by getting the lettering in the right position using a fine tipped white Posca pen.
Then I gave the head and body of the snowmen a couple of coats of paint from a Wilko tester pot and colouring the hat with a black Sharpie pen …….
….. before adding the eyes, mouth and buttons using various sized black, flat back domes, ribbons and cut out cardboard noses.
My tiny, £1 Hobbycraft, holly punch is such a valuable tool for Christmas bits and pieces, I think it might be worth investing in a spare when I see one, as I would really be lost without it. I added tiny, red nail art gems for the holly berries.
I was then in the position to glue the snowman to the board using B-7000 as I wanted a really strong bond.
For the snow I used white DecoArt Americana Writer which has a slightly chalky, may finish and texture ……..
…….. and then added all the extra fiddle fart of plastic snowflakes, nail art snowflakes, tiny silver flat back gems and clusters of three dots to complete the idea.
I am really chuffed with how these decorations have turned out, but disappointed that I only ordered five snowmen initially just to see how I liked them.
Fingers crossed that I can find something similar somewhere, as I am thinking I wouldn’t mind making another 15 or so “if” I get my craft stall towards the end of the year.
