Jack-in-the-Box Snowman

Do you like to recycle?  I have a hard time throwing things in the trash sometimes.  Even into the recycle bin! For example; the little K-cups after they are used.  I know there has got to be a really cool craft project lurking there, but don't take the time to figure one out.  The box was another story.  I used the 2.0 carafe k-cup box to complete this project.  It could be another box with a flap; but this one was deep enough and worked nicely.  Following is the supply list for this project.  Hope you enjoy it!

Supplies:

Smoothfoam:  3" ball
Cardstock papers:  Snowhaven papers and Complements by Close To My Heart  To order:  www.marilyngossettdesigns.ctmh.com/retail
Acrylic paints:  Americana Decor Chalky Finish: Whisper; Americana Acrylics:  Lamp (Ebony) Black, Spiced Pumpkin, Warm White by DecoArt
Americana Decou-Page for paper by DecoArt
Felt:  Vintage White; 2 sheets
Paper Punch:  1-1/2" Scallop
Chenille Stems:  one silver metallic, one red metallic, one pine
Jingle Bell: one 1/2"
Fiber Fill
Diamond Glitter
Wire cutters (for cutting chenille stems)
Powder Blush
Scissors
Paintbrushes
Stylus
Wood Chop Stick with pointed end
Glue gun
other adhesives
*Pattern for the Body/Snow Suit

Instructions:

1.  Box:  Measure the height of the box.  Cut out 12" paper to fit the box and lid.  Adhere papers to the box & lid using the Decou-Page.

2.  Snowman (Jack-in-the-Box):  Using the wooden skewer for a handle, poke the pointed end into the Smoothfoam ball.  Paint entire ball with Whisper Chalky Paint.  Let dry.
Face:  Apply black dip dots for the eyes and mouth.  Blush the cheeks with powder blush.  Rub in with your finger.  Highlight the eyes and mouth with tiny White dip dots.  Allow to dry.

3.  Nose:  Remove the skewer.  Paint the pointed end orange.  Cut 2" from the pointed end.  Insert and glue into the face as shown.  Replace the remaining skewer into the pilot hole in the head.  This will secure the head in the body portion of the snowman.

4.  Body/Snow Suit:  Fold one rectangle of felt in two along the long edge.  Use the pattern given and cut out one.  Repeat with the remaining sheet of felt.  Glue all the edges together; leaving an opening for the head.  Turn the suit right side out, hiding the seams. Lightly stuff  from the bottom with fiber-fill.  Lightly stuff the sleeves with the arms extended.

5.  For a rosette:  Cut three 2" x 12" pieces of paper.  Accordion fold every half inch for each piece. It works best to score them before folding. Adhere the edges, making into one piece.  Gather the folded papers into a circle, securing by holding it down, in place.  Adhere a scalloped paper circle to cover the hole in the middle to secure the rosette.  Repeat on the opposite side.  Make one rosette for the front of the box and one for the snowman's collar. The glue gun works best for this step.

6.  Assemble:  Make a pilot hole in one rosette (collar).  Poke skewer through the rosette and neck opening  into the body suit.  Apply glitter to the head, rosette collar and snow suit.  Shake off excess.  Place in the box with the arms extended as shown in the photo given. Crank Handle:  Bend the silver metallic stem in two.  Shape into a handle and glue the jingle bell onto the bent end.  Make a pilot hole in the middle of a 1" circle.  Push the ends of the stem 1/2" to the back side of the circle and bend out like a brad.  Adhere to the side of the box.

7. Finish: Halo:  Loosely twist the red metallic stem around the pine stem.   Make a circle to fit around the head and twist the pine ends together to secure.  Adhere to the head.  Glue a piece of pine stem to the collar for added decoration.  Use the Close To My Heart Snowhaven Complements www.marilyngossettdesigns.ctmh.com/retail to embellish the snowman with mittens, buttons on front, and signs.  *Designer tip:  Use Cricut machine or paper punches to cut embellishments if you don't have access to the die-cut Complements. Rubber stamps will work for the sayings. Glue the second rosette to the front of the box and embellish with die-cut sayings.  

Now enjoy an adorable Christmas decoration that can stay out through January!

Enjoy every ambiance of the Holidays and

Live Life with a Flourish!

Marilyn

SHARING SOME HOLIDAY DECORATING!

Happy December!  Are you up to your armpits in Christmas decorations?  I know I should be, but we relaxed over the long Thanksgiving week-end, so next week-end will be our traditional trek to the tree farm.  In the meantime, I have been playing with some decorating ideas.  I wanted to see what I could come up with using papers and my die-cutting machine.  This snowflake themed garland and snowmen were one of the creations I came up with.  I thought it might spark some creative ideas in you, as it can be created in traditional colors and different shapes! 

I used boa garland, bead trim, cardstock and my die-cutting machine with a winter themed cartridge.  The snowflakes and snowmen are embellished with flat metallic beads.  I know you can find some of these at the Robin's Nest because I featured some in the previous blog post.  Check it out!

Now I need to tell you about the clever and handy way that I got these decorations hung up without showing a nail or big shiny plastic hook!  I used a fairly new product called CraZy TACKz.  Yes, I am shameless when it comes to promoting them!  I have many posts on here showing  fun crafty projects with them IN it!  But, first and foremost, they are a great piece of hardware that you can use to hang-up lights, garlands, ornaments, etc.!  They have a hook that will hold up to two lbs. in drywall and soft wood.  

I have a Christmas tree that I decorate every year with boa feather garland.  I call it my floofy tree and I will post a picture of it set up in my dining room at the end of this blog.  It isn't up yet this year, but it looks pretty much the same every season.  I use boa feather garland and it gives the effect of snow!  I love this tree because I can put all the girly ornaments on it in keeping with the romantic country decor that I love!

The photos here are to show the projects, I didn't leave them this way.  The Happy Holidays banner on the mantle wasn't finished here.  I embellished it with small silver ornaments and some ribbons.  Again, hopefully these will inspire some new ideas for your home decorating this Holiday season!

Below is a close-up of a CraZy TACK(z) in action!  They are great for hanging up jewelry and such too!

Ok, last but now least, is a picture of my "floofy" tree!  It is fake, but my other two trees will be fresh off the tree farm.  We don't buy into the commercialism of Christmas very much, but we do love to decorate the house with lots of lights and Christmas cheer!  

From my family to you and yours, I send warm wishes and hope that you experience all the joys that this Season brings!  I say, take time to smell the pine trees and take in the beauty that surrounds us!  Cheers!

This is the first Monday of the month DCC Blog Hop!  Click on the blue button to go forward or backwards to check out the other designers blogs!

Live Life with a Flourish!

Marilyn

CraZy TACKz are presently available on Amazon, at JoAnn's stores, Container Stores and various retailers.