Snow Cute on a ME Monday

Since becoming a part of this creative community, I am having such fun revisiting the pages of Home Companion with the thought that perhaps I can make for myself some of the wonderful crafts to be found. I thought I would share with you my attempt to recreate this adorable snowman candy container in the hopes that you will be inspired to create one as well.

With my "use what's on hand" crafting philosophy, an empty vintage jar with a lovely shape will become my base. A Styrofoam ball becomes the base for my snowman. Creative Paperclay purchased at Michaels for $6.00, a bit of water to wet your fingers.

I am like you in that I don't know if I can make something I see, but I do have faith that I can "work at it" until the cuteness reveals itself to me. Flatten Styrofoam by pressing it on hard surface. Keep clay you are not using in saran wrap to keep from drying out.

I have no idea what proper technique I should be using, but I know I need a snowman shape! Press small amounts of the clay with your thumb onto the surface of the ball. You want to "feel" the same thickness under your thumb. A thin layer will dry more quickly.

I notice in the photograph the cheeks seem slightly raised, two round balls created as well as carrot shaped nose; I have used my pencil point to scar the clay for attaching pieces.

Press shapes onto surface. Dip fore finger into water and begin to smooth edges of shapes. The paper clay is magical and very forgiving to beginners. I just kept working at the shapes until they appealed to me.

Check the photograph in the magazine, check my work, close enough! Let dry overnight.

While my snowman is drying, I work to create a base for him to rest. My jar does not have a lid, thinking cap on again. I have traced the mouth of my jar on cardboard, and then cut slightly larger to accommodate the jar's threading.

Trace cutout cardboard circle twice onto printed paper, pink around drawn line. Cut strip of paper to fit over threads of jar neck, two printed paper, one card stock. I have pulled them between my thumb and pen surface to give them a rounded shape. Glue stick layers together, the "Sandwich Method".

Fit strips to jar neck, hot glue overlapping edges.

Bead of hot glue along strip edge, center round base. I have created crepe ruffles for the snowman's collar.

 Hot glue edges of ruffles to form circle. Apply dollop of glue to center of round base, form rosette twice.

I have used craft paint and a slightly stiff brush to apply the simple colors shown in the magazine example. Paint white, repaint cheeks white again adding small amount of pink while still wet. Back of paintbrush is used to make black face dots.

At this point I'm not sure my funny little snowman will end up looking like the example, but I forge on!

A step I should have thought of earlier but didn't, my pencil inserted in the bottom to hold the head as I glitter. I used Modge Podge as my adhesive because it is what I had on hand, but any white craft glue with a little water will work just as well. I used MS glitter purchased at Michael's. It is very fine and just wonderfully sparkly.

A Very Merry hat is made from a paper cone and tinsel stem, hot glue in place. My little snowman is as sweet as can be and a perfect place to hold my white poms, a little skier girl add charm to the scene.

 

This is my hard working snowman. He's all business keeping my Christmas red ribbon collected in one spot. I'm smiling, I hope you are as well.