4x4 Snowmen Tutorial

After doing a lot of wood crafts the past few months for the different holidays I had some 4x4's left over from a couple of projects. I knew the perfect thing to use this wood up to go with my "Snow Themed" Month.

4x4 Snowmen were just it! 

I went on Pinterest to get ideas on how I wanted to make them. I found some that I really liked HERE on Pinterest from Crafty Wood Cutouts. {I couldn't find the original post on there though. I also saw the ones at A Mommy's Life with a Touch of Yellow that she made. You can go see them HERE.

Here Are My Snowmen:

How I Made Them:

I got my 4x4 wood out and had my hubby cut them for me. The sizes I did are: 1- 20", 1- 15" & 1- 13". 

  

Then I got to work on painting them white. 
I did 3 coats of white on each side. I wanted them to be really bright white. It took me almost a day to paint them. On the tallest one I painted the top 3 1/2" black to make a top hat. I also painted a strip of wood, that is 6" long by 1 3/4" wide, black to put as the brim of the hat. 

When those dried, I sanded all the edges of the blocks. I did it by hand quickly because I didn't want it too perfect sanded looking. I wanted it old and worn looking. 

Then I started working on the accessories. For the nose, I followed what Whitney did at A Mommy's Life with a Touch of Yellow. I thought it was a genius idea. She took a orange yellow painted star that she got at Michael's and cut it up to use for the carrot nose. So I did just that. 

After I cut them off I sanded all the edges to match the style of the 4x4's.

 

I had some cute black gem buttons that I used for the eyes. For the buttons down the front I bought a package of wood circles at Michael's and painted 9 of them black. When they dried, I sanded around the edges to match the rest of the snowmen. 

When I had those all in place I hot glued all the stuff on. 

Next, I made the scarves:

I went to JoAnn's to find some fabric. I wanted really fun winter colored fabrics. I found these and fell in love with them together. 

There was only one problem with getting this type of fabric. It was only one sided. I didn't want to just cut it and put it on because then you could see the plain back of it so I got to work on my sewing machine. I was actually excited to do this because I got this machine for Christmas and haven't used it yet. 

I wanted the scarf to be about 2" on my snowmen so I cut a strip of fabric that was 4 1/2" wide and 30" long. I did a longer strips for the other snowmen  because of the way I wanted them tied. 

I then folded the strip of fabric together with the right sides together. Then I pinned them.

Next, I sewed that together. I used the end of the presser foot as my guide. 

Then I took a safety pin and pinned it to one peice of fabric on one end. 

Then I put that through the tube I created and bunched the fabric 
through until I could get the safety pin out. 

Then I gently pulled the fabric through. 

Now I have a doubled sided scarf! I though about ironing it out so it would be smooth, but I didn't want it crisp looking on my snowmen and I like how it looked a little wrinkled so I kind of evened it out and then tied them on my snowmen. 

 **********************

Lastly, I created ear muffs for the other 2 snowmen. 

I bought 4 wood circles at Michael's and painted them purple and light blue with regular craft paint.

After those dried I wrapped wire around them to create the ear muff look. 

Then I hot glued those on to the snowmen.

I LOVE, LOVE the way they turned out!!! These go perfect with my other snow decor I have made!

Hope you all stay warm during these winter months!

  

    

Joining these Link Parties HERE    

Snowball Wreath

A couple of months ago I was going through my pins on Pinterest
and came across a super cute snowball wreath
someone had made for winter. I fell in LOVE with it the minute I saw it.
I pinned it forever ago but finally had time to go check it out.
I found it over at Addicted 2 Decorating. To see her post go HERE.

This was something I had to make this year to go with my "Snow" theme for this month. It was perfect for that.

So today, I have the tutorial for you on how I made it!!

Here is my 
SNOWBALL WREATH!

What You Will Need To Make It:

1. My Super Sweet neighbor was cleaning out her craft room last month and brought me over a few boxes of stuff she was getting rid of and in those boxes were styrofoam balls. There were a few in there, but I knew I would need more so I went to Michael's and JoAnn's to get styrofoam balls and a styrofoam wreath. I went to both because of the coupons so it would help with the cost. {I used a lot more balls then are pictured.}

2. A hot glue gun and a few glue sticks. My glue gun has a low setting so it worked perfect for this. If its too hot it will melt the styrofoam. There is also styrofoam glue at the craft store. I have never used it, but I am sure its good.

3. Toothpicks to help secure some of the the balls.

4. Fabric or ribbon to hang it. 

How I Made It:

To start off, I took the biggest balls I had, which I think are 3", and placed them evenly around the styrofoam wreath. Then I went to the next size, which where 2 1/2" and placed those evenly. I kept doing that process until I got a good amount around the wreath. {I used all these random sizes because that's what the lady had given me. You don't need to use all these different sizes if you don't want to!}

All the balls that went into the wreath I attached with a toothpick. Here is the technique I used to do that.

After I got those all into the wreath I hot glued more balls of different sizes on top of the other balls to fill in the holes. I did not use toothpick on these ones.



When I finished getting it the way I wanted it to look, I made a bow out of fabric.
To do this I cut 2 strips of fabric about 3" wide.

I looped one of them around the wreath and tied a knot and the other one I made a big bow out of.

Lastly, I hot glued the bow to the knot on the other strip of fabric.

I am so excited about how it turned out!! EEEK!! It is perfect for those snowy winter months!

Joining these Link Parties HERE

Snow Blocks

When I was linking up to some parties last Fall I saw a super cute 

link the someone had shared. I had to go check it out. 

When I got there she had the Cutest Rustic Fall Blocks 

that she made for her mantel.
To see that post at Chase the Star, you can go HERE. 

I loved everything about these blocks, especially the technique she used. 

I knew I had to make these for something because
this is so the style I use in a lot of my decor.

 Today I am going to show you what I did. 

I turned them into Snow Blocks!!

How I Made Them:

First, my amazing hubby cut out my wood for me. I liked how in the ones a saw, the blocks were different sizes.
The sizes I did are:

S- 5 1/2" x 4 1/2"
N- 5 1/2" x 7 1/2"
O- 4 1/2" x 4 1/2"
W- 5 1/2" x 4/12"

They are all 1 1/2" thick.


I then sanded them down so they were nice and smooth. 

Next, I got on my Cricut and cut out the word "SNOW" in scrap vinyl I had. I used the font Bookman Old Style found in Microsoft Word. I made the letters a little smaller then each block.

Then I transferred the letters over to each block.

Next, I painted the blocks white. I painted all sides and did 3 coats on each block.

After they fully dried I pulled the vinyl letters off.

Then I took a piece of sand paper and sanded the edges of all the blocks.

Lastly, I took stain and rubbed it all over each block with a rag. I then took another rag and wiped it off so the white didn't turn brown. I used the color Early American.

I love the way they turned out! I can't wait to put them up with the rest of my snow decor on my mantle!!

Joining these Link Parties HERE

Free Winter Printable

I have been working on my "snow" themed decor as I have mentioned before. 

I could not get away with not having something that says "Let It Snow." 

So I went into my photoshop and got to work. 

Today, I have a FREE WINTER PRINTABLE just for you. 

Here is what it looks like:

I love how this one turned out!! The colors are perfect for my "Snow Theme!"

I hope you like it too!!!

As I said, it is FREE so you can go HERE to download yours!

I put mine into a white frame that I painted for my Thanksgiving Subway Art, which you can find HERE on what I did.

Here is what it looks like all put together:

It seems harder in the pictures to see the snowflakes, but it is much easier in person!

I can't wait to put this up on my mantel!! Love how it all came together!

Joining these Link Parties HERE

Vintage Snowflake Decor

Here in Utah we have a full on winter season with lots of snow. 

I have always thought of January as the "Snow Themed" month for my house.

 I always decorate with snowmen. Probably because its such a 

gloomy time and snowmen bring cheer and smiles to me. 

They are just so stinkin cute!!!

The next little bit on the blog I am going to have Snow Themed decor that I am making to put up in my home during January!

Today I have a cute and simple decor that I found on Pinterest. I fell in love with them the minute I saw them. 

Here is what I am calling
 Vintage Snowflake Decor:

Over at A Place 2 Call Home she did this with a few frames all together. Some had lots of snowflakes and some just a couple. For mine I just kept them simple.


What I Used:
-2  5"x7" Ikea Frames {my new favorite frames!}
-An OLD OLD Book with yellowed pages
-Exacto Knife {optional}
-Paper Cutter if needed {I didn't need one with mine}
-Silver or white snowflakes


What I Did:
My hubby got a book when he was in elementary. It is so worn and falling apart he let me use it for the project and anything else I want to! Wahoo!! I know some of you may not agree with doing this, but it just gives this decor such an old vintage look. I love it.

First, I used and exacto knife to cut 2 pages out of the book for the frames.

Next, I opened up the frames and put a silver snowflake in the corners I wanted them in. I left the mats in that came with the frame. Then I set the book page in place and put the back on. 

That's it!! Super easy, quick and

 GORGEOUS!!!

Thanks again to A Place 2 Call Home for the an amazing idea!

Joining these Link Parties HERE