4th Annual Daves Garden Christmas Craft Workshop!! pt.2

Betty, the melted snowman???? is the head a wood ball?? size?? felt hat??? Oh my I love them all!! but that one is GREAT!!

and I may just have to do those candles for outside.... in RWB!

Betty, I have a bunch of 8 foot landscape timbers. Would that work for the outdoor candles?

that would be spectacular Thunder done in those colors..not sure might have a mini set of candles done with 1" x 1"...on the large ones you can take pine and make an arrangement to hand and include mini lights..

It would LindaKay..might even be nicer..

Yes, for the melted snowman, could be sterofoam ball or wooden, wooden would work better if you wanted to keep if from year to year..

This message was edited Nov 18, 2010 2:02 PM

Those are such sweet projects, Betty.

Hubby's gone hunting this evening and said he would bring Oak twigs back for the snowpeople's arms. And I didn't even ask...lol

AAWWWWWW!!!!!

well aren't you the lucky one..

Snowing and blowing here..yuk

Going to dip my hands in wax, sure hope it takes the ache away!!!

This message was edited Nov 18, 2010 8:42 PM

Betty-I did finally get the mail a couple days ago and didn't get on since then tom tell you I got the box for me and Mom....

Should be finishing up my snowmen project this weekend.Wanted to show you These snowmen I made 2years ago.Just found them they are soo cute.

Now aren't they just too adorable, you are giving me the urge to stay home from work today, maybe play sick, but always worried if I cry wolf I will get sick and then unable to accomplish what I have to do and my list is mega long..lol

Time to run..gab from work

Love how you are all sharing your projects, lots of ideas and in this economy maybe it's perfect for those needing gifts and wanting to try and make them..all helping each other..God bless for that!

Adorable, hugger. Nice project.

They were fun,My neibor had made 1 and I copied !!!She made a bunch I think for 4h leaders,and I made several families for gifts,they are kind of poseable,tube socks tea stained filled with rice tied off with string.

A good way to use the odd sock from the laundy.......... They are so cute.

Now watch if we don't all head out to our sock store and purchase a few packages..lol

Awesome projects! Love anything having to do with snowmen! I'll have to find some things I've done and upload some pics!
love, julie

look forward to seeing them Julie, I'll take out some of my things this weekend and will do same..

Everything is soooooo cute!! I need to tell Dave that I need (not want) a craft room built somewhere on the property!

Crissy a craft cottage. Sounds fun.

Can I have one also????
Please and pretty please?

Can you imagine all of us under one roof. I think it would be to cool...crafting all day and chatting allday.

Hi Taking a break.

Last night made a point to base coat and one coat of the vanilla on all the pieces.
LOL, DH asked what I was painting now. I said my Christmas workshop,
He said oh, what does Betty have you doing this year?? LOL.

So I told him a little snowman scene and he said COOL!

I think that he likes that you cut it all out for us...ROFLOL, you know how "stingy" he is with his Manly tools!

Going to add the next coat of paint, then get back to my kitchen!

Got to say How grand all of your art is! Some terrific ideas!
OH, I love the candles!

I am trying to find one of the snowmen I did a couple of years ago. Same idea as the tube socks.
I love how yours are nice and round!!

Well can't find that one, but here are a few I made for a friend. It was the year of Our Victorian workshop.
...lol, this particular Santa, took on a story theme and so these 2 snowmen were born, they were made out of washcloths!

You were quite creative Judy..Steve probably IS glad I cut them, less work for him..lol..he's such a sweetie..did you keep one of each item from all the years Judy???

these are snowmen I made a few years ago, made a bunch...everybody got one one for Christmas, Momma, My sisters, niece...they all liked them so much I made them another the next year....and Made a third for my Momma for her Birthday.....these are hers.

when the kids were little...for many years in a row we made little wooden snowmen and ladies...different types of hats, or painted a bit differently...every one got one from me and a few from the kids.....I had a long "row" of them over my picture window..... before we had digital pictures...don't know if I have a photo anywhere showing them????

Those are wonderful ... and they have such personality!! ^_^

Oh how fun seeing Snowmen projects you all have done. We inevitably have mismatched socks and think my washing machine must be eating them. Onesies make great dust mitts but would much rather craft with them.

Patiently waiting with paint brush in hand for our next few steps, Betty. Or should I already know what to do? Help me out when you get a minute.

Who has ideas to share about decorating a mailbox for four seasons? Ours is one of those regular black metal mailboxes mounted on a wooden post. It has a hook underneath where I hang a basket of flowers in Summer and just behind the mailbox is a stand for a small garden flag that's changed with the seasons.

for all the snow man lovers....
http://familycrafts.about.com/od/snowpeople/ss/buttonsnowman.htm
http://familycrafts.about.com/od/snowpeople/a/LightUpSnowman.htm

Am here, not even early morning, more like middle of the night, tummy not feeling the best, was fighting it but decided to get up, can always grab a few hours later..


So,

We've sanded all our pieces?

We have all the trees painted in color of choice?

Snowman and base painted in an off white?

We've done the edging of the base to match the color of the trees?

Well ok, now we can move on...

All the above are dry? now we can sand the edges of all our pieces to give them the aged look..now remember, dust off your pieces before moving on!!!

In the little white pots you have snow, if you've a palette knife great, if not a plastic knife or similar will work..DON'T overdo on the snow, less is better, but then that's only my opinion..lol put a little on the edges of the trees

Snowpeople need faces,

With a brush or cotton swab or even a piece of cloth, put the tiniest bit of red on it and rub off on a cloth so very little paint remains, you will think you've taken all the paint off but you haven't, lightly scrub on the cheeks, with brush or fine end of a brush, pencil/pen, dip in black and set in eyes and paint mouth, again if you don't have a fine liner you could take a toothpick, dip it in paint and make the curve of the mouth..once dry you could take the toothpick/brush/needle, whatever you feel comfortable using (don't want you going out to purchase all kinds of brushes when there is no need to) make the tiniest of glint in the eye (little white pin dot)..


Find it easier to put the scarves on my snowmen before I attached them to the base..for those of you who may have glue guns I position the tail ends of the scarf and just underneath the tail ends I put a thin line of glue and before it gets the chance to harden I put up the tail so that it has a rippled effect now I can cut the tails on an angle to give them a finished look...remember.....watch you don't burn those fingers..think you could do same with regular glue or if you prefer you can just leave them hanging..I prefer to glue..



Once the snow has dried , you can now attach the pieces to the base with the screws I sent you , don't tighten too tight, move all the pieces at different angles until your project is the way you like it, now you can tighten each..

Did you manage to go get mini branches for your arms??? you did, that's wonderful, I put snow on the branches and let them dry before setting them inside the snowman drilled area for the arms..now's the time you can decorate your piece as you wish..don't go overboard though, again less sometimes is better..if you want hats, go for it, if you've found a tiny piece of wood, i.e. popsicle stick that you'd like to make your family name or that of who will receive it..do it and attach to snowman or with mini dowel make it a stand up sign..ONLY if it's something YOU think you would like to do

Again, this is a primitive piece and I don't want you going to purchase sealer, if you have some, great, when giving it a light mist you can sprinkle some of the glitter or if you've been to the $$ store and found bags of sparkle snow simply add a dusting to the piece while spray is still wet...some of you may have decoupage, or clear glue if you don't have the spray, could lightly touch the pieces glue on hand in several areas and sprinkle the same with glitter/snow..

Now you can glue them into position ..many of you don't have large storage areas to keep your treasures so you could removed the screws, lay the pieces flat until next year..wouldn't take up much room....

Seeing as I'm sewing , out picking greenery, bringing in some Christmas goodies I'll be around all day, will check in at least once every hour or so should you need to ask questions..

Thanks you so much for all these directions Betty. I have printed them out and will have them handy on Wed when Sean spends the day with me. If we do our basecoats first thing in the morning will they be dry enough to continue in the afternoon? Or would it be better to have him come back on Friday to continue?
I had a fun day today. I had to go to Keene, NH which is about a half hour ride from here. I had called a friend about coming to dinner on Sunday and she called me while I was on the road. She said she was headed to a quilt store that is just beyond Keene. I met Elaine and her DH. He suggested we go on to the store without him and he would go do the errands he wanted to do. So off we went.....First to Michael's for craft supplies and goodies..... Then to the quilt store. It was their annual sale and I was able to buy patterns and a roll of fat quarters for really good prices. Then we decided we needed lunch so off we went again. And what to our wondering eyes appeared? Another quilt shop that we had never been to..... We were in shock as we thought we knew where all of them are within at least 50 miles......
My car just pulled right in. This shop is in the basement of a private home. The outside looked like a tornado had hit it. It was such a mess with "stuff" everywhere. We kind of looked at each other as if to say "Do we really want to go in?" But we were here so might as well.
Inside was the sweetest shop with a wonderful lady. She was so nice. She had been in business for 6 years and even though I had driven on this road before, I had never known she was there. Now there is a BIG sign..... When she cut our fabrics, there had to be at least an extra 4-5 inches on each one. Never a push about anything. I spent more money there than I did at the other with the sale but then because I'm a guild member she gave me 10% off everything and then turned around and gave 10% off all of
Elaine's purchase as well. Now, even though it is an hour's ride to her shop, you know I'll be back there!!!! It was such fun.....

Hi
Betty, I've got my base coats done and the snow on the trees. What are the wires for? And, I painted the snowman with maple stain and now I think it might be a gingerbread man! Must have done something wrong.
I'm wicked nervous about the faces. I'll practice first. Thanks---

Anytime Sean is around is fine, I usually always check in..

Sounds as though you had a wonderful day, come spring some weekend I'm heading your way so you best mark down where all those shops are..
Can't believe you found more fabric, lordy, you've been sharing like crazy and now you are out buying...

Cannot believe I'm still up, you can accomplish a lot when you get up at 2a.m. and don't go back to bed..lol

Lee, trace the snowpeople on paper, with pencil in hand do the face, if you don't have graphite paper to copy your pattern onto the face you can take a pencil and scribble on the back side of the paper then when you put your patter upwards and trace, the pencil graphite will mark the piece..that way you'll know exactly where you must paint..

Did I explain that right, bit on tired side..

Got it. Thanks again.

Thank you for the wonderful directions, Betty, and am so sorry you didn't feel well today and had to get up with the chickens. Didn't get any more accomplished on the kit today, our nice days are about to come to an end and spent the day outside. I've printed the directions and can't wait to get back to it.

What a fabulous day and scores of fabric, Barb. That's how I feel seeing a little antique shop tucked away and never noticed.

Betty cannot believe you are still up.......I am going to sleep see you in the am.night night

Morning, all, been up since 5:30am

I am so thrilled about what I accomplished yesterday that I set today aside for decorating..will be lots of ooohs and ahhhs as you forget what treasure you have from year to year..thought I'd start with the trees thought..Brought the tree box into the basement, fluffed up all the branches, oh it looked so pretty with all the lights aglow,flickering, Reba singing loudly throughout the house, hot chocolate and chelsey bun in hand (I'll share) me feeling the warmth of the fireplace..got it set up and something didn't quite click,oh no, it's the outdoor deck tree not the basement tree..so now I've got the tree out on front deck, basement tree brought in and going to try this again..lol..thankfully the living room tree is not large and the french cafe has but a little one or else I'd be playing a game of match the tree to the room all day.. can any of you guess I LOVE Christmas..

No panick in getting your project done, you've all Thanksgiving to get through before you even think of Christmas..sooo very glad our is early October and I have a break between festivities, one needs that to put away decorations and get out the next set.

Had so much trouble getting to sleep last night NOT because I couldn't, I sure could..layed on the chesterfield when Greg came in, he'd been Christmas shopping with Melanie for the boys all day and dropped in to say he'd pick them up at the arena where I dropped them off...it was then 8:30..thought terrific, have a bath and of to bed..as I climbed in and last leg hit the mattress off to lala land I went ..about 9:30 my girlfriend Dianne called for a chat, she was going to come over this morning and we'd to out for lunch but because they are calling for a lovely day she decided to go with a group horseback riding, which was fine by me, already knew what I wanted to do today...chatted for about 20 minutes and barely hung up the telephone that I was sleeping, telephone rings again, it's Kyle, I had told him to let me know one way or another if I had to pick him up and he didn't know his dad had dropped in so he called...let's try this again..found it harder to go to sleep this time, could have almost got up and done a midnight shift..lol..telephone rings again, Jeff my youngest, he and Julie had been out for supper, did some shopping and call me to find out if I had any idea what I wanted for Christmas??? drats and more drats...said he should have called all week but after putting a computer program on the market and working mega overtime (almost 24/7 for past 3 months) he was exhausted, wasn't feeling the best so he stayed home and worked from the chesterfield..NOW he calls to chit/chat..finally I was dozing off in our conversation ..nearly...so he said he'd call today so we can gab..

But the hours without telephone calls I slept well, in fact woke up several times and said 'no you don't, stay in bed even if you just watch t.v.' must have dozed for another hour then was thinking of decorating and thought, get up and get with it..today's a fun day..

So hoping you all have the same..see you on my next break.

I wish our Thanksgiving was early like yours Betty. I will not be getting xmas decorations out till day after Thanksgiving. And it so much fun pulling stuff out because you have forgotten what you have.
Weather to be nice and going to start sanding today.Putting the kids to work on that. May need help with the extra wood project you sent I think we will paint them and not stain. That should be ok!

Goodness gracious Betty, did you go to bed early or are they calling you late? Glad everyone calls on the same night! LOL!!

LOL I didn't come on yesterday because it's so dang cold in this room and I was working on my project anyway. And I'm getting cold again so I'm going to go work on more project! .

Judy and Thunder, those are cute!

Oh that would be too much fun! Betty do you think all of us would fit in your basement? I'm thinking so... LOL

Crissy, tree and a lot of gifts under the tree, long wait for Santa though but got to tell you I'm ready..

As for you all fitting in the basement, if you can't always a community center a 1/2 block away that would..had to do that for Roger's family christmas every year!

When it's my time for the Sista's reunion Crissy, the theme will be Christmas with all the trimmings and decorations..so save those pennies..

Sorry you are not feeling well, you've been catching a lot of cold lately, maybe you should take a daily supplement to help..

Off to decorate the upstairs tree..want to get outside and put all the lights and garden out but talk about COLD!!! we'll see how late afternoon is and I might get some out..in the meantime can't sit or I'll fall asleep..lol

Betty looking good. You have alot of energy today. Maybe when you are done you can come down this way and help me....