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| Snowmen Gift Totems |
Looking for an inexpensive yet creative way to tell the baby/pet sitter, daycare/neighborhood friends, teachers, etc. that you are thinking of them at the holidays? Make this cute snowman gift totem out of recycled tubes and misc. craft items. A cello bag from a dollar store creates the hat and a great place to put your choice of candies or whatever you'd like.
Grab your kids (my three year old helped me); there is something for everyone to do!
Enjoy, Tracey
Step 1- Paint cardboard tubes
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| Steps 1 & 2 |
Once tubes are painted, then cut them. The tall snowmen are 10 inches and small one is 4 inches. My husband cuts these tubes on his chop saw so they are nice and even. A utility knife also works.
Step 2- Model Magic carrot noses
I purchased orange Model Magic. I made 60 noses and only used half the bag. Roll pieces of Model Magic so that one end gets thinner and pointer. Stick them to paper to dry, this also flattens out an end for attaching. Think about real carrots, they are all different length, withs and have have bends etc. The nose will give the snowman a lot of character!
Step 1 and 2 need a few hours to dry. I did attach a few noses when they were still wet with my hot glue gun (I couldn't wait to see what they looked like!) I would recommend that you let them dry overnight.
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| Steps 3 & 4 |
I love my hot glue gun because it's an instant bond, if you are letting the kids help use a tacky glue like Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Glue.
The nose should be placed somewhere just above the top third of the 10 inch tube or just above the center of the 4 inch tube. I'd recommend you make a complete snowman first and then make adjustments.
Step 4- Scarf
I used felt for the scarves. Ribbon would also work. If you use felt, cut it along it's long side into about a 1 inch strip. Tie it around the tube. Fray the ends by cutting slits at the bottom.
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| Step 5 & 6 (with an excited Logan) |
Coal can be added in many different ways. I used black acrylic paint applied with a Q-tip. You could also use buttons (if you have them, paint was more economic for me).
Step 6- Pipe Cleaner Arms
While coal is drying (if you used paint) make arms out of brown pipe cleaners. You need one pipe cleaner per snowman. Fold the pipe cleaner in half and cut with scissors. Take the cut end and roll it into a small flat spiral. This gives you surface area for attaching. Bend over the other end of the pipe cleaner for a hand.
Attach the spiral end to the snowman just below the scarf on both sides. Once the glue is dry, bend arms to create gesture.
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| Step 7 |
Step 7- Rim for Hat
Almost done! Lastly, cut a 2-2.5 inch piece of felt along the short end of the felt (or ribbon). (Half the the felt needs to be attached to the front of the tube and the other half needs to be attached to the inside of the tube. You'll fold it over.) Hot glue the top edge of tube, and then stick the felt on top with the ends toward the back. (You'll want the overlap to be in the back, not front). Hot glue the inside of the tube and tuck and tack the extra felt to the inside.
Step 8- Fill a Cello Bag
Fill a cello bag (Dollar Store) with treat, but don't fill it too much, it needs to fit into the tube. I slide the filled cello bag into the tube, pull it up so that some of the filled bag shows (this is the middle of the hat) and then put the twist tie on. Think of the extra cello bag as the pom-pom of the hat, it may need to be trimmed.
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| 4 Inch Head w. Snowflake Glitter Edge |
Materials list (Michael's Craft Store and Dollar Store)
- Tubes, painted white (free)
- Model Magic-orange ($3.99)
- Glue (hot glue or tacky)
- Felt ($.29/color)
- Brown Pipe Cleaners ($2.99/100 count)
- Black Acrylic Paint ($.89)
- Glitter (had it from another project)
- Cello bags ($1/10 or 20 count)
- Candy treat ?
Tracey - these are so sweet, and the step by step directions with great photos make all the difference! I plan on trying them with my 3 year old very soon.
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