I was asked to participate in a blog hop today. I decided a tutorial was a good idea.
I hope you like the project and are happy that I am posting the tutorial. Personally, I think the little guy is rather adorable. I hope the customers at my booth at the Paris Flea Market this next weekend think so too!!
Here is a peek at the finished project.
I started by scoring a 6.5 x 12 inch piece of Whisper White Card stock every half an inch. I placed my markers on my simply scored tool on the half inch marks to make it easy to see where to score. I figured I could find the one inch marks easily enough.
Next, I cut the paper into the needed strips. This way, I only had to score once. I cut 2 strips 1.5 inches each, 2 strips 1.25 inches each, and one strip one inch.
I then folded each strip accordion style.
Next, I adhered the ends of each paper strip together to form a circle.
I then punched out 10 circles using the 1 inch circle punch and whisper white card stock. I made each of the accordion folded strips into medallions by forcing one edge to the center and adhering the circle to the center using hot glue. I turned the strip over and adhered a second circle to the back. This is what the medallions look like when you get them all done.
Next, I layered the medallions together starting with the medallion made using the 1.25 inch strip first. I used hot glue to adhere the centers together. I made sure that my seams were all lined up so that I could put them all at the back of my finished snowman. The second layer is created using the medallion made with the 1.5 inch strip.
The smaller medallion pictured here will actually be the bottom of my snowman.
Next, I made a nose for my snowman. I used a 1.25 x 1.75 inch strip of Tangelo Twist card stock. I curved it a little by running the edge of my bone folder over it before starting to roll it. Then I rolled it tightly to create a "carrot".
I now adhered my carrot nose between the next two layers of my snowman. This picture shows the carrot adhered to the second layer (the medallion made using the 1.5 inch strip).
The next layer added was the second medallion made using the 1.5 inch strip.
The final two layers hot-glued into place were the second medallion made using the 1.25 inch strip, and then the medallion made with the 1 inch strip.
PLEASE NOTE: When attaching the medallions, it is important to line the top of the folds on the lower medallion with the bottom of the folds on the upper medallion. This will be crucial when attaching the eyes later on.
Our snowman is now ready to accessorize!! I purchased the felt hat at a local craft shop. It is a doll hat, and is a 3 inch diameter felt hat. I punched two holes through the top of the hat using a piercing tool. After I punched the holes, I enlarged them by forcing the larger head of my stylus through the holes.
To get the ribbon through the holes, I cut it at a sharp angle to make it small enough to fit through the hole.
I then tied the ends of the silver ribbon together on the inside of the hat.
Next, I added a hat band by adhereing a piece of Lost Lagoon ribbon around the base of the hat.
To make the decoration, I used wire cutters to remove the loop from our All is Calm Snowflake Embellishments from the Holiday Catalog.
Next, I colored a rhinestone with the medium shade from our Night of Navy Blendabilities set. (By the way - the doorbuster deal in the Online Extravaganza today includes the blendabilities at 30% off - today, Dec. 1, only!)
The embellishment was then hot-glued into place on the side of the hat band.
I then hot-glued the hat onto the head of the snowman. The opening of the hat is just the right size to cover the top medallion. This allows the hot glue to adhere to both the hat and this small medallion inside of the hat.
The last step is to make and adhere the eyes into place. To make the eyes, I used the smallest black buttons from our neutral designer buttons. To cover the holes, I punched a 0.25 inch circle from Basic Black card stock and adhered it to the back of the button. If you forget this step, you will see the white through the holes, and your snowman will look a bit creepy!
Now that the eyes are finished, they can be attached to the snowman using hot glue. This is probably the trickiest part of the entire project. If you lined the medallions up as stated earlier it should give you a decent base for attaching the eyes. You can let the bottom of the button rest on the larger medallion above the nose, and the side of the button rest against the fold of the smaller medallion. This will give you two points of attachment for your button. Hot glue them in place, and your snowman ornament is finished!!
For fall, I used this same idea to make pumpkins. These were the first thing to sell at my booth last month! I wish I had made a set for myself to put on my Thanksgiving table!!
Card stock:Basic Black (121045), Tangelo Twist (133677), Whisper White (100730)
Accessories:Simply Scored Tool (122334), Paper Piercing Tool (1261890), Silver 1/8 inch Ribbon (132137), 1/4 inch circle punch (134364), 1 inch circle punch (119868), Neutrals Designer Buttons(130031), All is Calm Snowflake Embellishments (137383), Rhinestones (119246), Night of Navy Blendabilities Marker Assortment (131001), Lost Lagoon Silky Taffeta Ribbon (135841)
For the blog hop, I was asked to answer the following questions, and then nominate someone to continue the blog hop - be sure to go to the bottom to check out Linda Bauwin's blog!!
What are you working on?
I am currently working on personal Christmas cards and cards for Christmas Card Classes. I am also working on items to sell at my booth at a local vintage shop.
How does your work differ from others in your genre?
I am not sure that I have an exact style. Often, you may see a project and know whose it is because it screams their name. I am not sure that is true with me. Sometimes I like clean and simple, other times I like lots of embellishments. It varies with the day, the stamp set and my mood!
Why do you create what you do?
I create to share with family, friends and customers. I love to share my ideas with others to inspire them. I don't know if I am always (or even often) successful, but that is the goal!
How does your creative process work?
Usually, I sit down with a need or desire to create something, or simply to play with a new stamp set. I am very visual, so I may try something, and then change things as I go. My projects tend to evolve as I try new things. Most of the time, my creations are originals, although things I see may inspire me and be incorporated in one way or another. I don't spend much time online, so although I could see being addicted to pinterest, I haven't allowed myself to spend much time there.
My nomination for the next stop on the blog hop is:
Linda Bauwin - Linda has been a good friend for several years. I met her at the Founder's Circle Retreat in 2003. We have become closer over the years after spending time on various Stampin' Up! trips and Founder's Circle Retreats. We have especially bonded through our hiking and rappelling trips in St. George, Utah during our Founder's Circle Retreats! Linda is a great friend, and I am very blessed to have her in my life!!
Content of this website and the classes, products, and services that I offer are my creation and my sole responsibility as an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and are not endorsed by Stampin' Up!
