Santa, Reindeer, Tree Hand Print Ornaments

As I mentioned before, I got really creative with the hand print ornaments this year.  My mom just got hers in the mail and couldn't stop raving about how cute it was.  She said she hung it up right next to the one I made her when I was in first grade.  The kiddos can play with the dough, but this craft is really for the mamas to have some fun.  Aren't they darling?!

A friend of mine on facebook posted a picture of the Santa one and I just had to have one.  So after I made some of the regular ones, I made a new batch of dough[recipe here] and cut around her hand print.  If you are making Rudolph you will need two holes on the palm to string the bow and one on the top middle finger.

Baked it to a crisp.

And then painted it.  I am going to show how I did the Santa since the other ones are kind of self explanatory.  This time, instead of a Sharpie, I used a toothpick and paint to write her name.  

For those of you who are art challenged, here is the step by step on how to paint the Santa.  No need for special tools or brushes.  I did use a brush for the white and areas where there are a lot of color but you can really get away with just using a ear swab and tooth pick.

           

1.  Paint Santa's eyes and nose using a toothpick like a pen and some paint.

2.  Outline part of his beard and draw in his mustache. 

3. Outline the bottom portion of his hat.

4. Outline the top portion of his hat in red and the end part.

5.  Paint the hat red.

6.  Use a ear swab to dab in his face with cream.  It's okay if you get it on the black outline. 

Once Santa's face dries, you can go over the black again.  Then add some Modge Podge just like in the regular hand print ornament.  

I added a bow and bell for Rudolph and only thought of making him because my sister wanted an ornament that matched her tree.  For the Christmas tree, just add Modge Podge to the painted tree portion, sprinkle glitter and Podge over it.  Add some ribbon and there you have it.  Ornaments for gifts. 

I still can't decide whether I like the plain hand print one or the fancy ones.  What do you think? 

Tutorial: Updated Hand Print Ornament

Remember that hand print ornament I made for my hubby when he was deployed during Christmas last year?  Well, I decided to make some for family back home as gifts this year.  Here is the updated version of that tutorial.  The second time you make something always seems to be better.  But if you think these are cute, just wait a few days because I have some even more darling hand print ornaments to share! 

Here is the recipe again:

2 cups of flour 

1/2 cup of salt

3/4 cup of warm water

**Tip** if you want your dough to be a certain color [I made mine green] add food coloring to the water.  

Mix the salt and flour mixture up really well.  Slowly add the salt water and stir. Knead the dough and let those little fingers have some fun!  I rolled out little awkward circles onto wax paper so it is easy to transfer to a baking sheet.  Push her hand print on it, the thinner the better, but of course not too thin. 

Then, I found a bowl that was about the size of her hand and used it as a cookie cutter.  Poke holes using a straw or a pen.

Last year I had some trouble with bubbling.  To prevent the dough from rising, cook it at a much lower temperature for longer.  I cooked it at 200 degrees for a few hours.  Pretty much until they got hard as rocks.  Once they are cooked, get the paint out and all you need a cotton swab to paint.  I used cheap acrylic.  You can use a toothpick and paint to write the name on the back.  I used a Sharpie.

Once the paint is dry get the Modge Podge out.  Last year I used clear spray paint.  It came out nice and glossy.  Either one is fine.  The proper gloss to use is an acrylic spray gloss.  Modge Podge worked just as great though.  And if you have never used this amazing stuff before be sure to apply only a thin layer.  Let it dry completely and then apply another layer.  If you apply it too thick, it will dry white and sticky.  

See the difference?  Before Modge Podge and after.  I put two coats.

String with ribbon and you have a great and sentimental gift for the grandparents. 

Now, don't rush off and decide to make these just yet!  I got creative and made a Santa version, Rudolph, and Christmas tree version.  So stay tuned!  

Felt Christmas Tree

Ever since I saw this on Pinterest I knew I had to make one for Cindy!  We have to wait a little bit to put up our tree this year so this helps me wait a little longer and she gets her very own tree.  I hope this will divert her from touching the real one when it is up but I doubt it!  I do love it though! 

                     

I bought a yard of green felt to make the actual tree.

I bought a ton of little color square felt to make ornaments.  The snowman one is surprisingly her favorite. These are 3 inch circles.

I decided to also make 2 inch ornaments too.

 

She woke up the day after Thanksgiving and noticed the tree right away.  It was so cute!  She just whispered......  Treeeee and started putting the ornaments on.  They all end up clumped at the top, but it's a tree just for her. 

Tutorial: Baby Doll Bed

After making that doll bed in September I was debating about whether to do a tutorial.  Well, thanks to one reader's request you all are going to benefit because I buckled down this past week and got busy.  I made some tweaks, but it is essentially still the same doll bed.  The fabric isn't as cute though because our little craft store is so limited on prints.  As with all big tutorials be sure to read it through once before making. 

I will include the measurements I used but these can easily be changed according to your needs.  If you want it bigger, the walls to not be as high, the bias tape to be smaller, maybe longer handles, then make the adjustments.  This tutorial is the backbone.

You will need plastic canvas like this cut 43 by 4 inches.  I had to sew together a few pieces to get the length.  

You need an outer print [dots] and inner print [teal] that is 44 by 6 inches.   You will also need four strips of quilting batting this length.  The straps are 22 by 2.5 inches long of outer fabric, inner, and batting.

The shopping breakdown: 1/4 yard of outer print, 1 yard of lining, 1/2 yard for bias tape, batting, two sheets of canvas, lightweight interfacing [optional].