Felted Wool SnowMan Ornaments

 

Those of you who know me, or who have followed any of my creative meanderings, know that each year we make an ornament on Thanksgiving.  It has grown to be a beloved tradition, carried on for close to 20 years now.  So each year, when we are unpacking our Christmas ornaments, we can think back on the people we have shared life and our Thanksgiving table with.  I am so thankful for the immense blessing of genetic and chosen family and dear friends.  These ornaments really become something sacred to me.  They represent love and the shared journey of life.  Each ornament is unique, and none perfect, but beloved none the less, just like the people who made them.

 

Materials:

3 consecutive sizes plastic Christmas balls
Doll sized hats
Black felt dots (pre-packaged)
Old 100% wool sweaters
Embroidery floss and needles
Hot glue

 

This year, we made these snowmen... and snow ladies with dollar store Christmas tree balls for the bases.  We nipped the necks off and then hot glued the balls together.  Then we used squares of felted wool sweaters.  I picked them up at the half off sale at the thrift store.  (Make sure to get 100% wool...  cashmere makes a really nice snow person.... who doesn't like cashmere:)  I felted the wool in the washer and dryer and then cut the squares out.

 

Position the "head" of the snowman in the center of the square.  We secured the corners to the base of the bottom end of the snowpeople with hot glue.  Then, tuck the spare fabric in, aiming for a somewhat even look.  The next step is to nip them in between sections.  We did this with embroidery floss, and tied it off.  Then we glued on little top hats (I picked these up in the doll making section of the craft store.  Make sure to use a needle and embroidery floss to create a loop to hang it on the tree with before attaching the hat.)  Hot glue the hat to the head.

 

Then glue on the dots for eyes, mouth and button.  Little word to the wise.... put your dab of hot glue directly on the snowman... don't try to hold the dot and put glue on it...nothing good will come out of that for you... my sister in law would be happy to show you her blister:(   The put on a scarf and either tie it or put a dab of glue to secure it.  It is fun to cut the scarves out of ribbed hems on the sweaters to give them some visual interest.  If you want, you can stich up any felt that you don't feel is behaving properly, or give it a dab of glue.  And that is all there is to it.

 

3 guesses as to which one JP made.  Wink. 

Wishing you a holiday season full of Thanksgiving, whether circumstances are peaceful, hard, wonderful, perplexing,  or whatever life may have thrown you way this year.  Peace!