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Thursday, October 13, 2011

31 Days of Handmade Christmas Gifts: Day 14 - Snowman Book

I have to say that this gift, I am truly beyond excited about!  I love snowmen and I love the idea of recycling a book to make a snowman.  I hope you enjoy this too!


For this project, you will need:
  • An old hardcover book (or new too...)
  • Acrylic Paints: Barn Red, Black, White, and Pumpkin Orange
  • brushes
  • plaid strip of material - 2 1/2" x 30"
  • 1 1/2" button
  • Spray clear coat
  • E6000 Glue or other equivalent
First a book - please book lovers, don't hate me!  In fact, I had to go to Goodwill to get a book that I wasn't emotionally attached to to do this project.  I went to the clearance rack that had them for $1.49 -a little more than I wanted to spend, but better than using one of my books.

Here's what it looked like with the jacket off.

The first thing I did was paint the entire thing barn red with acrylic paint.  I had to do 2 coats, so that it covered everything.

I drew out an outline of what I wanted for the snowman - nothing really fancy.

Then I traced it on the book in pencil and filled it in with white acrylic paint.  Let it dry.

Take a stencil brush and pounce white around the edges to make the edges blurred.  This is the beauty of this project, it's not necessary to be perfect!

Here's what it's looks like with all the edges blurred.

Next, take the same pouncing brush and dip it in a little of the Barn Red paint and pounce it on your pallet until it is pink.  Pounce the pink in the cheek area.

Next, paint the orange nose on it.  Love this long nose!  I used orange pumpkin acrylic paint.

Next, take black acrylic paint and draw eyes, eyebrows, and a smile on the snowman.

Also, outline the bottom of the carrot and make little hash marks along the carrot to make it round looking.

Take the fine brush and make a small white mark on the carrot and little dots in the eyes.  Also, make snowflakes around the snowman.  I seriously free handed all of this!  I am no painter - really!

 Not bad for snowflakes!
Another view.  At this point, you will want to spray a clear coat on the book to preserve it.

Then rip a piece of plaid material into a 2 1/2" by 30" strip and tie it around the snowman's "neck."  Glue the button on the snowman with E6000 glue. 

Isn't he cute?  I think I'm going to have to find more books to use!  I am going to do my best to get him listed in my Etsy shop, too!  Oh, which reminds me - I have made a coupon code for all of my readers of this 31 Days of Handmade Christmas gifts challenge!  If you shop in my Etsy shop - use the code: 31DAYS to get FREE shipping on your order!  I do hope that you'll take advantage of this!

Check out the blogs I love to link up to in the right column.

10 comments:

  1. I am DYING! Your snowman is adorable! What a great job! Am going to PIN! Visiting from Fingerprints on the Fridge :)

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  2. This is so,so fun and I already have an idea how to use your idea :))

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  3. I'm lovin' your snowflakes too! Very sweet project. Thanks for sharing :D

    Visiting from Making Lemonade: Refresh Your Nest Fri Linky party today,
    ~Smiles, Suzanne from NW Illinois

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  4. Love this. What an adorable idea.
    ~Heidi

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  5. I often come across books to "rescue" at Goodwill. What a fun way to repurpose them. Thanks for linking to Refresh Your Nest Fridays, I'm going to tweet this out-- it's adorable!

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  6. This is so awesome - as I plan a Goodwill run this weekend.... :)

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  7. Oh my gosh! I can not tell you how much I envy your talent! This is so darn cute! I love it!
    gail
    ps catching you this week!

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  8. Your snowman is adorable! I found you through My Repuroposed Life. Thanks for sharing!

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  9. Your snowman is sooooo cute!! You obviously have a talent for painting.

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  10. It is very cute! Thank you for joining me for the HSH Fall Open House!
    Sherry

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