The everlasting tradition of bedecking the Christmas tree has evolved over the centuries.
However, classic embellishments like the twinkling lights, doily ornaments, laces, ribbons, and cute figurines still hold the romantic charm and time honored elegance.
Adorable little forms, generally known as critters, are a part of every traditional Christmas tree.
Critters can be created with various kinds of materials, including nuts, bread dough clay, seashells, or even paper.
Required Material: • Nut critters: * Walnut for body, * Filbert or acorn for face * Sharp knife * Wood file * Enamel spray paint * Acrylic paint and brush * Acrylic spray * Opaque paint markers * Pompoms, beads, laces, sequins, chenille, and other trimmings * Craft glue • Bread clay critters: * 4-5 slices of white bread * Blender * Mixing bowl * Glue * Rolling pin * Animal shaped cookie cutters * Toothpick * Bead string or laces * Glitter glue, beads, sequins, etc * Acrylic paint Steps to make nut critters: • Filing the shell: File off the pointed end of the walnut shell with the wood filer.
• Cleaning the nut halves: Carefully twist open the walnut halves with the knife and remove the nut flesh.
Be sure not to crack or break the nutshell.
• Painting: Coat the two halves with double coats of quick-drying enamel spray paint and leave them aside to dry.
Now, color the halves with two coats of whatever shade you choose to make the body of the critter.
Let them dry completely.
• Body: Now, use the glue to stick both the halves together.
This will make the body of the character.
• Face.
Cover a filbert or acorn nut with a dual coat of acrylic paint to make the critter's face.
• Facial features: You may use the pointed end of the nut to form the nose.
Paint the facial features with opaque paint markers.
You may use beads to make eyes.
• Limbs: Employ pompoms for hands & feet • Coloring: Spray the figurine with a coat of acrylic paint.
• Accessorizing: Adorn it with sequins, chenille, or laces.
Steps to make bread dough critters: • Making crumbs: Remove crust and run the bread pieces in a blender, until they are crumbed.
• Making dough: Put the crumbs in the mixing bowl, add glue, and mix them uniformly to form soft dough.
• Shaping critters: Roll out the dough in circular shape with rolling pin and use cookie cutter to cut out critter forms.
• Toothpick fixing: Insert a toothpick near the top of each figurine and let it dry for a few hours.
• Step 5.
When completely dry and firm, paint the critters and decorate with glitter glue, bead, sequins, or other embellishments.
• Step 6.
Remove toothpick and thread lace or bead string through the hole to make a hanger loop.