Whether you are a seasonal canner or someone who buys canning jars just for crafting, chances are you have some canning lids and bands lying around. Turn them into a rustic snowman ornaments with a vintage feel. Rusty canning bands are ideal for this craft!
I tried rusting the lids myself with salt and vinegar, and while it looked like it was really cool while it was working, the affect wasn’t as awesome as I had hoped, and it took a long time. So in the end I called my crafty neighbor and she happened to have some rusty bands. Thanks Debra! :)
If you’re a canner, you know that you can reuse the bands, but lids cannot be used more than once. Therefore they are great candidates for recycling into crafts. In this project we’ll use Antique Mod Podge over white fabric to give these snowman that aged look.
This snowman ornament is two sided. My faces are similar, but you can see the difference in the two sides.
[Full printable instructions below] Trace around the lids onto the fabric, leaving a border. Podge them onto the lids, then podge on the fabric nose. When dry, use a scruffy brush and pink paint for the cheeks and dot on the eyes and mouth with black.
Add some stain over the whole thing. To connect the two sides together you’ll need something in between the two lids to keep them from collapsing inward. I used small chunks of floral foam. Nice and light so as not to add any weight to the ornament. Wrap with burlap and twine and you are all set!
Hang on the tree!
Antiqued Canning Lid Snowman
Supplies
- 2 aging rusty canning lids and rims
- Gesso or white paint
- Ivory or white fabric
- Mod Podge Antique Matte
- Orange fabric
- Paint: pink black, dark brown
- Scruffy brush
- Antiquing medium
- Fine point Sharpie
- Floral foam
- Hot glue
- Burlap strip 1"x9"
- Twine
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun
Instructions
- Remove the lids from the bands. Paint the lids with Gesso or white paint.
- Trace around the lids onto the fabric and cut out circles. Mod Podge the circles onto the lids. Cut two noses from orange fabric and decoupage them onto the fabric circles. Allow to dry completely.
- Use scruffy brush dipped in pink paint, excess paint dabbed off on a paper towel, to add cheeks. Trim the excess fabric around the lid.
- Use the handle end of the brush dipped in black paint to add eyes and mouths. Let the paint dry completely then add another layer of decoupage.
- Mix antiquing medium with dark brown part in equal parts. Add a coat to the snowman face and wipe back with a clean cloth.
- Insert the lids into the bands. Cut pieces of floral foam to one-inch heights and hot glue inside one of the lids. This will ensure that the lids will not come loose from the bands. Glue the two bands together, making sure that the faces on each side are facing the same way.
- Glue twine around the center of the bands, tying in a knot at the top of the ornament.
- Starting at the knot of twine, glue the burlap strip around the band, covering the twine, except for the top where the knot is.
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Jackie says
I make ornaments for my grandchildren and any member of the family that hasn’t graduated from high school yet. (had to stop at some point) and this is a quick and easy new idea! this is my 20th year…
Barb says
Just can’t locate directions for the snowman, help! ? very cute!
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Barb! The instructions are in a printable box at the bottom of the blog post :)
Robin says
So cute! Would love to Pin on Pinterest. No Pinterest Pin button?
Amanda says
Thanks for pointing that out. The pin it button must have been removed with the last plugin update. it’s back on there now :) Thanks!
Robin says
Yay! Thank you!
madgevt says
very cute
pattie hartmann says
Love the snowman idea. I love anything snowman, snow related. Thanks for the idea. Cheers!!
Sunny C says
Hey Amanda; This is Beautiful!!!! I absolutely LOVE Snowmen!!! Now I know what to do with the Rusty lids which are on some Antique Canning Jars that I have!!
I can Homemade Pickles, and I was eyeing these lids two weeks ago, and I thought about tossing the lids, but I liked how they looked all Rusty and I thought I know I can make something with them!!!!
Many Thanks to you Amanda, I now know what I am going to do with my lids!!!!
Thank-You!!!!! :-)
Cookie 17 says
Another great idea Amanda,this gives me some things do when get’s real cold,it’s just me & my HB at home now so I can try do them but you make pretty & easy things to do.Thank’s again …
Barbara Feldner says
love this idea of using 2 intsead of one.. more completed look… also I do this and paint gingerbread faces on them… Keep up the good ideas.. Thanks Barbie
Nadia@Loveliveandgarden says
Wow you read my mind. I’ve been thinking about lids and how to decorate them.
Cherie says
I absolutely LOVE this project. Can’t wait to make some. I have lots and lots of rusty old canning rings left from years and years of use. I’ve often thought of tossing them out, but now I’m so glad I didn’t. Thank you for this inspiration.