One day I was standing in line at Walgreens and sitting right there by the register was this adorable hat. It was shaped like a top hat, the hat portion being the chimney, and Santa’s legs were sticking out of the top. The hat was musical and cute and whimsical. That immediately made me think what a cute Christmas craft that would make!
But what to use? I mulled it over in my head, thinking of all sorts of things. That’s when the clay pot came in to play. I knew I had a few in my supply stash, I just needed to come up with how to create Santa, his legs, and the bricks. I craft by the seat of my pants, so the ideas started coming when I sat down to actually make this. I love how it turned out, and I hope you do too! Crazy cute! :)
For this project I used Sno-Tex snow texture paint, Chalkboard paint, and Patio Paint. Man I love this Patio Paint! Have you ever used this? This was my first time and the coverage on this pot is amazing. I’ve painted a LOT of clay pots in my time and after this will never use regular acrylic paint again. Ev-er.
First you’ll paint the clay pot. To make the bricks, just use a small rectangle cut from a household sponge. Then put a layer of Snotex around the rim.
To make the legs you’ll twist chenille together to make it a fatter piece, then twist them around a pencil or paint brush to coil them.
His body is made from a Styrofoam egg. Paint glue on the fat end and cover in glitter. Put a toothpick into the narrow end, this helps it stand up in the pot. The legs go in the ‘red’ end, using a toothpick to create holes in the egg helps a lot. The shoes are made from a small egg cut in half and glittered in black. I actually didn’t have a small egg, so I used half of a ball, cut that in half, then shaped them. The egg would be easier, hence me suggesting it to you ;-)
The full instructions are below, hope you have fun!
Santa Chimney Place Setting
Supplies
Supplies:
- 1 small terra cotta pot
- Patio Paint: cream and reddish-brown
- Black chalkboard paint
- SnoTex snow texture paint
- 1 medium Styrofoam egg
- 1 small Styrofoam egg
- 2 glittery red chenille stems
- 1 white chenille stem
- 10 small glittery white pom poms
- Fine glitter: red and black
- 2 to othpicks
- 1 small wood rectangle cardboard will work too!
You'll also need:
- household sponge
- paintbrush
- white craft glue
- hot glue gun
- white chalkboard pen
- cotton balls
Instructions
- First, paint your terra cotta pot with cream paint. Allow it to dry, then use a small rectangular piece cut from a household sponge to add the reddish-brown bricks. Let dry.
- Apply snow texture paint to the rim of the pot using a palette or a paintbrush. Set aside to dry.
- Fold a red chenille stem in half and cut to create two equal pieces. Twist the two pieces together to form one thicker piece. Repeat with second chenille stem. Now coil each of them around a pencil or pen, slide off.
- Cut the small Styrofoam egg in half lengthwise, these are Santa’s boots. Insert a coiled chenille stem into the round half of one of the egg pieces. Repeat with other chenille stem. Coat the “boots” with white glue and sprinkle with black glitter. Tap off excess and set aside to dry.
- Insert a toothpick into the smaller end of the large Styrofoam egg. Paint the larger end with white glue. Sprinkle red glitter all over the glue and tap off excess. Set aside to dry (hint: if you have floral foam stick the toothpick into the foam. If not, simply use a cardboard egg carton).
- While the painted pot and the glitter eggs are drying, paint the wood rectangle with black chalkboard paint. Hot glue the second toothpick to the back of the “sign”. Use chalkboard pen to write your guest’s name on the sign. Add some snow texture paint to the top of the sign. Allow everything to dry.
- Place 2-3 cotton balls inside the clay pot. With toothpick pointing down, insert the large red glitter egg into the pot. Pull additional cotton balls into pieces and tuck them into the pot around the glitter egg to help support it.
- Cut white chenille stem in half. Carefully twist around Santa’s legs to create pant cuffs. Secure with glue. Insert the chenille legs into the red glitter egg (Santa’s bottom) and secure with white glue. You can create small holes in the egg first by poking a pencil into it, then inserting the chenille.
- Hot glue the white glitter pom poms in a circle around the red glitter egg to create the bottom of Santa’s coat.
- Insert the personalized sign into the terra cotta pot and secure with glue.
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Norman Sappenfield NDS CRAFTS says
what size pot……and size of the large egg,,,,,,,
Amanda Formaro says
Hi, Norman. You’ll want to use a small terra cotta pot (2-4″) – there is a list of materials you will need listed above :)
Norman Sappenfield NDS CRAFTS says
thank you…I used a 4 ” pot
marianne says
Amanda…i made these a few years ago and left the name plates blank, i sold them at a craft fair and the fact that they could be personalized on the spot was a GREAT selling feature. Needless to say, they sold really well and fast, and HECK they were a BLAST to make too…GLAD i found your page, will watch for MORE ideas. Cheers, and thanks for sharing your creativity.
~marianne
Amanda Formaro says
Oh that is SO FUN! Thanks so much for sharing that story Marianne!
Susan says
When I wrote to you the other day I got mixed up what pattern I wanted. It was a wooden Santa made from blocks of wood. Could I please have that one? Thank you. Sincerely Susan Colbert
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Susan. I must have missed the original message, is it this one you are looking for? https://craftsbyamanda.com/2009/12/country-wooden-santa.html
Sherry Whitaker says
I LOVE LOVE LOVE It.It is so cute & adorable.Thank You sooooooooo much.I might not get to it this Christmas…but it will be on my good list for next year.THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
Amanda Formaro says
Thanks Sherry! That’s so nice of you :)
Gerry says
Love your “pots” and “bulbs” ideas..I’m also fan of pot ideas, just finished Vampires and bats with pots..love the Santa chimney idea..keep it up!!!!
Amanda says
Thank you Gerry!
Angell @ Passionate and Creative Homemaking says
Just letting you know that I featured this today on my Christmas in July blog celebration
http://passionateandcreativehomemaking.blogspot.com/2012/07/day-20-christmas-in-july.html
Melissa says
Oh this is adorable! I know it’s past Christmas but I love to use the long boring winter to make crafts for the next year. I will make this one for sure!
Darlene Castor says
This is so cute…I had accidently stamped “HO HO HO” upside down once on a card and then got the idea to put Santa updise down in the chimney and purposely stamp “OH! OH! OH!” That would be cute on the sign as well! I may have to try this!
Isn’t Christmas crafting fun?
Lindsi B says
Ha! That literally made me laugh out loud! He is so cute! Thanks for sharing your adorable santa! Would you please share this with my readers for Fun Stuff Fridays? http://www.toysinthedryer.com/2011/12/fun-stuff-fridays-4-3-weeks-long-for.html
[email protected] says
Just too cute! I love it! I’d also love for you to share with my readers if you get a chance: http://www.momontimeout.com/2011/12/taking-timeout-thursday-no-8.html
Jill @ KitchenFunWithMy3Sons.com says
Such a cute idea! Just shared this on our Fun Finds Friday… http://kitchenfunwithmy3sons.blogspot.com/2011/12/fun-finds-friday_09.html
Amanda Formaro says
Thanks so much jill!
Lauren says
How stinkin cute is this!! I love it!
I’d love for you to link up and share: http://tutusandteaparties.blogspot.com/search/label/Link%20Party
Katrina says
So cute! You rock crafts!
Kate says
I just listened to you on The Motherhood’s Live Chat and had to check out your site for this craft (I am looking for the pinecone snowman next). I love this and I am in awe of your creatvity!
Amanda Formaro says
Thanks so much Kate! So glad you enjoyed the show, it was fun for me too :) The snowman ornament is actually on Kaboose’s website, you can find it here http://crafts.kaboose.com/pinecone-snowman.html
maggy,red ted art says
Oh my!! How cute is that Santa!!!!! I love him to bits!
Thank you for sharing on Kids Get Crafty!
Maggy
Kim says
Seriously SO CUTE!
Erika says
That is so funny!
Marilyn says
Hilariously cute! Thanks for sharing.♥♫
Kari Sanchez says
How dang cute is this…for creating as you go you did a fantastic job! :) TFS
Barbara' Cookie" says
This is darling Thank’s Amanda Merry Christmas to you & your family,,Cookie 17
tina says
Oh my gosh, this is so darn CUTE!!! LOVE this idea! Don’t know if I’ll get around to it this year, but if not, then definitely next year! Thanks for sharing how to make them, and Happy Holidays! ~tina