I'll never take coffee stirrers for granted again!
For those of you betting on whether I could finish the Troll's Christmas present by December 25th, take note: you owe me money.
This project, as with all my projects, was developed with the best of intentions. I thought, The Troll collects snowmen, so by golly, I'll make him a snowman! (It's true, he does buy snowman mugs, pencils, etc. during Christmas. I collect penguins. It works for us.) It's not a difficult shape! I have polymer clay! I AM A CRAFTER, HEAR ME ROAR.
The snowman was formed, baked, glued, coated in two coats of gesso, and glittered. A dozen pieces of fabric, ribbon, and lace were tested for the perfect scarf. Swarovski crystals were specially purchased for the eyes and buttons. A stack of dollhouse miniature log piles were disassembled for the arms. Extra glitter was added to the little tree. The round base paper was cut three times for a perfect fit, and it, too, was layered with large-flake glitter. The glass dome was carefully Windexed inside and out.
And that flag pole? Oh man, THAT FLAG POLE. Toothpicks were too thin, straws were too thick, so Dad brought me coffee stirrers from his office. They were white with a red stripe. I tried covering them with gesso, white out, acrylic paint, printing ink, micro glitter... no matter the combination, it just looked sloppier. So I gold leafed it. (By the way, gold leafing a coffee stirrer is 879% harder than you think. Don't try it at home without professional guidance.) The flag was sized four times to fit inside the dome. It was bordered with red glitter tape and stamped with '2013'.
His head may be too big, and his eyes are too far apart (my hands shook badly the day I glued those on), but I kind of like him!
Next up: Valentine's Day. I already have an idea. Bring on the balsa wood!
Meanwhile, the cats had little use for the holidays.
This project, as with all my projects, was developed with the best of intentions. I thought, The Troll collects snowmen, so by golly, I'll make him a snowman! (It's true, he does buy snowman mugs, pencils, etc. during Christmas. I collect penguins. It works for us.) It's not a difficult shape! I have polymer clay! I AM A CRAFTER, HEAR ME ROAR.
The snowman was formed, baked, glued, coated in two coats of gesso, and glittered. A dozen pieces of fabric, ribbon, and lace were tested for the perfect scarf. Swarovski crystals were specially purchased for the eyes and buttons. A stack of dollhouse miniature log piles were disassembled for the arms. Extra glitter was added to the little tree. The round base paper was cut three times for a perfect fit, and it, too, was layered with large-flake glitter. The glass dome was carefully Windexed inside and out.
And that flag pole? Oh man, THAT FLAG POLE. Toothpicks were too thin, straws were too thick, so Dad brought me coffee stirrers from his office. They were white with a red stripe. I tried covering them with gesso, white out, acrylic paint, printing ink, micro glitter... no matter the combination, it just looked sloppier. So I gold leafed it. (By the way, gold leafing a coffee stirrer is 879% harder than you think. Don't try it at home without professional guidance.) The flag was sized four times to fit inside the dome. It was bordered with red glitter tape and stamped with '2013'.
His head may be too big, and his eyes are too far apart (my hands shook badly the day I glued those on), but I kind of like him!
Next up: Valentine's Day. I already have an idea. Bring on the balsa wood!
Meanwhile, the cats had little use for the holidays.