Unique Folk Art Santa

The holidays are all about tradition.  Create your own family heirloom with STYROFOAM™ Brand foam and air-dry clay.  You’ll cherish him for years to come!

Completion time – 2-4 hours

Materials

STYROFOAM Brand Foam

Ball, 1-1/2"

Disc, 3" x 1"

Egg, 4"

Other Materials

Acrylic paints: black; cream; fleshtone; red

Air-dry modeling compound, one package

Gloss-finish varnish

Black cardstock, one 12" x 12" sheet

Antique silver glitter

Wool felt: black; natural; red

Natural wool roving

Pink cream cosmetic blush

Mini Christmas light bulb strand

Floral tape

Paper-covered floral wire

Tools

Pencil

Ruler

Wooden items: toothpicks; skewer

Small, clay-dedicated roller

Paintbrushes: fine liner; 1/2" flat

Disposable palette

Water basin

Paper towels

Scissors: standard; pinking-edge paper cutters

Sewing needle

Thread: red; white button

Sandpaper

Wire cutters

Matte-finish dcoupage medium

Low-temp glue gun and glue sticks

Foam glue

Optional: Sewing machine

Instructions

1. Trace foam disc onto black cardstock; cut out with pinking

scissors and set aside.

2. Insert two toothpicks halfway into bottom of foam ball.

Apply glue to free ends of toothpicks and push into center of

narrow end of foam egg, creating Santa form.

3. Insert wooden skewer into center bottom of egg body.

Following manufacturer's instructions, roll large, thin sheets

of air-dry modeling compound. Using fingers, gently mold

modeling compound around Santa form to completely cover

surface. Continue adding bits of modeling compound as needed.

4. Roll two 1"-long logs, tapered at one end, for arms. Press

to Santa's body at shoulders; bend into "light hanging" shape

as shown. Smooth surface with wet fingers. Roll pea-sized ball

of modeling compound and press to face for nose.

5. Cut two 4" wire lengths and bend each into an "L" shape,

creating Santa's legs and feet. Wrap each wire with floral

tape, wrapping boot areas a bit more to create dimension and

texture. Insert wire ends into bottom of body, securing with

glue gun. Cover legs with bits of modeling compound, molding

bottoms into larger boots.

6. Place skewer in heavy glass or jar and let dry completely.

Gently sand all surfaces and wipe away dust with damp paper towel.

7. Holding skewer as a handle, use flat brush to paint Santa's

face fleshtone. Paint suit and tip of nose red. Paint mittens

and boots black. Place skewer in glass and let dry.

8. Refer to photo as a painting guide. Use liner brush to

paint red line for mouth. Use pencil tip to dot eyes black.

Use toothpick to dot each eye cream. Use liner to paint cream

eyebrows. Use finger to blush cheeks with cosmetic blush.

Place skewer in glass and let dry.

9. Apply one coat varnish to entire piece. Place skewer in

glass and let dry. Remove skewer.

10. Cut pattern as indicated. Fold hat in half, wrong sides

facing, and hand- or machine-sew 1/8"-wide hem along straight

edge using red thread. Turn hat right side out and use glue

gun to glue hat to head. Use button thread to tack top of hat

down to one side.

11. Glue small bits of roving to head and face for hair and

beard; glue thin strip of roving to face for mustache. Let dry.

12. Cut long, 1/4"-wide strips from black and natural wool

felt. Glue natural strips around tops of boots, down center of

coat, and around each mitten cuff. Glue black strip around

Santa's belly for belt. Cut small square from black wool felt

and glue to belt for buckle.

13. Trim hat with natural roving, spot gluing to secure. Roll

small ball of roving and glue to tip of hat for pom pom.

14. Use glue gun to glue Santa's feet to foam disc; support

Santa while glue dries. Paint disc and toe area of Santa's

boots with dcoupage medium; while wet, sprinkle with glitter

and shake off excess. Let dry.

15. Glue cardstock circle cut in Step 1 to bottom of glittered

disc. Glue bulb strand into Santa's hands. Glue several more

bulbs to disc near Santa's feet. Let dry. please enjoy the tutorial and give us any feedback.