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Terra-cotta pots are very inexpensive and are a wonderful medium to use for crafts. Christmas time is an excellent time to decorate and celebrate.

Shelf-sitters have become a tradition and they are extremely fun because elves can come and move them around the house. These can help ensure the idea of Christmas magic. The smallest terra-cotta pot is the one that best suits for shelf-sitter, but a bigger version of any of these can be made with bigger pots. They sit nicely on the front porch as well.

~ Elf Shelf-sitter
Supplies:
*smallest terra-cotta pot
*2 1/2 inch wooden ball
*felt: red, green, flesh tone
*acrylic paint flesh, green.,white
*paint brush
*fine tip markers, black, blue
*two decorative flat buttons
*glue
*scissors

Instructions:
1. Paint the complete outside and bottom of the terra-cotta pot green. Allow to dry.
2. Paint the entire wooden ball with the flesh tone paint. Allow to dry.
3. With red felt cut a collar to fit between the wooden ball head and terra-cotta body. A six pointed star works well, or something that resembles a holly leaf.
4. Using the flesh tone felt cut out small arms with mitten shape arms. Cut two pointed elf ears.
5. Glue a strip of red felt as a cuff above the mitten shape hand and a strip of green as the shirt sleeve on each arm.
6. Now the assembly begins. Glue the wood ball head to the bottom of the up turned pot. Allow to dry.
7. Cut a slit in the collar and glue on the flat bottom of the pot around the base of the head.
8. Glue the felt ears to the head.
9. Draw on the face with markers using the ears as a guide. A dot of white is a good way to start the eyes. The rest of the face can easily be drawn on with fine point markers
10. Glue the arms to the pot.
11. Glue buttons to the pot.
12. Make a pointed hat with a circle of red felt.

This little elf is ready to sit.


~ Penguin
These are just fun winter animals and can fit into a number of displays. The instructions are not that different than the elf. Once you get the basic process, lack of imagination may be the only thing that stops creation.

The big difference with the penguin is using stiffened felt for the arms, scarf and such. Those limbs and accessories need to stick out and hold their own.

~ Snowman
This snowman is fun because it adds a different texture. Use the same terra-cotta pot (or any size you'd like, in fact, a snowman family is always fun). The head this time will by a styrofoam ball.
Supplies:
*terra-cotta clay pot
*white acrylic paint
*textured snow paint
*styrofoam ball
*felt hat to fit the the ball
*small scarf
*embellishments
*glue

The basic snowman is made by painting the terra-cotta pot completely with the white acrylic paint. It may take two coats. Make sure it is white and allow it to dry.

Glue the Styrofoam ball on the bottom of the upturned pot for the head. Allow it to dry completely.

Paint the entire structure with textured snow paint and allow to dry for 24 hours.

Glue on the hat, make the face, place the scarf and add any other embellishments to make the snowman unique.

For a fun soldier check out these instructions.

A new use for an old pot is always a welcome friend. How about painting them and using them as a utensil holder in the kitchen? The ideas will just keep coming.

Learn more about this author, Trenna Sue Hiler.
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