Meet My Snow People!

I've seen these lil' sock snow people for years at craft shows and online but never had time to make any.

But this year I vowed to get some made for the upcoming holidays...and I'm a sucker for snowmen too!

I just don't like the ACTUAL cold snow stuff ;)

So there are lots of instructions online but thought I'd do a brief synopsis with tips on how I made mine for you all!  

Best of all these cost me ZERO dollars to make...other than the bag of rice which was $4...I used old socks and supplies from my craft room!

*AND*

They are NO SEW folks...good news for me because I hate to sew LOL!

Ingredients for Snow People:

Crew Socks

Old/New Patterned Socks or old sweaters/shirts

Rubberbands

Scissors

Bag of Rice

Straight Pins

Buttons

Embellishments of your choice

**disclaimer: obvs these are NOT made to be toys for wee ones**

Crew Socks work best for the body of the snow people...I had a pack of crew socks that Riley deemed "too tight" (whatever that means) and it was just lingering in the closet because I'd never taken them back.  So I snatched it right up for this project.  If you are buying socks make SURE THE TOES ARE NOT COLORED...some socks have gray or yellow toes and that's not what you want if you end up using the toe for a hat!

Step #1:  Cut the leg part off of the sock so the foot/toe is separate

Step 2:  Turn the sock you cut off inside out and grab a rubber band and 

twist it on the top part of the sock...as far up as you can manage.  Then turn the sock out again so the rubber band is now inside the sock...got that?

TIP:  I'm messy pouring rice and I didn't have any helpers so I poured my rice into

a slim glass, stuck the sock over it and flipped it over...NO MESS.  You could also use a large funnel too.  Because if you spill all that rice, well folks you got a big mess to clean up :)

Step 4:  Fill that sock up with rice, smooshing it down each time till you get it filled out nicely.  Remember you want the bottom to be nice, round & plump ;)

Step 5:  So you end up with this...a gourd shape...squish the rice around to make the shape.  Then use another rubberband to secure the top, again as close to the end as you can.

(Tip: I trimmed off the top after I rubberbanded it so it wasn't so much sticking up)

Step 6:  Then take your 3rd rubberband and twist it around the center, creating the head and bottom of snowman.  Don't worry about the rubberbands because you are gonna cover them up real soon!

TIP:  Roll your sock when you're done with a lint-roller to clean off any fuzzies or strings.

And then you decorate them to your heart's desire---this is the FUN part!

It only took me 1 hour to make all 3 of these Snow People.

I used stick-on pearls for their eyes and noses...some I left off the noses just to be different.

But you could use straight pins with beads on the end just as easily.  

The scarf here was made with parts of an old sock as well...I just cut a long piece off of a kneesock and tied it around his neck and trimmed the edges for a frayed look...super easy.  I added a straight pin in the center of the scarf so it doesn't come off or untied but you could use glue too.  The buttons were put on with fabric glue but you could sew them if you wanted...glue is easier though, just sayin' :)

Their caps were all made with other socks...I just cut off the toes of some old socks, rolled the edges and plopped them on their heads.  I used white pom-poms to finish off the top of each hat..adhered with fabric glue.  This one I added a holly cutout with a punch & some pearl berries from my crafty stash.

This one got a different scarf treatment and the cap is from a fuzzy old sock I had.  But the scarf and hat trim were made from some leftover fabric I had and then I frayed the edges.  Don't spend $$ on materials, look around your house for things that you can use...I have old flannel shirts, jeans, socks, etc that I store in a small bin and use for craft projects and its FREE!

This lovely pink lady is my fave, I love the soft colors...her scarf and cap are made from an old sock as well.  Then I punched a few snowflakes out of white cardstock, grabbed some paper flowers from my stash and glued them all on to embellish. I love the addition of the sparkly button and pom-pom on her cap too!

So now you know how to do it, its a quick and easy project...perfect to do with elementary school aged children too!  Before you know it you can have a whole snow family made.  Let your imagination run WILD with the possibilities!  I'm gonna buy some cream socks to make more vintage snow people with some burlap and tea-dyed fabrics...will share those when I'm done!

Happy Crafting!

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I'm entering these guys into the following fab Linky Parties:

Family Fun Friday
Domestic Superhero
Savvy Southern Style
The DIY Dreamer
Practically Functional/The Fun In Functional 
The Dedicated House (anything blue friday)
Making HomeBase
What's Cooking With Ruthie
Holiday Idea Exchange
Six Sisters Stuff
That's What {Che} Said
Making Monday
A Bowl Full of Lemons
Cedar Hill Farmhouse - The Scoop
Awesome Things Tuesday

Commona-My House - Give Me The Goods
Common Ground
Thirty Handmade Days - Party Bunch
Hi Sugarplum / Holiday Cheer

Thrifty Upcycle - Framed DIY Whiteboards

Dorm White Boards

These cool whiteboards are gifts for my daughter and her two BFFs to go in their College Bags they will each receive upon graduation in the spring that I'm filling up.  You can see other posts about those bags and what's inside HERE and HERE!

I love chalkboards, whiteboards, message boards...anything you can personalize and leave messages on basically.  Back in July we got a dorm-decor magazine in the mail since (save my life I cannot find it ugh) and we now get all kinds of college stuff in the mail since Alexa registered for schools LOL...enough to paper a village.  And they had the cutest dorm whiteboards in funky frames that I knew the girls would love!  Heck I love them for myself and plan on making one for me too :) 

PROBLEM was...they were $65-75 each...OMGeee..way too much!

But as I looked at them I realized how easy & cheap they'd be to make myself...or as Alexa says "You say that about everything"...well its true.  If its doable, not too hard and cheaper WHY NOT I say!

So I set out to do it the cheapest and best way I could!

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My spray paint friend handle grip...this one was $2 at Lowes and is made by Rustoleum.

It slips right over your spray can and makes it so much easier...less stress on your hand muscles which for me is a HUGE blessing.  And it gives a nice even spray as well.

I got this frame for $3 at the local Thrift Shop..it had the glass and back on it still and in perfect shape.

Thrift stores have the BEST deals on large, beautiful frames and I loved the oval shape.

I really love Rustoleum's 2x Ultracover---its good on metal, wood, plastic, wicker, etc.

And it covers great with only a few coats and you can put the can upside down and it STILL sprays..awesome.  

TIP: Hobby Lobby and other craft stores NOW sell spray paint and its around $4-5 retail..but use those 40-50% off store coupons from the paper, apps or online to get them cheaper.

Three coats was all this gold frame needed and its perfectly covered & shiny!

Love it!

For my boards you actually write right on the glass in the frames...yup dry erase markers work GREAT on glass too and wipe clean easily.

So I traced the oval onto white cardstock, cut out and added it behind the frame. And did the same for the other frame too.

You could use a fun print paper or different color if you choose too...its always up to you!

Remember this post?  See the framed picture in the lower left corner?

I got it for $3 because the back of the frame had a lot of damage...but I had OTHER ideas for it so I didn't care!

So I took it all apart and got rid of that nasty backing and cleaned the glass really good.

I traced the old backing onto thick black cardstock so the back is now streamlined and nice.

Tape your glass off really good or take it out if you can.

Then it got 3 coats of purty hot pink Rustoleum 2x spray paint.

Let it dry and peel off tape and clean glass if needed.

READ your spray paint can directions because each brand is different.

Some you need to add your extra coats within a minute or two.  Some require you wait.

If you don't follow directions you could get tacky or bubbly paint...I warned ya!

From a $3 Frame to a fun & funky whiteboard!!  And its EASY!

I used ribbon I had on hand (cost $0) and hot glued it to the inside of each frame before putting the back of the frame on...so between the hot glue and the frame backing it clinches the ribbon tightly.  Then I tied the ribbon around each marker (under the clip) and used hot glue to add a dot to the underside to keep them more secure.  Easily peeled off when ready to switch them out though.

I picked up these mini whiteboard markers by "The Board Dudes" at Staples...with a coupon I got the pack for just under $3...great deal!  The are the perfect size for these whiteboards.  They are magnetic as well but I wanted the markers to hang from the whiteboard since they will be hanging on dorm room doors.  Too easy for kids to snatch the markers if they are only stuck on with magnets KWIM?

The gold frame has an easel back so it can be set up on a flat surface.  However these were meant to be hung up on walls or doors so I had to retrofit them a bit.  I bought picture hooks and added those to the back of both frames.  The one square frame had a different picture hanger on back that would not work with a Command Hook so that got taken off and a new hook added. Then I bought some 3M Command Hooks that are clear and medium sized so that the girls can put the boards on their doors or walls...they will easily come off with no damage when they need to be.  Make sure to buy hooks that can hold some weight...these will hold up to 2 lbs so they are perfect!

These would be cute on a desk, wall, door...you name it!

Go for smaller frames and make mini versions.

Oh yeah I have ALL kinds of ideas for some frames I have :)

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I'm entering this into the following Linky Parties:

Life Inspired

Give Me the Goods Monday

The Hankful House - Get Your DIY On

Home Stories A-Z

DIY Dreamer 

Savvy Southern Style

That's What Che Said - Monday Funday

Stone Gable - Tutorials & Tips

Domestic SuperHero

Blissful & Domestic

The Fun in Functional

Making Homebase

Life on Lakeshore Drive -Bouquet of Talent

A Bowl Full of Lemons - One Project at a Time

Golden Mirror!

Thrifty UpCycle

I've shared my love of "junkin" as I call it...visiting thrift stores, antique stores, Habitat Humanity ReStores.  I'm always looking for a few things but they must be fairly inexpensive..that means once I buy it and fix it up it should be cheaper than anything I can buy already done or just better period.  That's the THRILL for me...making an item into something fabulous on the CHEAP.  

We call that a "thrifty upcycle"...so you are basically recycling and renewing an item..and saving money...and helping Mother Earth.

I got this beauty for $10 at a junk store in Purcellville while visiting my buddy Marti last week.

I love the size and the ironwork in the frame of this mirror.  I knew it would be even more

beautiful with some metallics added...really make it SHINE!

So I taped off the mirror well and set it up in my Spray Box...a UPS box split open on one side.

Its rustic but it works well...don't knock it ;)

This mirror only took 3 coats of the Rust-o-leum Aged Bronze Spray.

I didn't go with Gold because it just was TOO...TOO much know what I mean?

Too gold and shiny for where I wanted to put it anywho.

And this is that mirror now...beautifully metallic in Aged Bronze and fits in with all my other accessories!

This is my foyer table area and I've been looking for something to hang here for the longest time.

I used to have a floral picture but I got sick of it and gave it away...I don't have a pic of that sorry.

But my demilune table from Ethan Allen has bronzed/gold paint in it and I picked that up with my lamp, picture frame, urn and Metallic Pumpkins (that I made HERE).

I didn't want anything overpowering for this space, something pretty and that reflected the beautiful

light we get in the front of the house.  This mirror was perfect!

And for a total of $14 ($10 mirror + $4 spray paint) I think I got a good deal!!

Just to compare look at these similar mirrors for much, much more...makes me even happier with mine:

$199 at Lamps Plus

$129 at FleaPop

$50 at Etsy

Have you transformed a thrifty buy lately?


I'm entering this into the following linky parties:

The Hankful House (get your diy on)
Domestic Superhero 
Transformation Thursday

Funky Junky Interiors - Party Junk