Upcycling Santa. . .

Hello my friends,

Craft group #2 met today and what a fun time we had!

 

Some of us attended, "Glitterfest", an up scaled artisan sale in Anaheim, CA last month.

 

There we saw lots of vintage Santas that had been upcycled.

 

 

That's when we decided it would be fun to do some upcycling of our own for our November craft day.

 

What does it mean to upcycle Santa?  To take him to a whole other level.  You know, dress him up, play with him a little.

 

If you ask 'google', they'll tell you this:

 

What Is Upcyling?

Upcycling is the process of converting old or discarded materials into something useful and often beautiful. For example: 

--Unraveling a wire clothes hanger to break into your car to rescue your keys = not upcycling
--Stretching out a wire clothes hanger then tying strips of a plastic bag around it to make a wreath = upcycling!

Upcycling gives an item a better purpose. And while jimmying the lock on your car to is giving that hanger a new purpose, it’s not necessarily better or more beautiful. And the mangled hanger is likely destined for the trash, which is the opposite intent of upcycling.

 

Ann and I had fun upcycling old Santa mugs.

 

 

We tucked in $2 trees from Wal-mart that we brushed with modge podge and sprinkled with glitter.

Then we added a few baubles.  Ann glued hers in like ornaments and I draped mine like a garland.  A flocked bell, red seam binding, and faux holly were added to the top.  I placed a knee hugger elf on the side and let him hold a shiny red ornament.

 

What a quick and easy upcycle!

 

 

Shirley covered a paper mache box with fun striped paper and added her dancing Santa. Using Sno Flock she stood him in a bed of snow.  glittery snowballs and wonderful icicle trim (also found at Wal-mart) add to the frosty feel.

 

 

I saw this idea at Glitterfest.  Knowing that I had a large tart tin I couldn't wait to play with it! 

 

I modge podged a piece of paper to the top of the tin.  I ended up pretty much covering it up.  :)  I found the sitting Santa last year in Oregon.  When I came across the little reindeer I knew Santa had to take him for a ride.  I gave the large tree the same treatment as the one in the Santa mug.  I also added a couple of bleached, and dyed pink bottle brush trees I made last year.  Shirley had the house in a tote that she called her, "crate o' crap".  Crate of fab crap if you ask me!  Ha, ha! The little tree was attached to the house and was a bright green.  I covered it in modge podge and then added teal green glitter.

To elevate the house I placed it on a mini tart tin that I covered with Sno-flock.  Tinsel, white glitter, and icicle trim were added around the edges.



 

I will place it on a candlestick, (or something) for a base.  Gotta find the perfect item!

 

Kimi was a girl with a mission. . .Using treasures from Shirley's tote she created all kinds of cute 'upcycles'.  She is in the process of moving and could not get to her own craft supplies.  Shirley was a doll to share so many fun goodies!

 



Yes, she created all of these in a matter of hours.  Her daughter owns a darling shop called, "Retro Betty's".  Kimi makes super cute things for her to sell there!

 

Upcycling is a great way to turn 'trash' into 'treasures'.  Not to mention how fun it is!!

 

hugs,

Jann

I will be sharing with these fun parties:
Vintage Charm
Thoughts of Home