Tree Decoration – Whimsical Santa Christmas Ball

This whimsical Santa ornament uses minimal painting and sewing skills, making this appropriate for even the most novice of crafters. Don't let the simplicity fool you though, the finished result looks very professional and will become a hot seller at holiday craft shows.

What you need

2-inch red Christmas ball
Craft glue
Flesh, red, black and white acrylic paints
Paintbrush
Blush and cotton swab
Wooden barbecue skewer
White, curly craft hair
Scissors
Ruler
Hot glue gun
Red fabric, scrap
White faux fur, scrap
Straight pins
Sewing machine
Needle and thread
1/2-inch white pompom
Red embroidery floss and embroidery needle

Instructions

Old glass Christmas ball ornaments or boxes of cleaned ball ornaments from the previous year are just screaming for a handmade transformation. The color of the balls set the stage for their new identity.

Remove the metal collar on a red, 2-inch diameter Christmas ball. Apply craft glue around the open neck of the ball. Replace the collar.

Paint a 1-inch circle on the side of the ball using flesh-colored acrylic paint. The circle (face) shape need not be perfect as the edges will be covered up as the ornament progresses. Allow the paint to dry.

Apply two 1/4-inch cheeks to the center of the face using blush and a cotton swab.

Dip the blunt end of a wooden barbecue skewer in red acrylic paint. Dot a red nose in the center of the circle for Santa’s nose. Dip the blunt end of the skewer in black acrylic paint. Dot two eyes above the nose. Allow the paint to dry. Dip the pointed tip of the skewer in white acrylic paint and dot a highlight on each eye. Allow the paint to dry.

Briskly rub a palm-size amount of white, curly craft hair between your hands to fluff and bind the curls together. Pull the hair into a length approximately 6 inches long. Apply hot glue around the edges of the painted face. Lay the length of hair in the glue, completely surrounding the face.

Cut a 5-inch wide by 8-inch long rectangle from red fabric for Santa’s hat. Cut a 1/2-inch wide by 8-inch long strip of white faux fur for the hat brim.

Fold the red fabric in half with the right sides together and the short edges matching. Pin the short edges together. Sew the pinned edges using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. You now have a tube. Do not turn the tube right side out.

Hand-sew a running stitch, 1/4 inch from the edge, around one open end of the tube. Pull the thread to gather the end close. Knot and cut the thread. Turn the hat right side out.

Fold over the open edge a 1/2 inch to the outside. Fold over another 1/2 inch. This is the base for the hat brim.

Apply hot glue along base of the hat brim. Lay the fur strip in the glue, with the ends of the strip lined up with the seam on the back of the hat. Trim off the excess fur at the end. Apply a dot of hot glue to the top of the hat. Place a 1/2-inch white pompom in the glue.

Place the hat on the Santa ball with the seam in the back. Adjust the hat as desired. Insert the tip of your craft glue bottle under the edge of the hat brim and apply glue around the head. Allow the glue to dry.

Thread red embroidery floss onto an embroidery needle. Feeling through the hat fabric, locate the wire hanger of the ball ornament. Insert the needle into the fabric, through the ring of the wire and back out of the fabric. Cut the ends of the floss 4 inches long on each side of the ring. Bring the ends together and tie into an overhand knot 1 inch from the end.

All done!