Use Styrofoam and a box to make this vintage looking Santa. Perfect to hold small gifts in!

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What you need

1 small cardboard box
Printed paper (bricks)
Instant paper mache’ mixture
1 Egg shaped styrofoam ball
1 Round Styrofoam ball-(cut in 1/2)
Wooden dowel
Craft paints – red, white, blue, flesh, black
Can of spray paint-red
Raw wool, or rabbit fur, yarn, for beard and hair
Cotton batting ( spray painted red)
Sandpaper
Thick white glue

Instructions

DIY Vintage Santa Gift Box

There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about an old-fashioned Santa with rosy cheeks, expressive eyes and a slightly untidy beard. I love Christmas decorations that look as though they have a story behind them, especially when they double as somewhere to hide a small present.

This vintage Santa gift box is a lovely project to work on slowly, adding a little character with each stage. Don’t worry about making his face perfectly symmetrical. A raised eyebrow or a slightly crooked smile can be the detail that makes him yours.

For a coordinated Christmas display, pair your finished box with our country wooden Santa. Both suit that cosy, collected-over-the-years decorating style.

Instructions

1. Decorate the Box

Cover the box sides with brick-patterned paper. Paint exposed areas and line the interior if desired. Keep the lid edges clear enough to close comfortably.

2. Prepare the Foam Shapes

Use an egg-shaped foam piece for the head and half a round foam ball for the shoulders. An adult should cut the foam.

3. Sculpt the Face

Glue a dowel into the head as a working handle. Cover with prepared paper pulp; dry fully. Add small amounts to form cheeks, nose, eyebrows and chin. Dry again.

4. Paint Santa

Paint the skin, eyes and eyebrows. Keep paint layers light. Practise the eye details on scrap paper before painting the face.

5. Assemble the Bust

Shorten the dowel to join the head securely to the shoulders without protruding underneath. Cover and paint the shoulders red.

6. Create an Aged Finish

Once dry, lightly sand selected painted areas. Work gently so you soften the finish without exposing the foam.

7. Attach Santa

Glue the shoulders’ flat underside to the removable lid. Support upright until secure.

8. Add Hair and Hat

Glue on wool hair and beard. Fit a red fabric or batting hat with a white brim and pompom. Using red fabric avoids painting the batting.

Let everything dry thoroughly before adding small gifts. Keep edible treats individually wrapped.