Hello! Welcome back to this week’s How To… and this week we have even MORE Christmas Elves. I just couldn’t resist. The basic elf is the same as the ones I showed you a couple of weeks ago, but your materials are slightly different.
This time instead of gumnuts and pine cones I used the “Japanes Lantern” fruit from the Physalis plant. It is a beauftiful beautiful orange and really reminds me of Autumn.
Physalis are a typical Autumn plant and I have seen them in a number of front gardens (I believe they may even be a weed!). They are delicate and yet strangely sturdy. And make a wonderful Autumn or Christmas craft material.
Materials: Felt, a little wool (unravelled), wooden bead, “lampionblume” (Physalis plant), ribbon, paint & brush, hot glue gun or wood glue.
1) Cut out your felt pieces. For the long pointy hat, you need a long triangle. The two long sides of mine are approx 7cm long. For the green collar, I cut a circle. Then made 8 cuts into and cut out 8 point “leaves”.
2) Unravelled you wool and take about 8 strands. With the hot glue gun, glue your hat and ribbon together and then add your “hair”. Before I glued the hair in place, I check against the wooden bead how it would look the nicests.
3) Assemble all your pieces and glue them in place with the hot glue gun – i.e. wooden bead to hair and hat, green collar to wooden bead, physalis to green collar.
4) Paint your face. I used acrylics, as they do not run into the grain of the wood.
Finished! I love them!!!
These little Christmas Elves sure will stand out on the Christmas Tree!
Nicki Cawood says
November 11, 2011 at 9:51 amOh they look gorgeous! Definitely one for our Christmas to-do list. I can see this being a very busy festive season! Now where will I find physalis?!
Red Ted Art says
November 11, 2011 at 11:23 amAh yes.. the Physalis… you can make them with pine cones though, am sure they would look lovely too!!!
Karen @ Feral Turtle says
November 11, 2011 at 2:01 pmAhhhhh Those are so cute. I used to grow Japanese lanterns in my yard. I might have to get some more plants in the spring.
Red Ted Art says
November 11, 2011 at 2:17 pmOooh what a bonus to grow them yourself!
made by ewe says
November 11, 2011 at 3:42 pmThese are great and such a lovely colour with the physalis – just right for a grey autumn day
Muminator says
November 11, 2011 at 4:27 pmThese are lovely! I’m going to try and make some with my little boy, they’ll sit perfectly on the Christmas Tree.
Red Ted Art says
November 11, 2011 at 4:40 pmMade by Ewe – oh yes, I love the contrast to autumn days!
Muminator – hooray! Have fun!
Chris at Thinly Spread says
November 11, 2011 at 8:26 pmMaggy, these are GORGEOUS! I have popped them on my ‘really want to have a go at this’ list, Thanks so much for linking to Festive Friday on Thinly Spread! x
Red Ted Art says
November 11, 2011 at 8:29 pmAaaah thank you Chris. I was rather pleased with them too….
The Real Supermum says
November 11, 2011 at 10:15 pmWhat an fantastic blog,These would be great to make with the children something that would get them all involved.Keep up the good work.
Little Wonders' Days says
November 12, 2011 at 12:20 pmThose are ridiculously cute! Thank you for a wonderful tutorial.
Red Ted Art says
November 12, 2011 at 12:28 pmThank you 🙂 *BEAM*
Carrie @ Crafty Moms Share says
November 12, 2011 at 2:35 pmThank you for sharing at Crafty Moms Share Sharing Saturday!! These are adorable!!
Becky from babybudgeting says
November 13, 2011 at 4:45 pmI love these ! They are adorevble you should take a photo and pop on cards for Christmas
Red Ted Art says
November 13, 2011 at 5:34 pmNow there is an idea Becky!!!
Mummy..Mummy..MUM!! says
November 13, 2011 at 10:59 pmThey are sooo cute! I love them. x
The Outlaw Mom says
November 16, 2011 at 12:28 amEek! These are so cute. Hey, btw, I didn’t realize your tweets were telling me your comments were in my spam folder on the blog – thought the tweets were spam 🙂 Taken care of it!
Margot says
November 17, 2011 at 11:55 amAbsolutely adorable!!
I think I will try to make them, if I find red physalis…
Only yesterday I finished making advent calendar for my daughter and found this article in search for some more ideas.
Becky says
November 18, 2011 at 3:55 pmThese are adorable, thanks for linking up at Beyond the Picket Fence.