Vintage Santa Ornaments

The lovely Kathy of Kathy's Cottage
is hosting Handmade Holiday
on her blog today.






Looking out my window, I spotted pine cones decorating my lawn. I wished that there was something new I might create using these gifts from nature. Later I was going to search through some Christmas magazines for ideas.





When we decorated the tree at Grandma's house, my favorite, favorite ornaments were the Santas. They had felt coats and paper faces decorated with glitter and tinsel. They were so fragile, and I can still remember the thrill of hanging these from each branch.



The other day I was in a beautiful shop. I spotted new ornaments that were made to look just like Grandma’s, only they had used a generously glittered pine cone for the base. I knew just what I was going to do with the pine cones decorating my front lawn.



First I took glitter and put it into a bowl, the second bowl was filled with glue. I used some bookbinding glue I had on hand. I suspect good old Elmer’s would have done the trick.



I tied a piece of wire around the pine cone to make it easy to coat with glue and glitter and so that I could hang it to dry. Cocoa loves crafting.


I drenched the pine cone with the glue, using a spoon to pour glue on every visible bit.



Then I sprinkled glitter on the pine cone the same way, using a spoon to cover every visible bit.



Then I hung the wet pine cones to dry, Sam stood guard.



I hung them from the basket of pine cones outside.


When the pine cones were dry, I proceeded to design my Santa toppers. First I tied the tinsel cord around the first pine cone and made sure it hung okay. Then I cut my Pink Santa in half, right beneath his cloak. Draping a piece of material over his shoulders I created the cape, and secured it with double sided tape.


I cut Pink Santa’s beard so that it could stick out of the cape.



When I went to add my finished topper, I grabbed the glitter rope and brought it up through his new cape, so that I could hang the ornament.

I added a bit of glitter around his face so it looked very Vintage, and a bit of fuzz for his beard.





Out of the same material, I cut the shape for the back of Santa's head. I secured one side using tape to the material and the glitter rope, then the other side to the back of his head. The glitter rope was sandwiched in between. Then I tucked the end into the cape.



Oh, I just couldn’t resist. So, I added a bit of trim using double sided tape, and then I just had to add a sack. What Santa travels without a good sack?



Popping in a bit of greenery,



I made him look almost like Grandma’s Santas.



I know, I know, the possibilities are endless.



Especially for you ladies who sew, I can only imagine how you will take this idea and create elaborate costumes. I think one with a little Christmas tree in his sack would be so charming.



You can use a Vintage Santa face from a favorite image, or if you would like, you can take home a Santa kit available on my etsy shop.




So here I sit, covered in bits of glitter, good wishes and sipping a cup of Grandma’s favorite tea...she would approve. Wishing you lots and lots of Grandma Santa creativity.



The song for this post is Santa Claus is Coming To Town. For this project I bought some Martha Stewart glitter in white gold. I experimented with glass glitter, but I liked the Vintage effect better. The tinsel cord is sold in most craft shops, you can also use ribbon.

Grandma's Christmas Tree is available on my Etsy shop.

These Santa kits come with several different size tags and prints for your crafts, framing or Santa projects. Printed on dreamy Museo II fine art paper.



Red Santa kit on etsy.


Pink Santa kit on etsy.

The song for this post is Santa is Coming to Town.