Tags: #swedish #tomte #tomten #christmas #elves #tutorial #crafts #decor #paper #mache #diy
Supply List:
acrylic craft paint
1.9 inch (48 mm) floral foam balls
Activa CelluClay
water
wide furry ribbon (or furry fabric)
scrap red fleece
white embroidery thread or any other desired embellishments
sewing machine with thread or fabric glue
masking tape
plastic knife
newspaper
scrap cardboard from an old box
hot glue gun and glue sticks
Steps:
First I mixed up my paper clay. With Activa CelluClay you simply add water and kneed to make air dry, paper mache clay. It's quick to make with less mess, it works great, it's affordable and made from 100% recycled paper. Talk about a game changer! I totally fell in love with it!
First I mixed up my paper clay. With Activa CelluClay you simply add water and kneed to make air dry, paper mache clay. It's quick to make with less mess, it works great, it's affordable and made from 100% recycled paper. Talk about a game changer! I totally fell in love with it!
First a drew up a simple dome shape for the body. I then traced it on a flap from and old shipping box and cut it out. Next I started padding the cutout (on both sides) with crumpled newspaper adding a little hot glue to help hold in place. I then wrapped the entire body in paper masking tape to help it hold its form.
I hot glued a round foam ball to the top to make the head and another piece of cardboard (cut in a circle) to the bottom to make it stand easier.
Next I covered the entire form in the paper clay using a damp plastic knife to smooth the clay. I rolled a small ball of clay, added it to the center of the "head" to create a nose and allowed it to dry.
Lots of the things like weather and the thickness of the clay can effect drying time. You can also use a hair dryer on the project to help speed drying time. Just make sure the clay is completely dry prior to adding paint.
Once the clay was dry I painted using acrylic craft paint.
Additional Information On Supplies:
Some of the products I used are available at Amazon via the affiliate picture links below.




Lots of the things like weather and the thickness of the clay can effect drying time. You can also use a hair dryer on the project to help speed drying time. Just make sure the clay is completely dry prior to adding paint.
Once the clay was dry I painted using acrylic craft paint.
Once again I was really impressed with the clay. It held the paint well and dried quickly.
To make the hat, I cut two triangles from the fleece, stitched a little design on the front of one and sewed it close down both sides.
I used a sewing machine to close the sides but you could always hand stitch or use fabric glue.
I then cut out a beard from the furry ribbon....
and hot glued it to the face.
Next I secured the hat to the head using hot glue and I was all done.
I'm super happy how he turned out! Paper (or papier) mache is indeed the best kept secret in crafting and home decor. Many people think that it's either just for kids and for someone with major sculpting skills. That is NOT the case at all. You can make virtually anything out of paper mache and it is super easy to use! I love it because your really don't HAVE to sculpt. You just create a base, cover it and done!
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and Sweden's Greetings, my friends!
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Tutorial: How to Make an Easy Swedish Christmas Paper Mache Tomte
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Additional Information On Supplies:
Some of the products I used are available at Amazon via the affiliate picture links below.
topics: #paper #mache #papier #crafts #paper #recycled #upcycled #diy #tutorial #Christmas #home #Swedish #tomte #tomten #decor
Very cute! I just recently subscribed to your Website and am working on a "dala" horse thanks to your great instructions. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWooo hoo! That's awesome! I would love to see a pic!
DeleteI know it is easy to do, but i didn't know it was that simple and so effortless.lol
ReplyDeleteIt really is!!! It truly is the best kept secret. It's not hard at all!
DeleteThat is awesome! This will make a great craft for me to do with my kids. <3
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! So glad you like!
DeleteThis is so cute! I need to make a couple of them! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGo for it Kimberly and thank you so much!
DeleteI have never even heard of this before but it is so cute and I really want to try it.
ReplyDeleteGo for it! It's lots of fun.
DeleteThis is really nice and very creative. I love mixing traditions as my husband and I are multicultural so it is nice to have Christmas traditions with our little one.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly why I do it too! I want my kids to be able to experience both of their family traditions! :)
DeleteThis would be fun to use. I wonder what my boys would create?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! This is a great project for kiddos!
DeletePS It was my Mom who got me started as a kid with paper mache.
DeleteOh that turned out so cute. I love it! That clay worked super well.
ReplyDeleteIt truly does! It's a total game changer for me. I plan to use it with all my paper mache projects going forward.
DeleteHahha this is beyond cute! What a great little craft idea for Christmas :)
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh I love this! How cute.
ReplyDeleteThese are adorable! I had no idea they were Swedish either, my cousin makes these sometimes
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun project to make!!! These are adorable, I never knew they were Swedish!
ReplyDeleteThat clay is amazing and it seems pretty easy to use. This came out really cute!
ReplyDeleteThese is very creative things to do. I would love to try to do this with my kids.
ReplyDeleteThat's really cute. I love it! I may have to go and make one too!
ReplyDeleteAww!!! How adorable is this! I love the outcome, and there's no doubt that you can make a lot of different designs too! It's really nice!
ReplyDeleteAw this paper mache tomte is adorable , I had no idea that it was a Swedish tradition! Looks so good x
ReplyDeleteOh how fun is this craft! I love that it's not that difficult to make! I'd definitely make this!
ReplyDeleteYou got a talent. I showednthis one to my daughter and she said she would want to try it out herself too. :)
ReplyDeleteThis Swedish mache tomte is so cute. Thanks for sharing the procedure, I will try it soon.
ReplyDelete