Swivel-Head Snowman Sitter

Have you ever hidden a Christmas package only to discover that someone has tampered with it? Are you tired of finding new hiding places for presents? Do you have a package mover or shaker in your family?

Introducing the Swivel-Head Snowman Sitter. Simply set this cute snowman on any package as a gentle, but firm reminder to leave the gifts untouched. (Important fact: Swivel-Head Snowman Sitters come from the North Pole, so of course, they know Santa Claus.)

Remember, with a Swivel-Head Snowman Sitter, you can rest assured that your packages will be safe until Christmas!

Sculpey III polymer clay in white, red, green, orange, pink, black

Sculpey Gloss Glaze

small paintbrush

craft mat or acrylic sheet (smooth surface to roll out clay)

clay conditioning machine or acrylic roller

polymer clay tools (slicer blade, curved end tool, needle tool)

aluminum foil

5mm machine screws (1 set for each snowman sitter)

pencil

12" ruler

scissors

piece of felt material

kitchen oven or craft oven for baking

oven-safe glass baking dish - designated for clay use only!

wire cookie rack

2 oven mitts

Use #1 setting on conditioning machine.

Insert white polymer clay into machine multiple times until it is soft and pliable.

Roll out a flat, smooth piece of clay.

Using aluminum foil, roll a tight ball (about 1 1/2" in diameter) for the head.

Press down on ball to make a small flat spot. Wrap white clay around foil ball, cutting off excess. Smooth clay out with fingers.

Roll a piece of aluminum foil tightly to make an 8" long, rounded piece (about 1/2" wide).

Bend foil in towards center, about 3" on either side to make two arms.

Bend tips of arms up to form hands.

Tightly wrap strips of aluminum foil around straight section between the two arms to form a ball about 2" in diameter.

Roll an aluminum foil ball about 2 1/2" and flatten the bottom of the ball, so it won't roll.

Connect the mid-section with arms to the bottom foil ball by tearing thin foil strips and wrapping them around both sections until the balls are securely connected.

Using clay conditioning machine, roll out a large, smooth piece of clay.

Wrap white clay around the snowman's body and arms, leaving the upturned hands clay-free. Smooth any edges out with fingers.

Note: Dents in the clay-wrapped foil ball make the snowman appear hand-packed, so don't worry about getting the clay perfectly smooth.

Head:

In center of the head's base, use a pencil or curved end of clay tool to bore a small hole through clay and aluminum foil.

Push threaded end of larger screw into hole, leaving the flat, blunt tip flush with the clay's surface.

Body:

In center top of body (neck region), bore a small hole.

Push head of screw into clay hole, leaving most of the long, threaded screw visible.

Add a little extra clay to completely cover head of screw, securing it in an upright position.

Mittens:

Roll out a piece of green clay and cut out two identical pieces for each hand.

Sandwich the mittens between the turned-up ends of each arm. (Make sure that the thumbs are pointed inward.)

Smooth edges of mittens.

Buttons:

Roll out three black balls. Flatten and place on snowman's body.

Eyes: Roll 2 tiny, black balls.

Nose: Roll a small cone shape using orange clay. Score with needle tool to create "carrot" look.

Mouth: Roll a very thin black piece of clay.

Cheeks: Roll 2 tiny pink balls and flatten.

Place these features the head ball, leaving room for hat.

Hat:

Roll out a piece of red clay and cut a circle (about 2 1/2" in diameter).

Wrap the circle around front of head and cut off excess clay in back. Smooth edges with fingers.

To create knitted pattern, score clay hat from front to back and side-to-side.

Hat Band:

Roll out a 6" long and 1/2" wide strip of red clay.

Wrap strip about base of hat and cut off excess clay at back.

Using needle tool, score the band with vertical lines.

Pompom:

Roll white clay into a ball and put on top of hat.

Score for knitted look.

Place snowman's head and body on oven-safe glass dish and bake according to instructions on polymer clay package. (If using Sculpey III polymer clay, bake at 275 degrees F, 15 minutes for every 1/4" thickness of clay.)

After baking, remove hot glass dish from oven using oven mitts and set on wire rack.

Cool completely.

Using a small paintbrush, paint the entire snowman with Sculpey gloss glaze.

Let dry completely.

Head:

Screw head onto snowman's body. Leave the head loose enough so that it moves freely.

Scarf:

Using scissors, cut a thin strip of felt about 9" long and 1/2" wide.

For scarf fringe, make small cuts on ends of felt strip.

Wrap scarf loosely around snowman's neck.

Set snowman sitter on top of package and swivel head to desired position.

With Swivel-Head Snowman Sitters on "package watch", you can relax and enjoy the holidays!