Clay Pot Nutcrackers.

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A craft project using mini clay pot nutcrackers.  The mini clay pots were 3 for a $1.00 at the dollar store, paint I had in stock as was the black pipe cleaner. Three little nutcrackers for $5.00 and a little bit of work. How crazy but how fun.  And that my friends was the sum total of my blog post when I first started, Curt, to the point and followed by 12 horribly lite pictures.

Today I thought I might try to fluff up the post a little bit and take a few nicer pictures. I am by no means a great photographer but I have discovered lighting and background really matter. Showcasing these three guys in a better setting to help show how easy this craft is.

Holiday Crafts for the Kids

The perfect holiday craft for any ages.  The mini clay pots are the right size for even the smallest hands. A little bit of paint, a lot of imagination and you are set to begin.

I went with the traditional colours when I first created this trio but today I think a few unique Nutcrackers would be perfect. Maybe a pink for my living Room, silver for the bar cart.  The possibilities are endless.

If you had fun with this Dollar Store (Dollar General, Dollar Tree) craft I have a few more to share.  My Christmas Tree Sign was a favourite last year as were the Candy Cane Holders. 

Mini Clay pot Nutcrackers

A craft project using mini clay pot nutcrackers.  The mini clay pots were 3 for a $1.00 at the dollar store, paint I had in stock as was the black pipe cleaner. Three little nutcrackers for $5.00 and a little bit of work. How crazy but how fun. 

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Author: Linda

Equipment

• 6 mini clay pots
• acrylic paint, black, fleshtone, gold, two coordinating or contrasting colourspipe cleanerbellembellishments (eyes, buttons if you prefer)
• Glue Sticks
• glue gun
• paint brushes

Instructions

• wipe off the clay pots, remove any dust to make the painting go smoothly
• Priming is not necessary
• Paint one pot black for the hat and one a flesh colour for the face. You may want to create his face now before attaching the pots or wait till later. I painted the face but saved the pipe cleaner mustache for later.  Might have been easier at this stage to add the pipecleaner.
• two pots need to be pained the same colour as they will form his lower torso
• Paint one pot a contrasting or coordinating colour for his shirt, paint the rim black to create a belt.  You may add a gold square for his belt or you may prefer to later glue on a small gold square.  At this stage I would also add the button design.  I painted simply creating two dots and adding a gold line in between,  My theme was a "chain" look.  Solid buttons would also work well.
• allow paint on pots to try well
• Attach pots together before the finish decorating
• .Staring with the base place one pot upside down, add hot glue and add the other matching pot.  You know have an hourglass shape and the start of something fun
• adding glue around the rim of the pot you will now add the shirt.
• Following the same steps adding the face and finally his hat.
• At each step let the glue set (this takes seconds or maybe a minute)
• If you waited now i the time to attach his mustache and also add some embellishments to his cap.  I went with a cooper bell on each of mine.
• I also thought the hat needed a brim so I painted a semi circle on his face.
• Now find the perfect spot for your Nutcracker to watch over the festivities.

Notes

If you are a regular crafter you may have many of the supplies on hand. Usually for me I just have to pick up a few extra pots, easily found at the Dollar Store.

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