How to Make a Santa Centerpiece from a Shoe Box

Add a special touch to your holiday festivities with a handmade centerpiece.

Handmade holiday decorations add a special touch to your home. You can make your own festive Santa Claus centerpiece with some simple craft supplies in only 30 minutes. The centerpiece can also be recycled after the holidays, making this craft environmentally friendly. Best of all, this project is inexpensive. You can also make more than one centerpiece to give away as gifts to family and friends.

Things You'll Need

• Shoe box
• 2, 10-inch paper plates
• 30 large cotton balls
• Pencil
• Scissors
• 4 pieces red construction paper
• 1 piece white construction paper
• 1 piece tan construction paper
• Black marker
• Multipurpose glue

Instructions

1. Discard the top of the shoe box. Cover the bottom of the shoe box with red construction paper, inside and out. Cut the paper as needed, and glue in place.

2. Glue one paper plate to each end of the shoe box. Press and hold for a few seconds to allow the glue to set.

3. Cut the tan piece of construction paper in half. Cut each half into a pear shape 6 inches long. These pieces will be the base for Santa's face. Use the black marker to draw two eyes on the top of each pear shape. Dot the back of each pear shape with glue, and press one against each paper plate. Hold for a few seconds to allow the glue to set.

4. Cut two triangle pieces approximately 3 inches long from the red construction paper to use as Santa's hat. Dot each piece with glue on the bottom third of the piece and attach to the top of the pear shapes, taking care not to cover Santa's eyes. Press and hold for a few seconds to allow glue to set.

5. Cut two circles approximately 1 inch in diameter from the red construction paper to use as Santa's nose. Dot with glue and attach one to each pear shape, just below and in between the eyes. Press and hold for a few seconds to allow glue to set.

6. Cut two crescent shapes 3 inches long and 1 inch wide from the red construction paper approximately. These will be used for Santa's mouth. Dot with glue and attach to the pear shapes, below the nose. Press and hold for a few seconds to allow glue to set.

7. Cut two mustache shaped pieces approximately 5 inches long and 1 inch wide from the white construction paper. These will be Santa's mustache. Dot with glue and attach to the pear shapes, between the nose and the mouth. Press and hold for a few seconds to allow glue to set.

8. Glue cotton balls onto the pear shapes to complete Santa's face. Glue four cotton balls just under each triangle hat. Glue one cotton ball onto the tip of each hat. Glue 10 cotton balls along the chin and cheeks of each face, up to the mustache. Press and hold cotton balls as needed to set glue. Allow centerpiece to sit for one hour to dry.

Tips & Warnings

• The paper plates can be painted for an added touch. For best results, use spray or tempura paints.

• Adhesive spray and tape may be substitute for glue.

• Fill the centerpiece with holiday candy or holly to complete the festive look.

• Always supervise children when they are using scissors.

References

• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: Wee Crafts

Resources

• Northern Illinois University: Crafts