How to Make Nutcracker Lawn Decorations

Nutcrackers are easily recognized holiday icons

Owing much of its fame to Tchaikovsky's immortal ballet, the Russian-style nutcracker doll is a December holiday classic that fits in with almost any style of Christmas decorating. As a lawn ornament, a single nutcracker can stand alongside Santa and reindeer, or many nutcrackers can stand vigil over your yard and snowy paths. Create your own large nutcracker ornament from inexpensive materials to adorn your yard this holiday season.

Things You'll Need

• Chicken wire
• Duct tape
• 3-foot-square piece of plywood
• 2 20-inch pieces 3-inch-diameter PVC pipe
• 1 pair small socks
• 1 pair large socks
• Old newspaper
• Muslin
• Small drywall trowel
• Epoxy cement
• Electric disc sander
• Acrylic paint

Instructions

1. Create a cylindrical shape from chicken wire and duct tape measuring five feet in height and two and a half feet in diameter. Tape the seam of the cylinder as thoroughly as possible to make this piece sturdy.

2. Stand up the wire cylinder on a plywood square and duct tape it thoroughly in place.

3. Attach two pieces of PVC pipe to opposite sides of the cylinder. Place them parallel to the cylinder, flat against it, and positioned so that the top of each pipe is two feet down from the top of the cylinder. These will be the nutcracker's arms.

4. Stuff the foot portions (not the ankles) of two small socks and two large socks with newspaper. Tape the small socks to the bottom ends of the PVC pipe to make the nutcracker's hands. Tape the large socks to the bottom of the cylinder to form the nutcracker's feet.

5. Drape muslin fabric over the chicken wire frame. Pull it taut and secure it in place with duct tape. Err on the side of too much duct tape, rather than too little, to ensure that the draping of cloth is firm.

6. Mix epoxy cement according to the manufacturer's instructions.

7. Coat the frame in a layer of epoxy cement using a drywall trowel. Cover everything, including the wooden stand (though you don't need to cover the bottom). Smooth out the cement as much as possible and use as little as you can to get a good cover, but don't worry if it's a little thick; you'll be able to fix it later.

8. Let the epoxy dry and set according to the manufacturer's instructions.

9. Smooth out texture of the epoxy cement, as needed, using a disc sander.

10. Outline the shapes of the nutcracker design in pencil. Use photographs or clipart of nutcrackers as your guide. Dry lightly and correct mistakes with a pencil eraser.

11. Paint the nutcracker with acrylic paint. Start with the largest areas and move to the smallest for best results. Add a second coat after the first dries.

References

• "The Big-Ass Book of Crafts;" Mark Montano and Auxy Espinoza; 2008