Santa Claus is one of the most recognizable Christmas images. Snowmen are reminders of the playful parts of the Christmas season. You can bring the Christmas spirit around with you on your jewelry. In this section, we'll show you how to make santa and snowman Christmas pins.

Using Patterns

When individual project instructions direct you to cut out a shape according to the pattern, begin by downloading the pattern as a PDF. All patterns are at actual size, unless otherwise noted. Print the pattern from your computer.

If the pattern has an arrow with the word "fold" next to a line, it is a half pattern. Fold the printed pattern at the line. Then cut along the line, going through both layers of paper. Open for the full pattern.

To attach a pattern to felt, roll two-inch lengths of masking tape into circles with the adhesive side out. Attach the tape to the back of the pattern in several places. Place the pattern onto the felt, and cut through both the paper and felt layers along the lines. If you are using a half pattern, open the pattern and similarly tape it to the felt before cutting.

Santa's Puzzle Pin is a great Christmas gift and way to wear Santa-themed Christmas jewelry.
©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
Santa Puzzle Pin.

Santa Puzzle Pin

If you're a picture-puzzle fan, you've probably wondered what you're still doing with the pieces, now that the puzzles are finished and the appeal is gone. Here's an idea: Discarded puzzle pieces can be made into trendy costume jewelry for yourself -- and they're great as stocking stuffers or other gifts. Puzzle pins can be as simple or elaborate as you wish; it all depends on how you paint and decorate them. Show off your talent -- and your whimsical side.

You'll Need:
  • Puzzle piece
  • Acrylic paint: fleshtone, red, white pearl, black
  • Small round paintbrush
  • Thin-lead pencil
  • Waxed paper
  • 2-part polymer finish
  • Brush (for polymer finish)
  • 1-inch pin back
  • Toothpick
  • Jewelry glue
To Make Santa Puzzle Pin Jewelry:
  1. Paint puzzle piece with acrylic fleshtone paint, using small round paintbrush. Let dry. Apply a second coat.

  2. With pencil, mark hat line, eye, and mouth.

    With a pencil, mark in the face on the Santa Puzzle Pin Christmas jewelry.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    With a pencil, mark in the face.

  3. Paint hat with red; apply 2 coats.

  4. Build up acrylic white pearl paint on hat band and hat tassel.

    Paint hat tassel with white pearl paint to make Santa-themed Christmas jewelry.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Paint hat tassel with white pearl paint.

  5. Draw lines with acrylic white pearl paint for beard, hair, and mustache. Let dry.

    Dry white lines for Santa's beard on Santa-themed puzzle pin to make Christmas jewelry.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Dry white lines for Santa's beard.

  6. Paint eye and lashes in acrylic black paint. Paint mouth in acrylic red paint with an outline in acrylic black. After black paint of eye has dried, apply a small dot of acrylic white pearl paint as a highlight.

  7. Place puzzle piece on waxed paper. Following manufacturer's directions, mix 2-part polymer finish. Using brush, apply a thin coat to puzzle piece. Let dry 4 hours. Apply a second coat and let dry overnight.

  8. Glue on pin back, using toothpick to apply jewelry glue.

    Glue pin onto the back of Santa puzzle pin to make Christmas jewelry.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Glue pin onto the back.

Nip in the Air Snowman Pin is a Christmas gift that you can make. Give Christmas jewelry to your friends.
©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
Nip in the Air Snowman Pin.

Nip in the Air Snowman Pin

Tuck a cozy snowman pin inside a special friend's stocking. It will help take away the chill of winter when it's pinned on a warm coat or heavy sweater.

You'll Need:
  • 2-inch wood snowman cutout
  • Hand drill, 3/16-inch drill bit
  • Acrylic paints: white, black, cardinal red, pumpkin, copen blue
  • Toothpick
  • Scrap of red fabric
  • Bar pin, 1/2-inch long
  • Paintbrush
  • Stylus
  • Tacky glue
  • Hot glue gun and glue sticks
  • Wire cutter
To Make Nip in the Air Snowman Pin Jewelry:
  1. Drill a small hole 1/4-inch deep in center of snowman's face.

    Drill a tiny hole to make the snowman pin.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Drill a tiny hole.

  2. Basecoat body of snowman with white paint. Paint back and sides of body and be careful not to close up hole. Let dry. Basecoat front, back, and sides of hat with black paint. Allow to dry. Dot red cheeks and blue eyes on face with stylus. Dot 2 black buttons on body. Use black paint to dab 5 dots from cheek to cheek for smile on snowman's face.

    Paint front of snowman pin.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Paint front of snowman.

  3. Paint one end of toothpick with pumpkin paint. Cut 1/4 inch off from end when dry. Dab a small amount of craft glue in hole on snowman's face. Insert cut end of toothpick in hole.

    Cut off end of toothpick to make a snowman pin as a nice Christmas jewelry.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Cut off end of toothpick.

  4. Glue scrap of red fabric around snowman's neck. Use hot glue to secure bar pin to back of snowman below scarf.

    Glue fabric scarf to the snowman pin to create Christmas jewelry.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Glue fabric scarf to the snowman pin.

A Gaggle of Snow People Pins. These Christmas jewelry pins make great Christmas gifts.
©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
A Gaggle of Snow People Pins.

A Gaggle of Snow People Pins

Why decorate your coat with only one pin when you can have an amusing group of great snow people?

You'll Need:
  • 1 sheet clear shrink plastic
  • Scissors
  • Sandpaper (#230 to #320)
  • #03 black permanent marker
  • Acrylic paint: white, purple, midnight blue
  • #3 watercolor paintbrush
  • Permanent felt markers: carmine red, green, yellow, crimson red
  • Nonstick cookie sheet
  • Spatula
  • Clear gloss acrylic spray
  • 3 adhesive pin backings
To Make A Gaggle of Snow People Pins:
  1. Download and print the snowman pin pattern. Cut a piece of plastic slightly larger than each pattern. Use sandpaper to roughen 1 side of plastic by sanding lightly in 1 direction; this will make paint adhere.

  2. Place a piece of plastic over a pattern. Use #03 black marker to outline the snow person on plastic. Remove pattern. Repeat for all patterns.

    Outline the pattern on plastic to make snowmen pins as Christmas jewelry.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Outline the pattern on plastic.

  3. Thin white paint with water to a wash consistency, and paint a thin coat on snow people's bodies. Let dry. Thin purple and midnight blue paints to wash consistency with water, and paint tall hat midnight blue and shorter hat purple. Let dry.

  4. Use felt markers to color in noses, scarves, tie, purse, and hat brim of tall hat. (See finished picture for color placement.) Stroke colors on, avoiding overlapping strokes. Add details with black marker, and touch up outline if necessary.

    Outline the pattern on plastic to make snowman pins.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Use felt markers to color
    the hat and scarf.

  5. Cut out snow people.

  6. Bake on cookie sheet in 250-degree oven, painted side up. Snow people will shrink in 3 to 5 minutes. Wait until piece is about nickel thickness, then remove from oven. Use a spatula to remove from tray, and hold flat on spatula until cool (several seconds).

    Use a spatula to remove snowman pins from tray.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Use a spatula to remove
    snowman from tray.

  7. Spray the front (painted side) of each snow person with clear acrylic spray. Let dry for a few hours.

  8. Remove adhesive from pin backings, and stick 1 to back of each snow person.

    Stick adhesive pin back to make Snowman pin Christmas jewelry.
    ©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
    Stick adhesive pin back.

We'll talk about how to make angel pins in the next section.