Nutcracker Flower Pot Solider

I know I made one of these a year ago, and I was super excited when Hometalk asked me to make video of one.  I wanted 2 so I’d have a pair and now they can go on either side of my front door on the porch or on either side of my fireplace.  Being a dancer, I love the Nutcracker! I direct a dance program here in Fort Collins, CO (Mountain Dance). I created a unique Nutcracker show called Nutcracker with a Twist, & I direct 4 shows every year. My neighbor down the street has these Terra Cotta soldiers that they put out every Christmas and I love them. I decided I was going to make my own and add a twist – make mine a Flower Pot Nutcracker

Start with 4 flower pots that are the same size. I’m using 10 inch flower pots.

I painted mine as follows:

Hat – Folk Art Chalkboard Paint

Face – Waverly Ballet Slipper

Chest – Waverly Ocean

Pants – Waverly Crimson

and I let them dry completely

I painted all of the flower pot rims in Folk Art Chalkboard Paint and let that dry.

I drew a Nutcracker face onto the ballet slipper flower pot with the rim facing up. I started by drawing my face in pencil, then I painted the eyes with Folk Art Multipurpose Titanium White paint, and the mouth with Waverly Crimson. While that was drying I used a black permanent marker to draw on the eyebrows, nose, and mustache. When the eyes were dry I used a blue permanent marker to draw on the eye, and a black sharpie for the pupil. I painted the white teeth onto the mouth and let that dry. Finally I drew over the mouth shape with the black permanent marker.

I pulled a cotton ball apart and made the beard shape and hot glued it onto the face.

On the chest, I hot glued on some embellishments of buttons and button ribbon.

I used silicone to adhere the flower pots together like this, and let dry for 24 hours.

I added ribbon embellishments to the hat with hot glue.

I added some cotton balls pulled apart for his hair.

I placed a solar light through the hole on the top of the hat.

I added an old belt to the center between the chest and pants.

I will be spraying him with Patricia Nimmocks Acrylic Sealer to protect him and I’ll let that dry for 24 hours.

Video with Hometalk coming soon!