Hand Painted Santa Dresser Foot Figurine; Original Design

The other day I was walking through a garage sale. I came across a box of four dresser feet for 50 cents. Immediately I knew that these dresser feet were destined to become Santa Clauses. Getting ready for Christmas takes a lot of preparation, and for crafter's, preparation may begin as early as December 26^th or the middle of summer.

Make Your Own Santa Figurine

Materials:

One dresser foot
Gesso
Acrylic paint, red, white, brown, black and gold
Palette
Paint brushes
One chenille pipe cleaner, white
Scissors
Hot glue gun

Cover the entire surface of the dresser foot with gesso. Make sure that the gesso is thick enough to completely conceal the color of the dresser foot, but not too thick. If necessary, add extra gesso into any small cracks or chips. However, don't go overboard. Cracks and chips will give your figurine character. Let the gesso dry thoroughly before proceeding.

Turn the dresser foot so that the smaller end is pointing upwards. Using red acrylic paint, divide the dresser foot so that there is a hat section, a head section, body section and a foot section.

Paint the Santa's body section and hat section red. This may require two to three coats for the best coverage.

Add a small amount of red and brown paint to a larger amount of white paint. Mix thoroughly until a light peachy color forms. Paint Santa's face onto the dresser foot. Once dry, add black eyes, and a light brown nose. Don't forget to add Santa's white eyebrows and the whites of his eyes.

Paint hair above Santa's eyes with the white paint. Use the brush to add hair around his face, his mustache and the rest of Santa's hair and beard. If desired, paint Santa's beard so that it appears to fall onto Santa's suit.

Add white paint around the brim of Santa's red hat and let it dry.

Paint the bottom portion of the dresser foot black. Allow it to dry thoroughly, and then add a gold line down the center front of the black section and the center back of the black section.

Paint a solid belt around Santa's belly. Allow it to dry and then add a gold belt buckle to the front of his belt.

Once Santa is completely dry, measure around his hat brim with a chenille pipe cleaner. Cut the pipe cleaner so that it will fit evenly around the hat brim. Lightly paint the pipe cleaner with white paint. Set it aside to dry.

Roll the remaining pipe cleaner into a ball, and then paint it white. Allow it to dry thoroughly.

Once the pipe cleaners are completely dry attach them to Santa. Glue the puff ball onto the top of Santa's hat, and glue the straight length of pipe cleaner around Santa's hat.