Make these Christmas decorations with recycled cans and Americana® Acrylics.

SUPPLIES

• paper towels
• liner brush
• craft glue
• black permanent marker
• small round brush
• tracing & transfer paper
• pen or pencil
• wooden beads
• scrapbook paper
• container
• medium flat brush
• tassels
• baker's twine
• antique clothespins

INSTRUCTIONS

NOTES:

The detailed instructions are given here for the teal nutcracker. To create the red nutcracker, follow the same instructions, swapping the colors featured in instruction #2.

1. Gather the materials (for the teal nutcracker).

2. For the red nutcracker, gather Americana Acrylics: Santa Red, Bubblegum Pink, Snow White, Jadeite Green, and Lamp Black as well as Silver Moon Galaxy Glitter.

3. Wipe the container clean, both inside and out. Use a medium flat brush to paint the outside of the container with Snow White. Let dry. Transfer the provided pattern of your choice, using transfer paper and a pen or pencil.

4. Use a medium flat brush to paint the crown and pants Bahama Blue and the jacket Peacock Teal. Use a medium flat brush to paint the face in Warm Beige. Let dry.

5. Use a small round brush to paint the eyes in Snow White and Peacock Teal. Paint the eyebrows mustache in Espresso. Paint the cheeks and mouth in a mix of water and Bright Orange (to create a transparent effect). Let dry. Use a small round brush to paint the teeth and accent the eyes in Snow White.

6. Use a small flat brush to paint the hair and beard in Espresso. Use a small flat brush to paint the crown and jacket accents in Antique Gold. Let dry. Once dry, use a small flat brush to apply Gold Shooting Star over the Antique Gold. Use a small flat brush to paint the belt Bright Orange.

7. For the arms, use a small flat brush to paint two antique clothespins in Peacock Teal. Use a small flat brush to paint the bottom part of the clothespins (the "hands") in Warm Beige. Use a small flat brush to paint two wooden beads in Antique Gold. Let dry and use a small flat brush to apply Gold Shooting Star. OPTIONAL: Attach the tiny tassels using craft glue.

8. Use craft glue to adhere the arms. (Refer to photo for placement.)

9. Cut scrapbook paper to fit on the top inside part of the plastic lid. Use craft glue to adhere it to the lid. (Hint: If you sand the top part of the lid slightly, the paper will adhere better.) Cut out four triangle shapes from the same scrapbook paper (About 3/4"; the size, however, depends on the size of the container.)

10. Use a black permanent marker to write "2020" on the triangles. Use craft glue to adhere the triangles to baker's twine. Let dry.

11. Use a medium flat brush to paint the boots in Lamp Black. Let dry. Use a liner brush to paint the accents in Antique Gold and a grey mix of (3) parts Snow White and (1) part Lamp Black.

12. Use glue to adhere the 2020 banner to the nutcracker's hands.

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