Seasonal Crafts

Santa Comes A-Knocking Door Knob Decoration

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Santa Comes A-Knocking Door Knob Decoration

For a modern twist on a vintage Santa decoration, Benzie Design Maker Team member Hillary of @wee_wonderfuls has written a beginner-friendly tutorial that's eye catching, whimsical, and brings extra sparkle to your door. Help your kids get excited for when Santa comes a-knocking by hanging felt Santa door knob decorations throughout your house! 

One of our favorite Christmas decorations to put out each year was an extra special vintage find, a sequined Santa in a hot air balloon that goes over a doorknob. It was right at eye level when the kids were little and they loved him. To further make it a kid favorite you can make it as sparkly as you’d like and it can be an all glued craft if you want to get the kids in on the project.

Skill level: Beginner

Time: 2 hours

 Santa Comes A-Knocking Supplies

Supply list: 

One 9x12 sheet of Red Wool Blend Felt
One 9x12 sheet of Ecru Wool Blend Felt
One 9x12 sheet of Peach Wool Blend Felt
One 9x12 sheet of Fern Wool Blend Felt
One 9x12 sheet of Nori 100% Wool Bellwether Felt 
One 9x12 sheet of Gold Glitter Felt
One bag of gold 6mm jingle bells
One tin each of white beads and sequins
Multicolor sequins
Gold metallic pearl cotton
Scissors
Tacky glue
Thread
Black embroidery floss
Tiny pink pom
PDF pattern (click to download)

Directions:

1. Gather your supplies. Print out the PDF pattern and cut the pieces from the felt colors called for on the pattern.

2. Using the white sequins and beads cover the Beard, Pom, Brim and Cuffs for Santa. To sew on sequins as shown here, with a double threaded needle bring your needle up through the sequin from the back of the felt, next through the bead, then back through the sequin and the felt. You can then travel across the back to where you want your next sequin. Here where the sequins are dense that will be right next to your first sequin, but later when you decorate the hot air balloon there will be a larger space between sequins. You can knot them off individually or go ahead and have long threads in the back as they will all be glued down between felt layers anyway. If you prefer to glue the sequins use a dot of craft glue that will dry clear and you won’t need the beads. This method will be less secure in the long run but will make it fun for kids to get involved in the making.

Santa Comes A-Knocking Door Knob Decoration Step 2

3. Attach red sequins with beads and gold sequins with bells in rows across the Balloon Sections.

Santa Comes A-Knocking Door Knob Decoration Step 3

4. To make two braided cords cut twelve 10” pieces of the glitter floss. Braid together 3 sections of 2 strands to make each of the cords and knot off at each end.

Santa Comes A-Knocking Door Knob Decoration Step 4

5. It’s time to start assembling. To glue the felt pieces to the glitter felt backing cover the backs of the felt with a thin layer of glue spreading evenly, all the way to the edges. First step is to affix the cords. Glue the ends of the cords to the background as shown below, lining them up so that they will be tucked under the red Santa piece. Once the cords are fixed in the glue you can snip off the knots so there won’t be a bump. Now spread glue on the back of the santa piece and layer it over the glitter background, lining up the edges and covering up the ends of the cords.

Santa Comes A-Knocking Door Knob Decoration Step 5

6. Embroider eyes on the Face piece with a few strands of black floss. Glue the pieces on to the Santa body in this order, Pom, Face, Cuffs, Beard (overlapping the bottom edge of the face), and then Brim (overlapping the top edge of face and beard).

Santa Comes A-Knocking Door Knob Decoration Step 6

7. Pull the cords up over Santa’s head and finger press at folds. Sew 4 bells onto the Basket’s Scallops.

Santa Comes A-Knocking Door Knob Decoration Step 7

8. Glue the Scallops to the basket lining the top edge to the bottom of the red Santa piece. Then glue on the 4 sections of the basket leaving space around them for glitter outlines showing through.

Santa Comes A-Knocking Door Knob Decoration Step 8

9. Glue the three sections of the balloon on to the glitter background, lining up the X cut in the center and leaving gaps in between and around pieces for the glitter to show through. Leave the bottoms of the side edges unglued for tucking in the cords. Glue the cords in place then clip the knots if you like and press the sides down securely. You’ll need to make sure this is well glued and let it dry completely before you lift it. Also make sure your cords are even so Santa doesn’t hang lopsided. When it’s dry and ready to hang tuck one cord behind Santa’s pom on the right side and that will balance him when he’s hanging. Find yourself a festive doorknob and hang him up!

Santa Comes A-Knocking Door Knob Decoration Step 9

Completed Santa Comes A-Knocking Door Knob Decoration

Thanks to Hillary for designing and writing this tutorial! You can follow her on Instagram @wee_wonderfuls or visit her website. Stay tuned for more tutorials from the Benzie Design Maker Team!

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