Clay pot Soldiers AKA 'Nutcrackers'

[Thecandyman]

Here is an idea for claypots that might not be original. But I'd thought I share it here.
While doing work for a cleaning company a few years back, I arrived inside and started my reg. routine of making my rounds at cleaning the bank offices trash cans. I noticed someone had brought inside the main entrance, some 'nutcrackers' displayed near the teller station during the holiday weekend.
They were simple claypots that were glued on top of one another, painted in red /blue and black for the hat and boot areas, And someone had dressed them with a little ribbon and had cotton balls placed on top of there heads with a tassal to top it off.
I thought 'what a neat idea' maybe I can make a group of sm. med. and lg. instead of just 2 sizes that were the same height.
Heres a group pic. of them that I worked on last year. You can't really see in the pic. here but they do have arms too .
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r178/chaosnfx/nutcrackersinline.jpg

[Brightside]

Wow, that is just too cool.

[spookineer]

That's a lot of pots! Great work!

[Sickie Ickie]

How do you do the faces so perfectly? Do you use a jig or stencil?

[CandyCane]

Very nice!

[Thecandyman]

Thanks all! There very easy to make and sturdy. If your careful handling them 'I broke a few':D
I'll have to give a tut. soon for ya'll who want to give it a shot.
I got many left in my storage unit from last year that I need to get out soon..
I just went crazy and started painting them in many different colors.
The ones painted in the burg/green 'pictured' alway's seemed to be my fav. color choice though.
But the one's in red/blue are cool too.

[HollyDaze]

How clever! They look fantastic.

[Mummy deer-est]

Yea! These are so cute, Candyman....I have a bunch of pots leftover from the previous owners...knew I could find something to do with them!
Thanks!

[Thecandyman]

That is one way to go Mummy Deer-est.

And if you got large size pots just lying around, like maybe 10 inch's or more. You can make one's that are Life-size!!!!

I've actually seen these around that are that tall.
But you know they got to be very heavy to carry and to store.

Thanks!

[Sickie Ickie]

Krylon makes plastic spray paint now, so maybe plastic pots could be used to cut down on weight?

[Mummy deer-est]

oohhh, I'm excited :) ...could you find any plastic pots this time of year?

[Secret Santa]

They look really great, Candyman. Looks like I have a project for next Christmas !

[Blinky]

Thank You For sharing your Nutcrackers with us.. They are so cute.
Whay did you use for arms ?

[Thecandyman]

Mine happan to be made of felt . Not good for outdoors I suppose.

I display them inside so I don't have to worry about them getting wet anyways.

Another artist once said she used some pieces of vinyl flooring for arms.
Never tried that but I guess the possibiltys are endless.

I'll write a tut. by the end of the week to help others give this a try.

P.S.
Oh yea, I don't see why using Plastic pots would hurt ethier.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

[Blinky]

What about pvc pipe wrapped with the pipe insulation and plex and glas painted for the hands?

[Thecandyman]

I suppose you can even make them poseable with the right pvc conections.

I'll start a new thread on 'my clay pot tutorial' here in a minute.

[bethene]

What a great idea- looking forward to the tutorial-

[Mistress Muffy]

Oh Candyman....these are so cute! What a clever idea! Make sure to post a picture for us when you get them set up!

Muffy

[Mummy deer-est]

Hey guys, I just saw these on HGTV's website, and reminded me of Candyman's handywork! check it out...

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/crafting/article/0,1789,HGTV_3352_1581921,00.html

[Blinky]

Mummy Deer-est Those are so cute !! yep I could see those on Large Form for the yard. with the hands cut out of plywood and paintd to match the gingerbread man only have his hands down by his side or one waving maybe..

[Sickie Ickie]

Still waiting for you to submit your how-to candyman. :D