Easy Mr. Claus
Hands down my favorite christmas project. That is what this post is all about.
But let me start at the beginning.
Our mantle got a simple sprucing. We went for classic decor this year…nothing cluttered…and we wanted any potential buyers who came to see the house to be impressed with the house…and not distracted by the massive amounts of christmas decor. So when it came to our mantle we simply hung our stockings and threw a bit of faux greenery on the mantle top. Then we stuck silver ornaments in and around the branches. Two candlesticks looked classic and simple enough…but then we were stuck. What to put in the middle?
At first, I wanted to create a knock off of the Pottery Barn NOEL sign. But then I saw 1.2 million people online make the same one…and probably better than what I could make….and cheaper than I could make it. So it made me question my decision.
Right between my thoughts of “Is there any other christmas word that I could substitute for Noel that would be cool?” and “Dang them wicked awesome crafty bloggers”, I found a picture a la Pottery Barn Christmas catalog of yore that boasted a lovely canvas of Dear ole St. Nick himself.
It really got my wheels turning. I loved the simple portrait…and I adored the fact that I could use this as a future playroom decor item come Christmas time in future years. I also liked the simple white and silver finish. But the Pottery Barn was glittered…and I wasn’t thrilled about thinking of glittering an entire canvas. And that was another thing…I didn’t have a canvas. I just had a big piece of plywood.
Then I started brainstorming…how the heck am I gonna turn a bitty picture I could find online of Mr. Claus into a big piece of art? I remembered my middle school art teacher’s enlarging method. It is as easy as drawing a grid over the photo like this:
Then you draw the same grid (just bigger) on your canvas (or in this case my plywood painted with a coat of white semi-gloss paint). Sure, it took a little math but I figured out that I could convert each little 1 inch box to 3.75 inches on our 2 foot square of wood. After I did the lines, it was as simple as copying each box exactly the same.
I sketched it in pencil and did each box till my santa was complete.
Then I used some silver paint pens to fill in the Kris Kringle. After it was all dried, I just took the pencil eraser and removed the grid lines.
Now for the finished product…
Doesn’t he look so jolly on our mantle?
And still simple and classic, right?
I love how it finishes off the mantle…plus, it is a handpainted piece of art that adds some charm and I know will be a beloved christmas decor item for many many years. And it cost me NOTHING. Not bad for free, huh?
So that’s my favorite project of Christmas 2010. What do you think? Do you love the Santa or do you think I was wrong to veer away from Noel? Anyone else remember the grid-method? Or are you one of those lucky people that have a projector? Or maybe you are just thrilled at the fact that you could do a handpainted piece without actually owning a paintbrush?
Stay tuned…there are three more days of ABP holiday crafts and home decor! It’ll get you in the ho-ho-holiday mood 
Incredible. I learned that in art class, too, but if I tried this project, it would NEVER look this amazing. You are one talented chickadee.
Wow! That is so awesome, Katie! I was going to say that even with the grid method my stuff always turns out wonky and lopsided, but I think it’s, like Amanda @ Out of Square’s teacher, my teacher gave one square to each person, haha.
Very, very tasteful! I must have missed the grid method in Art… or maybe we didn’t even have Art? I have no idea.
Please help me decorate the unfinished areas of my house!
Wow! How do you manage to do all these projects + write a blog + take care of Will?? You’re my hero.
I could never do that now, nor could I do it well in jr high. I think I would have scanned it, enlarged and enhanced it digitally in Photoshop (cleaned up the pixelization) and printed it out. But, I do know how to do that.
Either way, it looks great!
How cool! I forgot about the grid method!! Now I am itching to draw/copy something
I love it! You are very talented!
Girl to the frannnnd, give yourself some credit!! You have talent– if I tried to make something bigger AND sketch it it would not look that great! But yours is awesome
ARE YOU KIDDING ME ????? Love ole St. Nick, and not to be mean or anything but I h*** (dislike) people that are sooooo talented, me I would have just bought it just because I’m not crafty. WOW, you are awesome/amazing good job.
I still couldn’t do what you did for the life of me lol It looks great!!
Oh, I am SO impressed! And…I’m totally stealing this idea – although I probably can’t get my act together to do it in time for Christmas this year – so I’ll have to save it for next year
Okay, let me begin my admitting that I “blog-stalk” you on an almost daily basis…and I have never commented until today. I couldn’t let this post go without telling you how jealous I am… I HAVE to say that your Mr. Claus is Ahhh’mazing!! I remember the grid thing, but STILL, mine wouldn’t have turned out so well. You are so….super talented!! Your mantle is beautiful and I love your decision to add the art instead of the “NOEL”. Keep up the great work! Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family!
um.. hello!!! That’s AWESOME!!! I think you’re going to be getting a call from your art teacher with a WAY TO GO!! Super impressive chicky!! love it!!
Amazing, Katie! It looks really professional.
That is so cool! If I were a potential buyer I’d ask for the Santa to be thrown into the mix…
Katie, this is amazing! I do remember the grid method but I don’t know if I would have thought to use it for something like this. But since you reminded me of it, now I’m itching to try it as well! Good thing I have next week off work…plenty of time for fun crafts!
I love it! I’m kinda upset though, I never had an art class when I was in school! Awesome job Katie!
Well now your just showing off!!!! I LOVE IT!!! Don’t think I can do it…I’ll just stick to the NOEL knock off!!!
LOve it!!!! So good job, it looks exactly the same, i’m keeping this idea!
Is this for real?? Did you seriously make that? I am sitting here in awe! Turned out so fantastic… I am very impressed!!!
Wow! I love it!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that! Great job Katie… I am jealous!!
holy cow that’s amazing!
Beautifully done – it looks fantastic and it’s the perfect piece for the mantle!!
I LOVE THIS.
OMG! Amazing! Nice job!
Hey Katie. Just another blogstalker here. Thought I would stop in and say WOW. Love, love, LOVE this. I read the post twice just to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Keep up the good work. Oh, and I love your blog. Peace out.
OH WOW!!
I’m so jealous. I wish I had your skills, and patience to do something like that. I have a 1st graders handwriting and painting skills so I would probly have to resort to buying the real deal.
It looks amazing!
Think I’ll try this later. I have a cheap canvas laying around and I’ve been looking for something to do with it! Our stockings are hung on a small shelf, with nothing on the shelf part, so this will be perfect!
I’m so impressed, Katie! I don’t know how you do it all with a little guy! Love your Santa – it’s awesome!
OMG! i can’t believe you did this by hand. i’ve never heard for the grid thing but still i don’t think there’s anyway i could do that! i’m impressed, looks great!
Über talented!!!
Very impressive! Impressive indeed! I can’t believe you did all of that work. It looks amazing. I remember the grid method too from my art class, but let me tell you that would have taken me MONTHS to do. Your family will treasure it for years and years!
Well, that is just freaking amazing. Great job, Katie!
Amazing!!! I want one, pronto!
So. Much. LOVE. I adore this.
Wow, it’s awesome! Great memory of the box technique, I forgot all about it…but now I won’t! Great job.
wow, I’m super impressed! You’ve got some amazing copying/drawing skills! I get your method, but still for me, yeah right! : )
Love your “Pop Art” Santa. Looks great on your mantle- so much better than the “Noel”!
These are my favorite no-cost Chrsitmas Decorations
http://styleandcentsability.wordpress.com/2010/12/14/new-use-for-leftover-christmas-lights/
http://styleandcentsability.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/new-use-for-wellies-holiday-decor/
BEAUTIFUL! It looks better than the original!!
Wow! That is amazing! Even using the grids I could never free hand that. Awesome job!
I love it! It looks like so expensive. This picture was exactly what your mantel needed. Your skills are amazing! I have to ask….”middle school art teacher”? Would that be your mom or did you attend an actual middle school?
Hi Ana,
I went to public school from Elementary (in Jersey) through Middle (ended up in Georgia).
xo – kb
Katie,
I posted a DIY art project today. It is not “Christmas-y” but it could be. I combined photography with scripture. If you are interested, check it out: http://ericaharless.blogspot.com/2010/12/diy-artwork.html
Merry Christmas!
Erica
Katie,
I fell in love with that Santa years ago when it was in the Pottery Barn catalog. However, I could not bring myself to pay that mutch for a Christmas decoration. I told myself I could duplicate it, since it has simple lines, but I never did. I have the perfect place for it in our house; at the top of the steps that open up into our greatroom (reverse floor plan at the beach). Seeing how easily you accomplished this project I MUST do it for next year! I just took a picture of Santa on your blog (don’t have the old catalog) so I can do so. So, thanks so,so much for sharing your Mr. Claus!!! And, it DOES look wonderful on your mantel! Great job!!
Anne
are those pottery barn stockings? I have a 5 week old baby named Will and we have the same ones hanging on our mantle!
Every time I look at I think, “first comes the stocking of little Will…” and it makes me so happy.
They sure are Julia! We actually ordered them last year before we knew whether Will was a boy or girl. So basically if we ever have a girl, her name is already decided
xo – kb
FABULOUS! I LOVE IT!!!!!
Question:
Did you use different shades/different brands of the silver paint pens? About how many did you end up using?
Thanks!
I used two of the Krylon paint pens in silver. I held up all three…which were the same color but one was a different brand…but only two were actually used. Also…it definitely took two…I tried to get away with only one…but then had to dig out the second paint pen later.
xo – kb
I am always impressed by what you are able to accomplish but this one is over the top for me! you are sooooooo talented. glad that grid thing works for you. congrats on the house and wishing you and yours a very merry holiday season with many more blessings to come for you all! love reading your blog katie!!!
That really turned out GREAT! Like so many other commenters, no WAY I could have done any of those grids free hand. I love the simple classic lines, and you cannot beat the price!
Congrats!
That is ridiculously amazing. It is just adorable. I wish I could draw…..
The Mr Clause picture is wonderful!!! Love, love, love it!