8. Felt Snowman Garland
A felt garland adds a soft, handmade touch to any winter mantel or doorway. You can cut simple snowman shapes and stitch or glue them onto a length of twine. It’s repetitive enough to be relaxing and quick enough to finish in an afternoon.
Materials: white felt sheets, black and orange felt scraps, embroidery floss or fabric glue, twine or ribbon, and a needle if sewing.
Instructions: Cut a snowman template from paper—a simple rounded figure with a head and body. Trace and cut the same shape from white felt. Cut tiny black felt circles for eyes and buttons, and an orange triangle for the nose. Glue or stitch the features onto each snowman. Fold a small loop of twine at the top of each snowman and secure it to the back with glue or a stitch. String the snowmen onto a longer piece of twine, spacing them a few inches apart.
Time: 45–60 minutes for 6–8 snowmen. Difficulty: Easy to intermediate. Customization: Add a tiny felt scarf in red or green, or make the snowmen different sizes. Display: Drape across a mantel, bookshelf, or window. Budget alternative: Use stiffened white fabric instead of felt. Common mistake: Making the hanging loops too small—they need to fit over the twine easily.