A cheescloth ghost standing with arms outstretched Holiday Angels  
General Crafts category

Celebrate the holiday season with festive cheesecloth angels! These easy-to-make decorations capture the spirit of the season. Holiday Angels will set serenely on the mantel, nestle among a centerpiece of evergreens or hang gracefully from treetops.

Time to completion: 1 - 2 hours, dry overnight

spool
Skill level: 1 of 5, 1 being the easiest

   

Materials List  

Cheesecloth 1 package (makes 2 angels)
Tissue Paper for Tracing Pattern
9" Styrofoam Cone (6" Styrofoam for Small Angel)
2" Styrofoam Ball (1½" Styrofoam Ball for Small Angel)
Hot Glue Gun
Plastic Wrap
Rubber Bands

Scissors
Small Bowl
Fabric Stiffener
3-12" White Chenille Stems
2-12" Gold Chenille Stems
Disappearing Ink Marking Pen
Pattern available (PDF, 40K)



Instructions  
1.

Cut 1 yard of cheesecloth (¾ yard for small angel) and unfold once. (There will be two layers.) Pour fabric stiffener in bowl. Place cheesecloth in bowl and saturate completely. Squeeze to remove excess stiffener.

 

2.

Center cheesecloth over form. Smooth cheesecloth over head and place a rubber band loosely at neck.

 

3.

Drape cheesecloth over arms. Place another rubber band loosely around cone to form waist.

 

4.

Slightly pull up cheesecloth at waist to form blousing and make armholes loose and flowing.

 

5.

Arrange cheesecloth around base. Allow to dry completely.

 

How to make wings
1.

Using tissue paper, trace and cut out wing pattern. (For small angel reduce wing size.) Place pattern on paper and trace wing shape. Fold to other side and trace again.

 

2.

Cut ½ yard of cheesecloth. Do not unfold. (There will be four layers.) Saturate in stiffener. Squeeze to remove excess.

 

3.

Cover wing pattern with plastic wrap. Spread cheesecloth out flat over plastic wrap. Pinch centers together in small gathers and shape over pattern. Cheesecloth will extend beyond scallops and will be cut off later (Figure B). Allow to dry completely.

 

4.

Trace wing shape on cheesecloth with disappearing ink pen. Carefully cut shape.

 

Finishing
1.

When cheesecloth is completely dry, remove rubber bands from angel. Wrap one gold chenille stem around waist and twist together; curl ends.

 

2.

Cut 7" piece of gold chenille stem and twist ends together to form circle for halo. Attach halo to back of head with glue gun.

 

3.

Attach wings to back of angel with glue gun.

 

4.

Twist hands together

 

Angel armature -- an armature is a framework serving as a supporting core.
Figure A: Angel armature
 
Ghost armature -- an armature is a framework serving as a supporting core.
Figure B: Using wing pattern
 

 

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