Recycle - Your Holiday Nutshells

[Guest guest]

I know many folks like to have roasted nuts during the holidays. Well

those nutshells can be used for a variety of great things ...

 

Compost is one of the most obvious ways to " recycle " your nutshells.

 

Nutshells can be used in potpourri for texture, and also they are good

scent fixatives (in other words, drop your oils onto them and they hold

the scent well).

 

If you can grind them fine enough, nutshells can be used in " body

polish " and " scrub " recipes as a gentle abrasive.

 

Making ornaments and critter decorations from nutshells is another idea

(see instructions below) ..

 

They can be used with seed pods to give wreaths (especially pinecone

wreaths) more dimension and character.

 

The possibilities are limited only by your imagination!

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

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Rudy Walnut Ornament

 

 

By Carrie Kasten

 

Carrie Kasten, " Christmas Workshop, " Friend, Dec. 1988, 38

To make this ornament, you will need: two 2 " (5 cm) pieces of thick

black pipe cleaner, 6 " (15 cm) piece of thick black pipe cleaner, 7 " (18

cm) piece of yarn, walnut, strong glue, small red pom-pom, two plastic

eyes, and desired trim.

 

1. Wrap a shorter piece of pipe cleaner around each end of longer piece,

about 1 " (2.5 cm) from end.

 

2. Fold yarn in half, forming loop, and lay along seam of walnut.

 

3. At midpoint of nut and at right angle to nut seam, place strip of

glue across string; then attach pipe cleaner along glue strip.

 

4. Glue on eyes and pom-pom nose. Add trim.

 

 

 

 

Nutshell Santa Ornament

 

 

" Christmas Ornaments, " Friend, Dec. 1978, 39

You will need: assortment of unshelled nuts such as almonds, walnuts,

and brazil nuts; scraps of bright pink, white, and gold felt; 1/4 " eyes

from craft store; white glue; 1/4 " diameter white beads; and nylon

thread.

 

To preserve nuts, punch or drill small hole in each one and quickly dip

them in boiling water. Remove and let dry. Cut small triangle of pink

felt and trim and shape around one end of nut to form peaked hat. Glue

in place and trim with narrow band of white felt. Cut triangular nose

from gold felt and glue it and eyes to nut for face. Thread needle with

nylon thread, run it through peak of hat, and sew on bead.

 

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Nutshell Critters

 

What you need: Chestnut or Walnut shell halves; Paint; Clear nail polish

sealer or base coat; toothpick; glue; crochet thread or household

string; white felt; cotton balls; scissors.

 

What to do:

 

1. Paint the entire shell white for a bunny, gray for a mouse or red for

a ladybug. Note: On lady bug paint some black circles or use marker to

make circles. Let paint dry.

 

2. Completely cover painted shell with clear nail polish sealer or base

coat for protection. Allow to dry.

 

3. Cut some stands of crochet thread or household string and make some

whiskers for the mouse and the bunny. Cut two pieces of thread for

antennae for the ladybug. Glue whiskers or antennae to the critters.

 

4. Cut tiny white ears from the felt. Paint the ears pink for bunny and

mouse. No ears on the ladybug. Glue ears to critters.

 

5. Cut a small piece of white felt for the bunny teeth. Make a line in

the center of the felt to look like tooth separation. Glue teeth to

bunny.

 

6. Paint small eyes on each critter with white paint and black pupils or

glue on googly eyes.

 

7. Glue a piece of string on the mouse for a tail. Glue a cotton ball on

the bunny for a tail and no tail for the ladybug.

 

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