1/18/10

A January Craft: Cute Walnut Mice


I stole these from my mother last time I was home.  She doesn’t mind…we acquired them through a children’s craft bazaar about 30-so years ago…the kind where you went during school to buy your brother’s and sister’s presents for Christmas.  They really are Christmas ornaments but I love them for the winter months more.  They are hanging on a little tack on my kitchen window.  Aren’t they so cute?
They are cheap to make and relatively easy.
Here’s what you need:
096Walnuts (you must crack them carefully…my method: Use a nutcracker on one 1/2 of the shell…that part will break but you will be left with the other 1/2. )  Buy plenty…about 1/3 makes it through the cracking procedure properly.
String…any kind.  I used embroidery thread.
Cotton balls
Tiny black beads
Black thread and a little needle
Fabric scraps
Grey felt
A glue gun

Crack your walnuts like this:
013 Or make your daughter do it, like I did.  Scoop them out.

Cut a square (about 2”) out of a piece of fabric for the blanket part.
Cut a out a rectangular (about 1 1/2” x 3”) piece of felt.
Cut two little tiny ears and a long thin tail
Cut a piece of string to use for the hanger.170 I sewed my nose and eyes on because I am a TERRIBLE glue gunner.  It’s actually easier, I think to sew them on, and stitch up the underside of the face. (If you are a master glue gunner, go for it!) Place the nose in the middle at the very bottom of the rectangular piece and the eyes right above.  Stitch up the underside so it forms a cone shape.  Shove a little cotton from a cotton ball in the nose.
133 Use your glue gun and glue the tail, the ears and the string on the walnut: Fold over the back of the mouse’s head and put a quick stitch in…you may need to cut a little fabric off to make it fit in the walnut properly:124165166  Use your glue gun and glue that head in there…I just use a little bead of glue around the inside edge.
125Place a fluffed up cotton ball in the middle of the fabric “blankie” and wrap up like a ball:105Next, fit your fabric covered “blankie” cotton ball into the remaining space…glue the same way you did the head.171 139
095
Here’s Andrew’s…he insisted on making himself one using the glue gun…you know the ending of that story.  He loves it though, red mark on his finger and all.
132

Have Fun and Stay Warm!
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32 comments:

  1. RaymondeJanuary 18, 2010 at 3:42 AM

    They are very cute mice, they are not blind! and they still have their tails! Thank you for sharing the craft project, will definitely give it a go. Stay warm too. More snow forecast here! Regards

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  2. btsoi.January 18, 2010 at 8:02 AM

    Ahh these are so very cute. I wish I could make them, but being allergic to nuts, that might not be a great idea. Wonder if I can think of any alternatives to the walnut shell!

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  3. MeganJanuary 18, 2010 at 8:11 AM

    They are super cute...I know my mom has something similar she hangs on the tree!

    Thanks for the tutorial & the great pics (it's ALL about good pics!)

    Have a fabulous Monday ~ off to the grocery store!

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  4. Lelan @ Good Gravy!January 18, 2010 at 8:36 AM

    This brought me right back to childhood - great tutorial, and super cute mice!

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  5. ColleenJanuary 18, 2010 at 9:13 AM

    So cute, and I don't even like mice!

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  6. NancyJanuary 18, 2010 at 9:27 AM

    Now that is something I can do with walnuts... By the way, thanks for the easy tip on the picture enlargement. Worked for me and Yes, I love it. Thanks so much..

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  7. ...You May Say I'm A DreamerJanuary 18, 2010 at 9:31 AM

    A total bast from the past...so cute! A great craft for my little grandkids too! Thanks for sharing:)

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  8. gretchen from lifenutJanuary 18, 2010 at 10:43 AM

    Adorable!

    I, too, remember these from childhood. There must have been a nationwide mouse-in-walnut fad in the late 70s because several hung on our Christmas tree every year. I'm sure my mom still has them. I hope.

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  9. Carmen @ Life with Sprinkles on TopJanuary 18, 2010 at 11:23 AM

    These are so stinkin' adorable! I love them!

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  10. Erin WallaceJanuary 18, 2010 at 11:37 AM

    So cute and adorable and everything else!

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  11. Heather @ Life Made LovelyJanuary 18, 2010 at 11:53 AM

    Those are so sweet!!

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  12. veraJanuary 18, 2010 at 12:31 PM

    These are beyond cute!!!!

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  13. Marie {Make and Takes}January 18, 2010 at 12:41 PM

    Darling craft. I've got a few walnut shells laying around to make this! I love that cute little mouse!

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  14. Shell in your PocketJanuary 18, 2010 at 1:00 PM

    My daughter is behind me going 'ahhhhhh'

    sandy toe

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  15. ...You May Say I'm A DreamerJanuary 18, 2010 at 1:38 PM

    I've also seen really tiny ones made out of peanuts...so cute!

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  16. Kate Riley January 18, 2010 at 1:38 PM

    My daughter happened to be looking over my shoulder when I read this and is BEGGING ME to make these !!!!

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  17. AnonymousJanuary 18, 2010 at 2:13 PM

    Those are adorable! Can't wait to make them. Thanks!

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  18. judy in carefreeJanuary 18, 2010 at 3:45 PM

    Very cute! I wish I knew how to felt because I bet the mice would be super cute made that way. Thanks for showing all of us how!

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  19. TeraJanuary 18, 2010 at 3:45 PM

    Memories!!! I remember making a version of these with my mom & sisters when I was young... So cute :)

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  20. asnipofgoodnessJanuary 18, 2010 at 4:05 PM

    enchantingly adorable!

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  21. JenJanuary 18, 2010 at 10:19 PM

    How cute. Will have to see if my kiddo want to try this one.

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  22. katherinemarieJanuary 20, 2010 at 11:51 AM

    ohhhh these are soooo darling!

    I thought of you yesterday when I was at the movies--- I love that preview for new BABY flick taht you posted a bit back--- can't wait!!!!!! Are you going on opening night???

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  23. MarthaMay 2, 2010 at 7:24 PM

    I just love this...so cute...thank you!

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  24. Marilyn MAugust 20, 2010 at 10:02 AM

    how cute...and they look so easy...thanks for sharing!

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  25. PaulaOctober 6, 2010 at 12:09 AM

    I commented on these lovely creatures in my post:

    http://littleprojectroom.com/wp/?p=51

    They are next on my to-do list, thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Savannah McQueenDecember 11, 2012 at 10:06 AM

    Just a quick note to let you know I am featuring this precious mouse on HammockTracks today.

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  27. Simone de KlerkDecember 6, 2013 at 4:18 AM

    Absolutely adorable!!!

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  28. bronzfrogDecember 13, 2013 at 11:01 AM

    I rember making these for craft shows in the late 80s. I used a pompom ball for the head.

    ReplyDelete
  29. RobyGiupDecember 20, 2013 at 3:53 AM

    Oh, they are so cute!!! :)

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  30. Accidentpronehannah.March 23, 2015 at 6:44 PM

    Love this if you added lavender heads or cloves to the filling they would smell fab.
    Anyone allergic to nuts you could glue very small paper petit four cases together or use small match boxes or make little dried grass nests.

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  31. LadyAlexNovember 25, 2016 at 8:27 PM

    Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I remember growing up with these ornanments. They were my favorite as a child and I longed to have some in my tree as an adult.

    ReplyDelete
  32. ClaudieMarch 27, 2020 at 12:27 PM

    I live near the ocean so will use a shell for the bed! Thanks

    ReplyDelete

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