Making Handmade Christmas Icicles ~ Tutorial

Hi friends!
Here we are in November and if you are like me, you’re surprised at how fast Thanksgiving comes and goes and as if by surprise we are in the midst of Christmas craziness!
I have tried to learn to prepare things early, but that doesn’t always go as planned. These are something I am going to be making in the next week or two. You may already know how to make these….it seems like everything I do, everyone already knows how to also, but when I received quite a few questions a while back on how to make icicles, I thought I would post it here for you.  I hope you enjoy!

 

Supplies
 
~Cotton Batting ~ must be cotton not polyester…just doesn’t work well.
~Thicker Gauge Wire
~Glue
~Instant coffee or walnut stain
~water
~mica or anything for sparkle

Instructions

• Cut the batting into strips about 1 1/2″ wide as long as you want your icicle to be.  I cut mine about 9″ long but if you are putting them on a small tree you probably would cut them 4 -5″ long. The length depends on the size of tree you are going to put these on.
• Next cut the wire about 3″ longer than your fabric strips. Make a hook on each with the extra 3 inches.
• Mix the glue and water together to make a thick runny mixture (I do about 1/4 water to 3/4 glue) You want it to be thick enough to dry hard but thin enough to work with.  Add a little instant coffee or walnut stain if you like but don’t make it too dark because they will darken as they dry.
• Place a large sheet of foil on an old cookie sheet.

• Dip the fabric strips into the grubby mix making sure to coat it well and then squeeze out the excess.

• Starting about 1/2″ below your hook, wrap the fabric around the wire.  I wrap it around once and then go back and tighten it so that it is snug on the wire.

•  Lay them on the foil as you go not letting them touch.
• When you have as many as you want, (cover and save your leftover glue mixture, you’ll need this later) either air dry them or place them in a warm 170 degrees oven until dry.  I turn them once or twice while drying.
• When dry, bring out your excess glue mixture.  Using a brush, I use a foam brush, lightly dip in glue and run up one side and down the other of the icicle and then sprinkle with mica.  Let dry and you are done.

To make 50 of these it takes about 2 1/2 hours with drying time in the oven.