Repurposed Salt Shaker Christmas Angels

Hi there! It’s not too late to whip up a Christmas decoration or two, especially if the project is fairly simple like today’s repurposed salt shaker Christmas angels. A quick trip to the thrift store, where salt shakers abound and can be had for a dollar or two, promises to provide one vital piece necessary for this project. 

I picked up a box of nine “tower” shaped shakers at a garage sale. As soon as I saw them I thought “angel body.” I’m sure their are other shapes out there that would work for this project. I’ve linked below to a set of twelve that appear identical to mine.

In this post I’m also going to answer the important question: What’s a girl to do with an excess of vintage clip-on (or screw-back) earrings? Aren’t you dying to know?!!

Related posts: Pine cone angels, toilet paper tube angels, repurposed vintage dangle-y clip-ons

Materials to Make Repurposed Salt Shaker Christmas Angels

* This post contains affiliate links for products necessary to complete this project. This is both for your convenience as well as to support this blog, as I receive a small compensation whenever you click on such a link and make any sort of purchase, for which I thank you.

Materials

• Salt shakers
• 1″ Wooden ball/knob
• Faux snow
• Lace
• Silver or gold cord
• Weldbond glue 
• Hot glue gun 
• Modge Podge 
• White craft paint 
• Pliers 
• Scissors 
• 1/8″ hole punch

• Clear glitter or glittered paper

• Vintage clip on (or screw back) earrings

No earrings on hand? How about a small pin? Decorative buttons? Scrapbook embellishments like stick on pearls or gems?

If you decide to use earrings, select button-type versions that have relatively flat backs so they can be easily attached with hot glue. Use pliers to remove the clip or the screw back as close to the base as you can.

1. Paint the Salt Shaker Angel Heads

Paint the wooden heads with white craft paint. You can use spray paint (like I did) but I don’t recommend it because the force of the spray paint makes the heads move around a bit–not helpful when you’re trying to paint them fully.

2. Fill the Shakers, Glue the Heads & Add a Lace Collar

Fill the shakers with faux snow. Use Weldbond glue (for an extremely secure bond) to attach the head to the top of the shaker and allow them to dry over night. Wrap lace around the angel’s neck and hot glue it into place. Be sure to remove those pesky strands of hot glue that always seem to be hanging around, like the piece on the left side of this photo, LOL.

3. Make Wings for Salt Shaker Angels

Pre-glittered cardstock: Cut out 2 wing shapes using this template and glue the non-glittered sides together so you can see the glitter front or back.

Heavy cardstock: Cut out 1 wing shape and apply Modge Podge and glitter to one side. Let it dry and then apply to the other side and let it dry.

  Punch two holes in the wings as shown and thread a piece of thin cord through the holes as shown. Use this cord to attach the wings to the back of your angel by tying it around her neck.

You could tie the cord in a bow and let that be the neck decoration. However, I tie the cord in a tight knot and then cover it with the vintage earring.

4. Add Clip On Earring Embellishment

Use a dab of hot glue to attach a vintage clip on earring (or whatever embellishment you choose) to the neck of the angel, being sure to cover the knotted cord.

5. Add Halos to Your Angels

Final step: Cut a short piece of cord to create your angel’s halo. Dab a tiny spot of hot glue onto one end and creating a circle with the cord, meet it with the other end. Allow it to dry and then dab on a bit more hot glue and press into place on the back of the angel’s head.

While you have to wait for the head and possibly your wings to dry, these beauties actually take very little time to put together. I’ve had great success this year selling my angels at the annual Shaker Holiday Show for $6 each. 

No matter where you’re at with Christmas preparations, I hope you find special moments to spend with those you love–

Thanks so much for stopping by–

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