[video_quote pvideo=”” video=”xrAPhVpZ” text=”Guide to Giant, Life-Sized Nutcracker”]

Why buy a huge expensive Nutcracker when you can build one at home? With this guide, you’ll be on your way to having the best and biggest Nutcracker this Christmas!

[image_with_caption text=”Giant Nutcracker” image=”https://itsblossom.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Screenshot-2022-12-07-104828.png” url=””]

Giant Nutcracker

Ingredients:

• 1 12 x 48 in building form tube
• 4 4 in x 4 ft PVC pipes
• 2 4 in PVC cap sockets
• 1 quart size yogurt container
• 2 2ft wood slats
• 12in circular wood board
• Hot glue gun
• 2in wide ribbon in the color of your choice
• Acrylic paint (we used red, black, cream, and navy)
• Nutcracker face template
• Pencil
• Painter’s tape
• 4in wide black ribbon
• Roll of velcro
• 2 clear 4in ornament globes
• White craft fur
• Decorations (flowers, tassels, etc.)

Directions:

1. Start with a 12 x 18 in wood board. Paint black
2. Attach your 2ft wood slats to board, spread out evenly, about 8in apart
3. Cut a quart sized plastic cup in half (we used a yogurt container). Glue to wood board, in front of the wood slats. Paint black (these will be the feet)
4. Slide 1 PVC pipe over each wood slat
5. Attach your 12in circular wood board to the top of the PVC pipes. This is what will support the tube form.
6. Attach tube form to circular board, making sure it is even.
7. Paint your tube form (this will be the hat, face, and torso). For easy painting, separate each section with painter’s tape
8. Use a small piece of wood (we used a door stopper) for the nose. Attach with hot glue
9. Print out a nutcracker face and use it as a template to trace out your facial features. Fill in with paint. 
10. Remove tape and wrap ribbon between each section of the body for a clean line.
11. Decorate the coat and hat. We used ribbon, jacket buttons, and gold floral decals.
12. Wrap your black ribbon around the “waist” of the tube. Add gold ribbon for a belt buckle.
13. Paint your other 2 PVC pipes to match the jacket. Decorate with ribbon/tassels etc. These will be the arms.
14. Attach your PVC cap sockets to the top of your arms. 
15. Cut your velcro to length of the coat, attach to the tube where the arms would be.
16. Attach the other side of the velcro to the arms, where they will meet the torso. Velcro arms to torso.
17. Paint your clear ornaments to match your selected skin color. These will be the hands.
18. Attach ornaments to the opening of the arms.
19. Cut your craft fur to the length around the head.This will be the hair.
20. Attach hair to a ribbon and wrap around the head. Secure with hot glue
21. Add decorations to the boots. We used ribbon and jacket buttons.
22. Finished! Enjoy your DIY life size nutcracker!