TUTORIAL; Little Drummmer Boy...or Wooden Horse

I made a Christmas Drum!    I think I love this one more than my Christmas Village!  One of my "ENABLER" crafty peeps told me about a Christmas Drum she pinned on Pinterest, click HERE to see the Pin.  I fell in love!  I started collecting the goodies a couple weeks ago and finally sat down to build it yesterday.  It only took a couple hours and it was a blast to create.  Check out this beautiful Christmas Drum.   I started with a teaser post on my new Instagram account.  I inked up these TH Bottle Brush trees with re-inkers!      I started with this round hat box I found at Michaels for 50% off.  I like it because it was already a vintage paper box.  Simply Stunning!      I made a line all the way around the base of the lid.  This way I know where to stop when adding the beads.  If you don't stop you won't be able to close the lid.  Don't worry, you won't see the line.      I used some twine and tape to give me an idea where the beading was going to be put.  It's a rough idea so don't worry when you aren't following it perfectly.     Heat up the glue gun.  I found the red beads, $1 for 18ft.  Score!     I ran a thin line of hot glue and put the beads right over top. I found this tinsel garland, 7ft at 50% off cost me $1.50.  I used red and silver.     I hot glued the tinsel to the lid top, bottom and the bottom of the hat box.  Using both colours really makes it look rich.      There are those carolers again!  I cut 3 sets of carolers with chipboard then painted them black.  I also distress glittered the NOEL die and 25.      Some Merriment paper snowflake rosettes!  I hate making rosettes.  I admit, this die makes it EASY!     A little Clear Rock Candy Distress Stickles on the snowflake adds a nice shimmer.      I used some Mirrored Stars for the centre of the snowflakes. I used $1 Store finds, wooden ornaments, trees and my dies to adorn the top of the box.       The Complete Christmas Drum!       By hot gluing everything into place it takes no time!     I scattered the wooden ornaments around and on the wooden horse.  I attached the NOEL in pumice stone distress glitter with hot glue.      At the base of the tree lots of presents stacked up and a little toy train!     I found this great wooden horse for $3 and loaded him with vintage looking ornaments.  I just adore him!     I decorated the tree with instruments, scrolls of music and bows.     Another mini wooden horse and a Nutcracker.  Using a sanding block ages them.     All the instruments that adorn the tree came off these mini drums I picked up at the $1 Store.  I mounted this wooden drum, snowman and brush bottle tree instead.  Way cuter.     The snowflake rosettes are a perfect fit along the top of the beads.     I place the Carolers along the bottom and trimmed their legs to fit.  Nestled in the tinsel garland and framed by the red beads they are magical!  
I'm kicking myself I didn't get 2 round hat boxes.  I would have liked a set!  Oh well, next year;)  This project took about 3 hours to build and cost me about $30.  Not bad at all!

Thank you for taking the time to stop by! I think I'm done my holiday crafts.  But you never know, I might find something else to whip up. But really, it's time to bake for the holidays. 
I will be playing along with Simon Says Wednesday Challenge a Bling it On!  I love their challenges, always so fun! If you have something blingy you should play!     Merry Christmas everyone!