Frosty's repaint and repairs

 Poor old Frosty. I was trying to figure out how old he is. Mom died in 2006, Dad in 2007, so I think he dates back to at least 2005-ish. They weren't in any condition to shop much after this. It could be older! 

I made his arms from dowels one year, as he looked odd in a t-shirt, for example, and put hands on him, as well! You can see more here: Frosty-the-snowman AKA Mr. Dress-up. One Easter he was wearing rabbit ears. In 2012, his October pumpkin costume. 

We commissioned a new hat from Kim, Jiny's husband, this summer. It had fallen apart in winter.

He came and attached it. It was a lovely day to work outside, Frosty is gazing across the driveway. 

I took my hand sanding equipment down to him. Sanding did little good.  

Giving up, I brought him back to the house. 

His boots were broken off, and I re-braced them with three more braces. I don't remember putting on the old rusty brackets, so either my dad did it, or I did it awhile ago!

 I repainted his nose orange. 

I covered his black shoes, having repainted them black a day ago, with green painter's tape. First coats of white paint, it took several coats, and I have to keep going. It wasn't quite enough.

Funnily enough, I lugged the umbrella back to the shed the day before, having not used it all summer. We had rain in the forecast, and the white paint is latex. I didn't want to take a chance. Of course, the rain didn't amount to much.

Another coat the next day. I figured out how to do his button eyes and nose. Kim had given us the black enamel can of spray paint he'd used on his top hat. I was figuring out how to use it and thought of this idea. I sprayed it into a cap, and used a fine paint brush. 

My hands were covered in black paint. This is a cool container I refilled with nail polish remover. I've seen them at the nail salon and thought it perfect. You just press down on the top and the liquid comes out.

I still couldn't get all the paint off, despite hot water and soap. Applying Skin So Soft on dry hands soaked it up, I washed my hand again, and most of the paint was gone. Except for under my fingernails. That required more intervention.

I kept at it. I used to hate not completing a job in one day. It was worth it taking my time. Next up was Frosty's cheek blush. I have a hard enough applying my make up. This required some creativity. I wrapped some cotton balls in fabric, spray painted it, and dabbed. Now his left cheek blush is lower than his right, but that's how I roll! I used the Skin So Soft, again, and it all washed off.

There we have him! Not a bad job. I'll move him onto the front deck for winter. 

Good as new!