We are proud to welcome local artist Ashlee Herrera to our group of columnists. Each edition “Art With Ashlee” will offer a chance to explore your own artistic abilities as you follow step by step instructions for each featured project. From crafts to painting and working in several mediums this new feature promises to be great fun for all. Fall and Winter come together in this first, fun and festive pallet character.

Seasonal Pallet Character

By Ashlee Herrera

Step 1: Find a pallet.

Step 2: Using a crowbar rip the boards off. You will need six boards to make one. When finished they are approximately 3 ft tall and 2 1/2 feet wide at the brim of the hat.

Step 3: Lay five of the boards flat. Cut the sixth board in half to make the brim for the hat.

Step 4: Staple the five vertical boards together on the top and the bottom.

Step 5: Screw the hat brim on. I liked the look of the hat being diagonal, but you could make it straight if you would like. Screw the hat on so it lines up perfectly on both sides.

Step 6: Using exterior black paint, paint one side of the hat. Then using exterior white paint, paint the rest of the same side. Let dry.

Step 7: Flip over and stain the hat with a redwood or a dark stain. Then stain the rest of the side with a natural stain. Let dry.

Step 8: Now your ready to paint the faces on both sides. Be creative!

Step 9: Glue the flower on the scarecrow hat. Flip around and glue the limbs and the pinecones on the snowman hat. I bought fall flowers from Michael’s last year when they went on 80 percent off sale. As for the pinecones I made my boys go find them, and the greenery was a leftover Christmas decoration.

Now you have an outside decoration that is good for months by just turning it around as the seasons change. I made them in bulk this year as a fundraiser for Lake Almanor Christian School, and because of the amount of interest, we will likely be doing it again next year.