Wintery, Wonderful Snowman

I found this snowman in an old copy of the "Family Fun" magazine. It was only the picture of the snowman along with a group of children who had made them, no instructions. I am not sure if it was a craft from the magazine in a previous issue, or if it was an entry from a family, but I took the picture and just starting winging it. The first thing you must know about this project is that it is made from a paver. In other words, a brick, and it is not the lightest project to do. It is called a "Euro Paver" and can be found at home improvement centers such as Menard's, Home Depot, Lowe's, or most garden centers that also have patio building materials.

The paver looks as if it is two bricks, one brick on top of another, but it is all one piece. The shape of the paver is an octagon shaped bottom, with a square top. You can see this better in the supply picture below.

I hope the children in your life have as much fun with this snowman as did all of the children in my community education classes. This one is a big hit. In the spring I will show you how to make an Easter Bunny using this same type of paver.

Supply List

1 Euro Paver

Silver chenille pipe cleaner

White Paint-indoor/outdoor

Black Paint

Tacky Glue

2- 2 inch pom poms, any color

18 inch piece of Fleece

foam brush

small stencil brush

small art brush

carrot nose, make form orange poly clay or buy one

scrap piece of felt or soft material

***For the carrot nose you can try to find a little carrot at a craft store. (I have found them in the past.) Or you can make carrot noses out of polymer clay. Just take a small amount of the clay, roll into a ball and then roll between your thumb and finger (like a small hot dog) to make a carrot shape. Just keep one end fatter than the other end. Then bake according to the package directions. VERY EASY***

Before you get started cover the working area with newspaper or an old vinyl table cloth.

1. Paint the snowman completely, front, back and sides, with the white paint. The first time you paint it, the paint will soak into the brick. The brick will need to be painted 2-3 times before it looks good and coated well. But don't worry, kids love to paint. Let it dry for about 10-15 minutes between each coat.

2. The white paint will dry fairly quickly and once it is dry it is time to paint the eyes. Lay the snowman flat, making sure the best side is facing up. Using the small stencil brush, (or art brush) and black paint, paint two circles for eyes.

3. With the same brush and black paint, paint three coal buttons down the front of the snowman.

4. Using the small art brush and black paint, make dots to form the shape of a smiling mouth.

5. Cut the chenille pipe cleaner in half. It should reach from one side of the "head" to the other side. This will be the top part of the ear muffs.

6. Keeping the snowman laying flat, glue one end of the chenille pipe cleaner to the side of the head where an ear would be. Then glue one of the pom poms on top of the pipe cleaner. Bend the pipe cleaner over the head and glue pipe to the other side and the last pom pom on top of the pipe. Hold both pom poms for a few minutes until glue has set.

7. Glue on the carrot nose and hold in place for a moment.

8. Using the piece of fleece (approx. 1 1/2 inches wide by 18 inches long) snip both ends about 1 inch long, so that it looks like it has a fringe. Lift the snowman and lay the piece of fleece under the snowman's neck. Wrap around the neck and tie it off to the side.

9. Cut a piece of felt or soft material the same size as the bottom of the paver and glue onto the bottom.

This will keep the paver from scratching the floor or table.

You know have a wintery, wonderful, Snowman for indoors or out.