Snowman Christmas Ornaments - Make These Lovelies Easily

Inspiration For Snowman Christmas Ornaments

So, of course, I scanned through lots of pins on Pinterest for inspiration for Snowman Christmas Ornaments. A while back, as I worked on the Halloween pumpkins and mindlessly applied the paper clay to them, it dawned on me that making a snowman ornament from the paper mache would be a great idea.

Searching for inspiration, I pinned lots of ideas to my Pinterest ☃ Snowmen ☃ board and the paper mache board. Ultimately, a pin with adorable snowman head ornaments catches my eye. ► These from Karla are adorable.

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Directions For the Snowman Head

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Supplies

water balloons
newspaper
scissors
Elmer’s Glue-All
Paper mache clay
Kilz latex primer and sealer
Deco Art Acrylic craft paints
Deco Art Antiquing medium
Paintbrushes
Clear glitter
Mod podge

Elmer’s Glue-All is very similar to Aleene’s Tacky Glue. Surprisingly, I find that it adheres pretty quickly. It is much better than Elmer’s School Glue. I buy a large bottle of it and fill the small squeeze bottles. It is cheaper than buying multiple squeeze bottles. A tip here ►use your 50% off coupons at Michael’s or Joann’s to buy this.

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You can make your own paper mache clay. My post on the pumpkins and how to make the paste and the paper mache clay can be found here.◄ Be aware that the pumpkins take a large amount of paper mache clay. These snowmen ornaments take very little. If you want to make your own using my recipe, make a quarter or a lesser fraction of the recipe.

I've also found that it is best to store the paper clay in the fridge with a piece of plastic wrap pressed down over the top of the clay to keep it freshest.  Otherwise, it can mold.  Yuk!😲

Instructions For The Snowman Heads

Snowman Christmas Ornaments - Make These Lovelies Easily — Snowman Christmas Ornaments – Make These Lovelies Easily.

The Balloons

First, blow up the water balloon. You want these to be about the size of a small snowball. These are slightly less than 3-inches in diameter across the middle of the balloon. They are about 3-1/2 inches from the mouth to the top. It’s not critical but I didn’t want them to be too big. By the time you add one-eighth of an inch of paper mache, they will be a quarter-inch thicker in total.

Attach The Paper Strips

Since I ran out of the paper mache paste from the pumpkins, I just use Elmer’s glue to glue the paper strips to the balloons. The glue dries very quickly. If you do this assembly line, by the time you have covered half of the balloon on a few, the first one will be dry and ready for adding the remaining strips.

Yes, those are Oui jars! Here’s another use for those cute little jars! I put them to good use supporting the paper mache heads while they dry.

You can see the balloon stems are still attached at this point. The rest of the balloon is completely covered with a layer of paper strips. The pumpkins need at least 3 layers because a lot of paper mache is added. The base needs to be very sturdy. One layer of paper strips is all that is needed for these little shapes.

Adding The Paper Mache Clay

Cover about half of the shape with paper mache clay. Turn the balloon upside down, rest it on the Oui jar or a small glass, and allow the clay to dry overnight. Don’t cut off the balloon stem yet.

Cover the remaining balloon with the clay leaving the balloon stem protruding from a small hole. Let the clay dry overnight.

Once the clay is dry, then, you can cut the balloon stem at the base. Use the clay to cover the hole and create a carrot nose for the snowmen. Rest the ball on the jars again overnight. You might want to lay the head horizontally with the nose facing up so it doesn’t drop with gravity.

When you attach the nose, keep in mind that you will be adding a hat. The narrower end of the shape seems to be the best end for covering with the hat. The rounder end looks better for the chin.

Make Multiple Snowman Christmas Ornaments

These come together so quickly, you could make enough to decorate an entire tree in no time! We are talking about inexpensive ornaments in no time.

You can see the progression in the picture. The first one is covered with paper strips and the last is completely covered with a carrot nose.

If I had realized how quickly these came together, I would have made more.

Apply Water Base Sealer Stainblocker

Brush at least one coat of sealer onto the heads. I use Kilz. You can use a different brand if you have one.

Allow the paint to dry.

Paint the Snowman Christmas Ornaments With Acrylic Craft Paint

After the primer-sealer has dried, paint the entire snowball with white acrylic craft paint. Paint the carrot nose orange. Add some very fine lines with brown paint to resemble a carrot if you like. Use black paint to make eyes, eyebrows if you want, and a mouth.

Add a little touch of white paint to make the eyes sparkle a little. Use a wash of pink, rose, or red for blush.

Then, when the paint is dry, use the antiquing medium in a wash all over the snowman’s head. Wipe it off with a paper towel allowing the brown color to stay in the indentations.

Add The Clear Glitter To The Snowman Christmas Ornaments

Next, using a paintbrush, cover the head with Mod Podge, avoiding the carrot nose, mouth, eyebrows, and eyes if possible. If the Mod Podge is too thick, you can add water to it, a little at a time until you have a perfect consistency.

Sprinkle or shake clear glitter over the entire snowman head. Allow the glue to completely dry. If you got some glue and glitter on the eyes or mouth, use a small stiff brush to remove it while the glue is still wet.

3 Hat Options For The Snowman Christmas Ornaments

Materials needed:

fleece fabric
gold or silver thread
small rubber bands
scissors

Loosely, measure around the snowman head and add another 1/2 – inch for a 1/4 – inch seam. I said loosely because you don’t want the hat to be too tight. Decide how long you want the hat to be. It needs to be long enough to fold up the bottom into a cuff, fit over the head, and enough for a one to 1-3/4-inch tassel to be cut at the top. (I like the longer length.)

Measure, Cut, And Sew

If your snowman heads are not the same size, you will want to measure and custom-make each one.

Cut the fleece using your measurements. I cut this first one 7″ x 9″, wanting to be sure it was long enough for the fringe. In the end, I cut off two inches. Better safe than sorry!

Fold in half lengthwise and stitch a 1/4-inch seam creating a tube.

Turn the right side out and fold the bottom edge up to create a ‘cuff’.

Place on the snowman’s head.

Hat Fringe Option 1

Gather With A Rubber Band

Use the small rubber band to gather the top end of the hat close to the snowman’s head. It has been my experience that rubber bands often break over time. So breakage doesn’t ruin your snowman hat, tie a ribbon or string around the rubber band and make a bow or knot. Trim the ends of the ribbon or string.

Create The Fringe

Using sharp scissors, cut the end of the fleece down to the rubber band into a fringe. Be careful not to cut the rubber band!

Hat Fringe Option 2

Cut The Fringe

For the second fleece hat I made, I cut the fringe before securing it with the rubber band. This method is easier.

Gather the tube around the snowman’s head. Decide how long you want the fringe. Cut off the excess length. Lay the snowman and hat on a flat surface, hold one layer of the fleece up, and cut the fringe.

Gather And Secure

Gather close to the snowman’s head and secure it with a small rubber band. Wrap with ribbon and tie a bow.

Option 2 seems much easier to me. Either way will work but it’s less tedious and frustrating to cut the fringe the second way.

#2 Felt Hat For The Snowman

Supplies needed:

felt
thread
ribbon
embellishments

The instructions for the black felt top hat in the link below include angling the pattern at the top of the hat to make it more of a top hat look. The pink hat on the snowman ornament is made with just a rectangular piece of felt cut long enough to cover the inside edge of the brim plus 1/2 inch for the seam.

Click here ► for the step-by-step instructions for this felt top hat.

How To Make A Snowman You'll Love — Black Felt Top Hat

#3 Snowman Knit Beanie

Supplies Needed:

woman’s sock
Polyfil cluster stuff or Fiberfill
Decorative string
Embellishments

Click here► for the step-by-step directions for the snowman beanie.

Gluing The Hat and Attaching The String For Hanging

Felt Hat

You will want to glue the hats to the snowman heads securely with Tacky Glue or Elmer’s Glue-All. Run a line of glue all around the brim of the felt hat on the inside where the hat touches the snowman’s head. The hats need to be firmly attached to the ornament.

Beanie and Fleece Hats

Place the hat on the snowman and, a little at a time, roll the cuff up and run a bead of glue where the hat will roll back on top of it. Roll the hat back over the glue and repeat until it is secured all around the hat. Let the glue dry for a couple of minutes.

Attach The String

Then, with your forefinger and thumb, grasp the hat to find the best place to attach the string. Too far back and it will hang too far forward. Too far forward and it will hang too far backward. Using a needle and your metallic thread, silver or gold thread is perfect, pierce the fabric and run through a generous size of fabric so it won’t put too much stress on the fabric! I used a double thread, just for good measure…

Now, they are ready to be hung on the tree!

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One-of-a-Kind Snowman Ornaments

How To Make Hats For Cute Snowman Ornaments

Photo Credit: myhumblehomeandgarden.com

How To Make One-of-a-Kind Snowman Ornaments

Photo Credit: myhumblehomeandgarden.com