DIY Clay Snowman Trinket Box

30 November

If you are subscribed to LVC and you read yesterday's newsletter then you know why I'm not really decorating for Christmas this year.


But, even though I'm not decorating I still feel the urge to create some Christmasy goodies 😊


I love creating with polymer clay so I decided to try making a cute little snowman and I'm showing you how too!


DIY Clay Snowman on a Recycled Trinket Box

DIY Clay Snowman on a Recycled Trinket Box

Isn't he cute?

Let me show you how to make him ⛄

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission which helps keep my blog up and running but it won't cost you a penny more)! Click here to read my full disclosure policy

Supplies Needed:
  • Oven bake polymer clay - red, black, and white
  • Wire coat hanger (or other thick, sturdy wire)
  • Wire cutters
  • Pipe cleaners - red and white
  • Ribbon (for his scarf, hatband, and trim around the container)
  • Felt - black
  • Scissors
  • Recycled container (cosmetic, food, anything with a flat top)
    • Paint and embellishments for the container (optional)
  • Glue (I used E6000)
  • Glitter (optional)
  • Two toothpicks

Step 1: Create the head and body for your snowman.

Roll out a ball of white clay about 1" in diameter, then roll out another ball and shape it into a teardrop shape so that it measures about 1 1/2" long.

Poke a toothpick into the small end of the teardrop and then stick the ball onto the toothpick. These will be your snowman head and body.

Remove the toothpick and set the head and body aside.
DIY Clay Snowman on a Recycled Trinket Box

Step 2: Create the boots.

Roll out two balls about 1/2" in diameter and two logs about 1" long from black clay.

Stand the logs on end and push them down with your finger until they are about 1/2" tall.

Place the balls next to the standing logs and push them gently together and blend the sides with your fingers.

DIY Clay Snowman on a Recycled Trinket Box

Step 3: Create the legs.

Cut two pieces of the coat hanger (or other thick, sturdy wire) about 1 1/4" long each.

DIY Clay Snowman on a Recycled Trinket Box

Stick these down into the tops of the boots and gently stick the body onto the tops of the wire legs being careful not to push the wires through the bottoms of the boots. Leave the body and boots on the wires and set them aside.

DIY Clay Snowman on a Recycled Trinket Box


Step 4: Create the mittens.

Roll out four balls of black clay (or whatever color you want the mittens to be), two about 1/4" in diameter and two about 1/8" in diameter.

Flatten the larger balls with your fingers and flatten one side by pushing them against the table.

Place the small balls next to the flattened pieces toward the bottom, flattened edge then press gently together and blend with your fingers.

DIY Clay Snowman on a Recycled Trinket Box
Step 5: Stick each end of a pipe cleaner into the mittens, this will be the arms. Remove the pipe cleaner and set it aside (you will reinsert the pipe cleaner after baking).

DIY Clay Snowman on a Recycled Trinket Box

Step 6: Create a clay heart for the snowman's hat.

Roll two balls of red clay about 1/2" in diameter each.

Press them gently together.

Use your fingers to squeeze the bottom and pull down gently to form the point of the heart.

Blend gently with your fingers.

DIY Clay Snowman on a Recycled Trinket Box

Step 7: Add any desired details.

Break off the end of a toothpick to use for a nose and make the hole in the snowman's face with it, then remove and set aside (not pictured)

Use a toothpick to add holes for the smile and buttons down the front of his body if desired.

Step 8: Bake according to the package directions.

You will need to bake the body longer than the other pieces due to the thickness. Take care not to overbake the smaller pieces.

DIY Clay Snowman on a Recycled Trinket Box

Step 9: Assemble your snowman.

Add a dab of glue to the ends of the toothpick and slide it back into the body and head, leaving a little gap between those two pieces.

Add a dab of glue to the ends of the pipe cleaners and slide them into the mittens.

Wrap the pipe cleaner around the neck of the snowman to create poseable arms.

Paint the small piece of the toothpick orange, add a dab of glue to the end, and stick it in the hole for a nose.

DIY Clay Snowman on a Recycled Trinket Box

Step 10: Create the hat.

Use black felt and cut a circle about twice the size of the head. The head is about 1" in diameter, so cut the circle of felt about 2 - 2 1/2" in diameter (I used pinking sheers to create the ruffled edge).

Cut a rectangle from black felt about 1 1/2" long by however tall you want the hat to be, then glue the ends together to form a cylinder shape.

Cut a circle of black felt to fit the top of the hat.

Run a bead of glue around the top and bottom edges of the cylinder shape, glue one end to the larger circle, and then glue the small circle to the top.

Allow this to dry, then cut a piece of ribbon to form the hatband. glue the hatband on and then glue the clay heart onto that.

DIY Clay Snowman on a Recycled Trinket Box


Step 11: Put the hat and scarf on the snowman.

Cut two small slits in the bottom of the large hat circle to form a plus and then slide the hat onto your snowman's head, secure with a couple dabs of glue.

Cut a piece of ribbon and wrap it around his neck to form a scarf that will hide where his arms are attached.

DIY Clay Snowman on a Recycled Trinket Box

Step 12: Paint the face.

You can use blush to create the cheeks or red paint and a super dry brush. Then use the end of a paintbrush or pencil to add dots of black paint for the eyes.

DIY Clay Snowman on a Recycled Trinket Box

Step 13: Prepare the container he will stand on.

If you are using a plastic container and will be painting it, sand it gently so the paint will adhere nicely.

Paint in the color of your choice and once that's dry you can embellish as you please.

DIY Clay Snowman on a Recycled Trinket Box

DIY Clay Snowman on a Recycled Trinket Box

Step 14: Finish the snowman.

Glue the snowman to the top of the container and give it time to dry.

DIY Clay Snowman on a Recycled Trinket Box

Glitter the mittens, boots, and hat and give him a little red pipe cleaner heart if desired. His arms are poseable so he can hold whatever you want as long as it's not too heavy (he has no muscles in his little pipe cleaner arms! 😂)

DIY Clay Snowman on a Recycled Trinket Box

Step 16: Enjoy!!

PIN ME!
DIY Clay Snowman on a Recycled Trinket Box




Posted by: at 30 November Tag:

Comments by Facebook

Comments by Blogger

  1. I love him! He's adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This little guy is absolutely adorable! Can't wait to make one of my own!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay, I'd love to see yours when you are finished Pam!

      Delete
  3. He is absolutely adorable! Awesome tutorial too BTW

    ReplyDelete
  4. Absolutely darling! I love the heart!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I love your comments! If you want to be notified when I respond to you, check the "Notify Me" button under your comment.