Build the Coolest Snowman on the Block With These Expert Tips
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
Across the country, some of us are beginning to see first snowfalls of the season—which means winter activities are in full swing. And you know what they say, when life gives you snow, make a snowman! Okay, so maybe that's not the exact saying, but it'd be pretty cool if it was, right? Pun definitely intended. ❄️
So, when it comes to actually building a frosty of your own, where do you start? Well, for answers, we spoke to none other than the snowman expert himself, Bob Eckstein. Yep, that's a thing! His book The Illustrated History of the Snowman comes after seven years of worldwide research to discover who exactly created the first snowman. And here's a fun fact for you! He says, "Snowman making is probably one of the very few activities we share with our ancestors. Making artwork was something that came natural to prehistoric man." Given the long history of the snowman, you can probably imagine that he's discovered some pretty great frozen friends along the way.
But, when we asked him the age-old question (quite literally) "How do you make a snowman?" he answered with, "When you ask me how to make a snowman, it's a little bit like asking Thomas Edison to tell you a light bulb joke. Or asking Michelangelo how to make a stick figure. There's a lot more to snowmen. And how to make a snowman is, of course, simple. The only advice and tips that I give is that you be creative and do anything you want." If you need a little help starting out though, we've got step-by-step instructions to get you going. Now grab your snow toys, lace up your snow boots, put on your winter coats, and let's get into the seasonal fun!
How do you make a snowman step by step?
The first thing you'll want to do when building your snowman is pick the perfect spot for him to reside. Eckstein says, "People ask about level ground or hills, it makes no difference... I have photographs of snowman on flat ground on hills and all different forms." So, head out to your backyard, a park in your neighborhood, or even your local sledding hill and let the building begin. You just want to make sure there's a few inches of snow on the ground to work with. He adds, "If you make a snowman in the shade, it will last longer." With that in mind, we suggest finding an area for your frosted fella that doesn't get much direct sunlight, like under trees or the awning of your house. And don't forget, the larger the snowman, the longer it will take him to melt.
Once you've got a place to pack your snow, you can get to rolling your snowballs! You don't want the snow to be too powdery, but it also can't be too wet. Here's what Eckstein has to say about that: "If you can make a snowball, because the moisture content in the snow enables it to stick, then that's all you need to know." When you've formed your snowball, you'll want to then roll it in the snow to form the base of your snowman. The trick is to start rolling in one direction then reverse directions and continue rolling. You'll want to keep this up while simultaneously using your hands to pack down the snow and keep that circular shape. (Just make sure you're wearing winter gloves!)
Once the snowball has reached a size that you're happy with, roll it to its final spot and repeat the process for the middle and head of the snowman—making them smaller to fit on top of each other. We often see the three-tiered snowman here in the U.S., but according to Eckstein, "In all different parts of the world, people make snowmen different ways. But, there's no wrong way." So, why not put your creativity to the test? You can make your snowman standing up with one big pile of snow, or create a smaller pal lounging on the ground. The choice is yours!
What materials do you need to build a snowman?
Now comes the best (and most important) part of snowman building: bringing your frosty to life! For that, Eckstein says, "The biggest tip is to find a way to make a nice face, whether it's using sticks or objects found in the garage." He adds, "Encouraging children to do that is great artistic exercise. Because if you make them find the objects to form the face, they're using their imagination. And that in itself is a great activity, as opposed to using, let's say, a snowman kit."
The traditional snowman we often think of is crafted with a carrot for a nose and buttons for eyes, but you can take a unique approach by rounding up items like loose change, colorful pebbles, or even bouncy balls. For the arms, stick with sticks or grab gardening tools like a mini shovel or rake. There's just so many options. Think: leaves for hair, felt for facial expressions, and a raggedy blanket for a shawl. You might even consider going with a theme. Try out a snow family on the beach, snow princesses, and a snow sports team, too. As Eckstein pointed out, "That's the big lesson in snowman making is that you can't do it wrong, as long as you give your snowman a personality."
You Might Also Like
