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Are you looking for a KIDS art project that repurposes items you already may have on hand? Especially, when they can be creative and have fun making them? This DIY kids art project provides just that and these snowmen make the cutest handmade gift!

Today, I am going to share with you this super cute snowman craft that my kids (okay, and me as well) just completed using items that we already had on hand! My favorite type of DIY project is one that uses discarded items and repurposes them!

As the owner of a kids second-hand shop for over 16 years, I think upcycling and repurposing items just comes naturally, not just to me but to my kids as well. I believe that we can find a purpose or second use for almost anything.

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SNOWMEN ORNAMENTS – KIDS ART PROJECT

Each week we post a “new” KIDS activity and this time we chose this adorable Snowman Ornament made from old jar lids. Of course, it was snowing here in the north country as we were painting ours. Which meant the perfect time to create a few indoor snow people to celebrate winter’s arrival.

For this craft, we will offer two different choices to make each feature so that you can customize it according to what you have on hand and your child’s age level.

tips for this kids art project

When putting a hole in the top of the lid to hang I would recommend not using a drill (learned that the hard way) the metal is so soft it leaves sharp pieces sticking out that are not sander friendly. Using a hammer and wide nail worked perfectly.

Prepare your ornaments surface using fine-grit sandpaper (lightly so paint adheres better)

Adding a thin coat of Mod Podge Sealer over your painted lid helps to prevent peeling & cracking of paint. We applied just after the two coats of white paint prior to adding on the rest of the 3D features.

Keep in mind that some of the lids may require up to three coats of paint to cover their existing design. It’s best to apply thin coats and allow them to fully dry overnight.

materials to make a snowman ornament

Metal lids – any style (1 lid per ornament)
Permanent marker (black)
Orange paint OR orange polymer clay (carrot nose)
Pink Paint or pink permanent marker (rosy cheeks)
White paint (acrylic or spray paint)
Thin ribbon or jute (to hang ornament or use to make a scarf or bow)
Mod Podge (or paint sealer of your choosing)

*OPTIONAL 3D Features

Googly eyes (or you can use a permanent marker or black paint)
Pipe cleaner & 2 small pompons (ear muffs)
White fabric paint for textured 3d “snow hair or hat”
Orange polymer clay (carrot nose)

tools you may need

Hammer & wide nail
Low grit sandpaper
Scissors
Hot glue gun or E6000 glue
Paint Brushes (wide brush for painting lid and a smaller brush for features)
Reusable paint tray

Prep your lids for creating

1. Wash, dry your lids and lightly sand the top so the paint adheres easier
2. Apply white paint till you have the coverage you want. (brush paint or spray paint)

Apply a thin coat of Mod Podge after the painting has been completed to prevent paint peeling or chipping (prior to adding any 3D features)

Time to add the details!

EYES- they can paint them on, or glue googly eyes or even draw them on with a permanent marker

NOSE- they can paint them on, draw them on with a permanent marker or make a nose from polymer clay only takes 10 minutes to back! (We LOVE Sculpey clay!)

MOUTH- black paint or permanent marker

EARMUFFS- cut a pipe cleaner a few inches long enough to glue on the top rim of their lid adding a pompom on either side

SCARF or BOW- kids can add a hairbow, bow tie, or scarf by cutting and tying ribbon

SNOW HAIR or CAP- drizzle white fabric paint over the top part of the lid for a textured 3D icing look

SPARKLING SNOW- can be added using a glue and Epsom salt mixture and then just brush it on

Our top 8 “must have” art & craft supplies

Our FAVORITE “go to” art & craft supplies that I try to always have on hand that we use when repurposing or upcycling items. I added the shopping links to the products below for your convenience.

1. Tulip Dimensional Fabric Paint (extra bottles of white for the look of icing)
2. Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint by Plaid (even though it’s very inexpensive we have never had a problem with coverage)
3. Mod Podge Waterbase Sealer, Glue & Decoupage Finish (gloss version) & (matte version)
4. Sculpey Polymer Clay – I could do an entire post just on the different things my kids create each week with this clay, Everything from snails to dragons, play food for Shopkins & Barbies. Along with every single critter you can imagine has been formed and created in my kitchen by precious little hands.
5. Sharpie Permanent Markers – I use these often in my business and now find us using them quite a bit for our projects as well!
6. E-6000 Glue – Using this in a well-vented space for sure! But it works and works very
well.
7. Burlap Roll 5 inches wide – Burlap is compostable which is one reason why I use it in a variety of projects you’ll see here on my blog.
8. Jute Twine String– Biodegradable & environmentally friendly and used in dozens of household projects

come join us!

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PRINTABLE “HOW TO MAKE” CARD