How To Make A Snowman Out Of Snow

Isn't it most people's dream to build a snowman? First of all, in preparation you won't really need that much to build your snowman, but as it's snowing it will be cold, so dress warm! The main material you will need for your snowman is - well - snow! And hopefully you will have loads of this. But you will also need to think about how you would like to decorate him.

1. Step 1: Gather The Snowman Materials

   Some other items which might be handy would be twigs to represent his arms, lumps of coal for his eyes or buttons, something like a carrot for his nose, small stones or coal again to create a mouth, and even clothing such as a hat or scalf would also look fantastic on your snowman and give him more of a personailty. What you use to decorate him is up to you, so let your imagination flow!

2. Step 2: Decide Your Method

   To build the snowman, I find it is easiest to use my hands, but it may keep your hands warmer to use a shovel to collect the snow you will need. And as you may not have, or be able to use, a shovel I will explain how to build one using only your hands (the principle is the same if you use a shovel, but at some point you will need to get your hands cold to complete the finishing touches).

3. Step 3: Build The Body

   You will need to create two rounded extra large snowballs to form the shape of the snowman. Traditionally the snowman's main body looks like one big snowball on top of another bigger snowball, (sometimes he can be made out of three sections, this is something you may want to consider in your design).

4. Step 4: Make Your Snowball

   Gather a handful of snow and shape it into a snowball in your hands, keep adding snow to it, packing it onto the sides. Once you have a roundish ball of snow, the pressure from your hands patting it down should make it compact and icy - a lot more solid than the snow that has fallen and softly settled on the ground.

5. Step 5: Roll Your Snowball

   There are two ways you can bulk up the segments of the snowman. It takes a bit of skill and practice, but you can roll the large snowball in the snow to collect more snow. Keep pushing it along until you have him in the spot (and large enough) that you want him to stand (or you could try to lift him and place him there). You may occasionally need to pat this snow onto him to make him firm.

6. Step 6: Use Your Hands

   If you are not very good at rolling the snowball / the snowman segments in the snow, then don't worry because you can easily place the body in your chosen spot and add more snow to him by hand, this way you can hand craft the shape of your snowman. Which can mean it will look even better and more individual.

7. Step 7: Make The Head

   For each section or segment your snowman will have, you need to repeat the previous steps, but remeber the segments will get smaller the taller your snowman gets. If you aim to create your snowman's head just a little bit bigger than your own it should be about right. This way he will look more comical if you add a hat when you are complete.

8. Step 8: Finishing Touches

   There - now you have the main structure for your snowman. All you need to do now is decorate him! Using the items that you have found give your snowman a face, as mentioned before carrots make good noses. And using the lumps of coal or small stones, you can give him a mouth and eyes. Finally other items like a hat and scarf can be added to make him look even more human. Enjoy your snowman!