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I <3 snowmen! I have a ton of them! They're a bright spot in an otherwise dreary, cold winter here in Kentucky. And since they aren't just for Christmas, you can display them all winter if you want!
I saw a tutorial for these little snowmen over on the Then She Made blog. I knew the minute I saw them that I was going to be making some!
Here's what I did:
Easy, right? And how cute are these guys???
I had a little trouble finding some of the things needed - at least locally. The thing I had the biggest problem with was the buttons!
Eyes. I checked Jo-Ann's, Hobby Lobby, Michael's, Target, Meijer, and a couple of other places, but was unable to find tiny black buttons to use for eyes. I ended up buying some mini scrapbooking brads
Other buttons. I scrounged through my button basket and found enough to use, because I really didn't see any good buttons at the craft stores. And when I did, they were $4-5 for 2-3 buttons. So my problem was two-fold: I wanted cute buttons, but I wasn't going to pay a fortune for them! What's up with the price of buttons?? I do love the little felt buttons shaped like flowers
Patterned socks. I also had a difficult time finding some cute, patterned, low-cut ankle socks that weren't $4-5/pair. I finally picked up some at Target on clearance for $1.50. Dollar Tree didn't really have anything either. TJMaxx usually has a lot of socks, but the selection can be hit or miss. Again, this is something I keep an eye out for year round and try to pick up on clearance. It took me almost a year to find a pair of cheetah print socks! You can also find patterned ankle socks
White socks. I bought some at Walmart and paid $5 for 4 pairs. I usually use adult size socks, but I have also used children's socks. It depends on how large you want your snowman. I should've checked for the ankle socks there - I have no idea why I didn't! Amazon also carries white crew socks.
Noses. I looked at the craft stores, but couldn't find any locally, so I ordered them online at Consumer Crafts. I usually use the 7/8" size, but I have also used the larger 1.25" ones. It just depends upon the size of the snowman you're making and the size of the nose you like best! The 7/8"size sells for $0.97 for 2 at Consumer Crafts. If you sign up for their emails, you will be notified when they have their $2.97 shipping specials. That's when I stock up on noses. And I'm not sure why I never checked this before, but, of course, Amazon sells the same carrot noses
Rice. I bought 2 bags at the dollar store, but when I needed more, I found a 5 lb. bag at Kroger for less than $2!! I never really measured the amount of rice I put in each sock, but a guesstimate would be 2-4 cups depending upon the size of the sock and how full/fat you make it. And if you want to just order everything from Amazon, they sell rice
So, for me, this wasn't just a simple craft that I could throw together. It took me awhile to gather all the supplies, LOL! However, once I had everything, the snowmen were really easy to make. In the three years that I've been making them, I've given many as gifts - and I try to match the snowman to the person who is receiving it. This year (2015), I've been on a mad hunt for months to find the perfect socks for two of my nieces - one who just got married, and one who just got engaged. I think I found the socks the other day, so I can finally begin the projects!
Aren't they adorable!!?? I'm addicted. You can never have too many snowmen!!
I totally agree, Kim! You can NEVER have too many snowmen! Adorable - thanks so much for sharing! I'm definitely making these, um, next year!
ReplyDeleteThanks, June - I'm glad you like them! From where I'm sitting at my desk, I can see 11 snowmen. Too many? I think not. :-)
DeleteThese are too cute! I can't wait to make them with the kids; thanks for sharing at Mix it up Monday :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa! I've been grabbing up supplies all summer so that I can make more of these for gifts this Christmas. I think all the gals in my cul-de-sac are getting them - and so are my sisters!
DeleteThese are so absolutely adorable!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bev! They are one of my favorite projects I've ever done. I have a Rubbermaid container filled with supplies just for these snowmen. Can't wait to get started on this year's batch!
DeleteThey are super cute. I love that you also included info on where to get supplies. Incredibly helpful. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome!! And thank you for reminding me that I need to order more noses!! LOL!!
DeleteAhhh I love these!!! I collect snowmen and these are SOOO CUTE. Might try my hand at these this winter. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHappy SITS Day!
A fellow snowmen lover!! Yay!! These little guys are really easy to make - and trust me, everyone LOVES them!! You can't go wrong giving them as gifts, but be sure to make a couple of extra ones for yourself!
DeleteI have a dear friend who collects snowmen. I am absolutely going to make her one of these adorable guys!! Happy SITS Day!
ReplyDeleteShe will love it!!! Thank you so much for stopping by to share in my special day!!
DeleteThey are adorable! My kids would love making something like that!
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely a project that kids could manage - and who doesn't love snowmen? If they attend a public/private school and/or are on a team of some sort, they could even use team colors!
DeleteSo cute! Can't wait for Christmas to come to try this! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks!! I can't believe that it's almost time to start the Christmas crafts again! But I admit, it's one of my favorite craft seasons!!
DeleteThese are too cute for words. I bet I could rack up some nice cool points with my niece if I made some of these with her.
ReplyDeleteOh, I bet you could, too! She'll love them!! Thanks for stopping by!!
DeleteDid anyone come across fraying when cutting the sock for the shirt? By the way, these are SOOOO dang cute!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Deja! I've made a ton of these and never really had an issue with fraying - but it probably depends on the socks that you use. If you look closely at the pictures, you can see that a couple of the "shirts" have rolled at the bottom - that's really the only thing that happened with some of my socks, but I didn't mind that.
DeleteThank you very much! I am making these for Christmas gifts. I think they are so adorable!!!!!!
DeleteI've given them for gifts many times, and whoever gets them always loves them! I'm actually searching for a couple of pairs of specific socks to make two more right now, LOL!
DeleteHow did you attach the noses? Did you have to cut into the sock to make room for the knobby bit on the back?
ReplyDeleteI just attached the noses with a hot glue gun. The socks I used had a loose enough weave that the little knobby thing on the back of the nose just slid right through the sock and I was able to glue the nose flat to the sock surface. Hope that helps!
DeleteWhat size carrot nose did you use: 7/8 or 1 1/2? I am so excited to make these. My 7 year old daughter and I are making these for teacher gifts this year. Thanks for the directions.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Shanna! I know you'll have so much fun making these cute little guys! I usually use the 7/8" noses, but I've also used the larger ones. It just depends on the size of the snowman you're making and the look you want. Hope that helps!
DeleteHi Kim, I am making these for a craft group with adults. I am wondering if you can tell me if you use kid size socks or adult size socks. I can't find any specifications on any sites about that. Also, for the size you list could you tell me approximately how much rice I will need for each snowman? Thanks very much
ReplyDeleteHi, April - I've used both sizes of socks, but for these particular snowmen, I used adult size. It just depends on how big you want your snowmen to be. As far as how much rice, I honestly never measured it per snowman, but I would guesstimate between 2-4 cups - depending upon the size of the sock and how full you want it to be. Some I make fatter/fuller than others. I'm hoping to do an update on this post sometime soon!
DeleteThanks very much Kim. This is the size of snowman I want so I will use the adult size and ensure I have approximately 3-4 cups of rice on hand per crafter.
DeleteYou're very welcome! I think if you have at least 3 cups of rice per snowman, you should be okay. Better to have too much than not enough! Good luck & have fun!
DeleteI think they are so adorable!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Aurora!
DeleteI made every single person at my work one of these. I made them based on their personalities, job position or just a special memory we shared. I made over 20 of them in less than 4 hours. They are the easiest thing ever and they are so dang adorable. Everyone at work loved them. Thanks so much for the tutorial!
ReplyDeleteI'm so thrilled to hear about your snowmen, April! It sounds like you put a lot of thought and care into crafting each one, and I'm sure your co-workers will treasure them! Thanks for using my tutorial!
DeleteThese are too cute. Ran across a tutorial last year but it was just for the snowmen without the clothes. Cannot wait to make some again this Christmas season. I am already buying the socks and footies...........lol. Went to Walmart the other day............they sale squares of felt for .23 cents in all colors.............bought orange and red..........I think I will make the nose for my snowman out of a piece of the orange felt cut to resemble a carrot. Great tutorial.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found the tutorial - these little guys are so much fun to make! I also did one this past year with little baby socks - they were adorable - so if you think you might want to try the smaller ones, be sure to look up that tutorial, too. For the nose - you can try the felt, but to be honest, that 3-D resin nose really makes the snowman look so cute - especially with the glossy eyes. Sometimes, Consumer Crafts has $2.97 shipping, so if you sign up for their emails, you would get an email notifying you of the reduced shipping specials. That's when I order a bunch of the noses - then they don't cost very much at all!
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