Clay Pot Snowman

by Katambra Olson

The cold weather is here already, and there is no better time than now to create something wonderful with your children. No matter what you make, you will create something beautiful--memories that last forever.

Since Winter is almost here I thought a snowman would be in order. Here are the materials you will need:

• Small clay pot
• Large wooden ball (for head)
• Paint (white and black)
• Scraps of material
• Buttons (optional)
• Hot glue

Now don't go rushing off to the store if you don't have those things! The purpose here is not to make a snowman worthy of "Crafters Today Magazine." The purpose is to be creative. If you don't have a wooden ball for the head, then wad up some Kleenex(tm), tinfoil, or anything else that could even slightly resemble a snowman's head. Don't have a clay pot? Use a paper cup!

When creating a craft project, the number one rule is DON'T FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS (except for the safety ones)! It's no fun to follow the directions. Get a loose idea of what you are supposed to do. and then create!

The number two rule of crafting is to never say you are not creative! Don't let your kids say it either.

Ok, I see some of you are not quite ready for all that. Don't worry, you soon will be, but for now, here are the directions.

Paint the clay pot and the wooden ball with white craft paint. It may need a few coats, but make the coats thin so it will dry faster. A tip for painting a wooden ball is to put a blob of paint inside a paper cup. Add in the wooden ball and the twirl it around the cup until it is covered.

While you are waiting for the paint to dry, cut a thin length of fabric to make a scarf. Fringe the edges loosely with scissors. For the hat, cut out a rectangle of fabric (make sure that it fits all the way around the wooden ball!), fold it in half, and glue it down the cut edge to make a tube. Using a ribbon or piece of string (or even a bread bag twist tie!) tie off the top of the hat and fringe the edges. Roll up the bottom of the hat to make a rim and glue onto the wooden ball. Glue the wooden ball (hereafter known as the snowman head) to the bottom of the clay pot.

Using the wooden end of the paint brush, dip into black paint and make eyes. You can use a sharpie marker instead of black paint. Paint dots for the eyes and mouth. Glue buttons down the front of the clay pot. These can also be painted on. Paint on arms for the snowman, or use hot glue to glue on the arms. For ams use sticks or toothpicks or cotton swabs or. . . well, you get the idea. Tie the scarf around the neck of the snowman and voila! You are finished.

Add anything you want to the snowman! Most of all, let your kids do this too. So what if they think Mr. Snowman should be pink! Should Mr. Snowman wear a tutu? SURE! How about surfer snowman? How about Jean Pierre Snowman the artiste? Use this project as a springboard for more ideas. Sure a clay pot makes a great snowman, but wouldn't it also make a great turkey? How about carolers or angels? It's your project. Go crazy, go wild, but most of all go creative and let your kids be creative too.

Katambra is the mom of three wonderful, energetic boys. She loves sewing and crafts.