Last year we made candy cane playdough as gifts for kiddo friends. This year we’ve been making a snowman playdough gift in mason jar snow globes.
Next year we’ll probably try a non-playdough idea, but we’ve sure had fun with these last two.
How to Make Snowman Playdough
MATERIALS
- White playdough
- Glitter
- Peppermint oil (optional)
- Assorted beads, googly eyes, and buttons
- Pipe cleaners
- Mason jars
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Make playdough
Maia and I made a batch of white playdough on Friday.
2. Add glitter & peppermint oil
We kneaded in glitter and peppermint oil to add some pizzazz to the plain playdough then started making snowmen (and snowballs and snowforts…).
3. Gather supplies
Then, we took a break to buy some beads (from Asheville’s awesome bead store) and a box of mason jars. Then we continued yesterday when Maia’s friend Marlise was over.
4. Roll playdough
All of us rolled the playdough into balls, then fashioned it into little snowmen.
5. Add decorative features
Then we added beads and pipe cleaner pieces for snowmen features.
I added the pipe cleaners to the table expecting them to be used for arms (you know, two per snowman) and that’s it.
Instead they were immensely popular and were used for hair, antennae, smiles, and extra arms.
Daphne, at two, was as into making the snowmen as the six year olds.
How to Make Snowglobes for Playdough Snowman
1. Place snowman in jar & seal
Here’s one of her snowmen sitting on the mason jar lid waiting for the “snow globe” jar to be screwed on (the pipe cleaner appendages needed to be poked a bit farther in first so they would fit).
- Unscrew Mason jar and place lid upside down on table.
- Place snowman on top up the lid.
- Carefully place glass jar over snowman and twist to seal.
Note :: The jars are pint-size wide-mouth mason jars from the grocery store.
2. Add gift tag
Next, I printed up some gift tags to glue to the jar tops. If I were extra prepared, I could have printed them on sticker paper, but instead I just used printer paper and a glue stick.
3. Admire the playdough snowmen snowglobes!
I love how these playdough snowmen look in their snow globes! And, as a gift, it is as fun for kids to make as it is for their friends to receive.
And of course, you could do this as a snowman playdough activity without turning them into gifts…
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rachel
December 20, 2011 at 6:16 amhow FUN! do you think you could make w/salt dough and let them sit, be permament? i’m wondering how much the kids want to re-make them, and how much they’d rather make them more permanent?
amy
December 20, 2011 at 7:58 amJealous of the local bead store…!
Melissa @ the chocolate muffin tree
December 20, 2011 at 8:14 amGreat idea!
Barb
December 20, 2011 at 3:45 pmOMG how cute! But I’m a year behind. We made the candy cane play doh as party favors for my daughter’s birthday, Dec.2. Maybe next year we will try this!
Jean Van't Hul
December 20, 2011 at 12:18 pmThanks!
Jean Van't Hul
December 20, 2011 at 12:18 pmIt’s a good one!
Jean Van't Hul
December 20, 2011 at 12:22 pmWell, I was thinking of it as a way to give playdough as a gift just to play with but more fun to give and receive than just putting a blob of playdough in a jar. Not so much thinking that the recipient would recreate the snowman idea, although they could.
However, yes, you could totally make this with salt dough for a more permanent snowman!
MTVath
December 21, 2011 at 11:26 amI JUST finished making your peppermint play dough! It has inspired a year of various layouts!
For a year I have been meaning to send you a picture of the peppermint candy play dough I made after seeing your post last year. It was such a hit last year that I made it again this year! My sons are attending new schools, due to a move, so new children will get to enjoy the play dough!
My favorite part is rolling 6 tubes of the red and white wonderful smelling glitter dough together to make it look like a peppermint candy when the jar is viewed from the bottom or when the recipient opens the jar! Thank you so much for the inspiration! I hope I can send you a picture some time soon! 3 moves in one year has limited my time ;-)
Here lets try this link. I just took a picture of a jar with my phone and linked it to Picasa. I haven’t done this before so I hope it works. Could you do me a favor and try the link. I would greatly appreciate if you would verify that you are only limited to that one picture and not pictures of my family. If you can see other pictures please email and let me know! Thank you so much for you creative ideas and time!!
MTVath
December 21, 2011 at 11:28 amsilly me here is the link! https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/52h08ewg97x9878ggEMmRB29-hjJZ8vGbg7e9qEj21w?feat=directlink
Jean Van't Hul
December 21, 2011 at 1:52 pmLooks great! I love your version! And no, I can’t see the other pics.
Jean Van't Hul
December 21, 2011 at 1:52 pmThat’s a fun way to use them — as party favors!
Rachelle | TinkerLab
December 22, 2011 at 1:49 amThat’s a ridiculously cool idea, Jean! You never cease to inspire. Happy holidays!
mommybee
December 26, 2011 at 11:38 pmI have been making dough for years and the recipe you have is one of the best…I ran out of cream of tartar and ended up using alum as a substitute (had some left from a different dough recipe) that really made it my all time favorite. Thanks for your great ideas!
Courtney
March 18, 2013 at 8:14 pmLOVE this idea! Thanks.
So funny that my girls are Daphne & Maia, Maia is the oldest. lol
jessica Isaacs
December 3, 2013 at 11:59 amDid you add water or anything to these snowglobes? Thinking about doing this as a class project for my daughter’s Christmas Party.