How to Build a Snowperson Family

In his book, "The History of the Snowman," Bob Eckstein takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the evolution of these jolly snow people down through the ages. His book is a reflection of our delight with this wintry form of creative expression. Build a Snowperson family when you're feeling the winter doldrums.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Small rocks, pebbles, pieces of coal
• Large buttons
• Baseball caps and scarves
• Carrots, celery, cranberries
• Plastic flowers, optional
• Tree branches for arms

1. Assemble the items for the snow people. Gather tree branches for arms, rocks, large buttons or pieces of coal for eyes and buttons, carrots or celery for noses and pebbles or cranberries for the mouths.

2. Start with a nicely rounded, well packed snowball. Place the snowball on the ground and roll it slowly through the snow so more snow can adhere to it. Change the direction of the roll several times to maintain a spherical shape.

3. Roll the first sphere to the desired size to create a base for the largest snowperson. Make two more spheres to complete the first snowperson. Make the middle snowball smaller than the base, and the third snowball for the head smaller than the middle.

4. Create two more foundation spheres for the other two members of the snow family. Make each one smaller than the first snowperson so that the members of the family are graduated in size.

5. Stack three snow spheres for each snowperson, using the largest snow sphere for the base for each one. Press the snow spheres firmly together. Arrange the snow people in a location with maximum visibility.

6. Finish the snow people by adding details for the faces and buttons down the front. Add accessories like scarves, baseball caps, a corn cob pipe or a bouquet of plastic flowers.

Tips & Warnings

• Test the snow to make sure that it is wet enough to form a ball when rolled.

Resources

• Everything snowman