Make snowmen by using empty food jars.
Make adorable snowmen from jars for home decor or as a fun craft activity with children. Using recycled food jars and inexpensive craft supplies, these snowman jars will turn out to be original creations to brighten the home during the winter months. Create an entire family of snowmen by using small baby-food jars to large pasta-sauce jars. Snowmen jars also make nice party favors and gifts.
Instructions
Preparing the Jars
1. Peel off unwanted labels from the jars. Soak the jars in warm, soapy water to remove stubborn labels. Rinse and dry the jars.
2. Paint the lids' outer surfaces with two coats of acrylic paint in the desired color. Let the paint dry between coats.
3. Flatten one side of each Styrofoam ball by pressing it against the work surface. This will help the balls adhere to the jar lids more securely.
4. Apply an even layer of glue on the flat side of each ball. Place the balls onto the jar lid tops, pressing gently down to spread the glue evenly. Wipe away excess glue and let dry completely.
Making the Snowmen Heads
5. Mix the papier-mâch pulp with water according to manufacturer instructions.
6. Take small amounts of wet papier-mâch pulp and apply to the Styrofoam ball that you glued to the lids.
7. Smooth and shape the papier-mâch until each ball is completely covered with a 1/4-inch thick layer of papier-mâch .
8. Allow the papier-mâch to dry completely.
Finishing the Jars
9. Paint the papier-mâch snowman heads with two coats of white paint. Allow the paint to dry between coats.
10. Paint a nose, mouth and eyes on the snowmen faces. Take your time and do not overload the brush with paint. To make the eyes round easily, load a bit of paint onto the paint handle tip and softly touch the snowman face with the tip.
11. Allow the face the dry.
12. Paint a coat of decoupage glue over the snowmen heads as a sealer and sprinkle with glitter while they are still wet. Set aside to dry.
13. Add glitter and snowflake confetti to the inside of the jar. The amount will vary on the jars' sizes. A small baby-food jar needs only a pinch of each while a large 8-ounce jar needs a teaspoon each of the glitter and confetti. Use the amount for the look you desire.
14. Pour in mineral oil in each jar until they are 90 percent full. Use a funnel to prevent spills.
15. Apply a thin line of glue around the rim of each lid and screw them tightly onto the jars. Let the glue dry before handling.
16. Shake the snowmen jars to make the glitter and confetti float about like a snow globe.
