How to Create a Winter Wonderland (Even If You Don’t Have One)
Even though I love living in Southern California, I still miss the snow. I grew up in Kentucky where the winters can be brutal. Some of my fondest memories are sledding, building snowmen, and most of all – snow days!
Unfortunately, my little ones won’t have real snow in their backyard. Well, unless I ship some here which … um, not happening! So we have to get creative with a couple DIYs to bring the winter wonderland to us. Even if you live in chilly weather, these are still super fun for those days that look a bit “too” chilly.
Marshmallow People
Materials:
- Marshmallow, both large and jumbo
- Black, orange, and white frosting
- Graham crackers, cookies vanilla wafers, York Peppermint Patty … basically anything yummy to serve as a base
- Pretzels
- Red Vines
- Various candies to make hats. I used Rolos but Hersey kisses could be cute or combined with a Peppermint Patty
Directions:
- Using frosting as “glue” combine 2 marshmallows to create the snowman body.
- Pretzels become arms.
- With frosting, add eyes, mouth, carrot nose, and buttons
- Attach to base, again, using frosting to secure.
- Red Vines become a scarf; I used a toothpick to secure.
- Rolo for a hat!
- Now have fun and create your own family of snow people!
Sock Snowpeople
Materials:
- White socks (can be plain or cabled)
- Black Buttons
- Orange push pins
- Various colors of felt and/or yarn
- Rice
- White string or yarn
- Hot glue
- Scissors
- Roll of tape
Directions:
- Cut at the heel of the sock, keeping both parts.
- Turn the leg part of the sock inside out and securely tie, turn right side out.
- Using tape to hold the opening, fill to the desired plumpness, securely tie at the top and at 2/3 from the top to create the head.
- Choose felt or yarn to create a scarf.
- Using the other part of the sock, make a little hat.
- Glue on buttons for eyes and as buttons.
- Insert orange push pin to make the nose; so cute!
Snow Slime
Materials:
- 1 cup white children’s glue
- 2 teaspoons Borax (usually found in the laundry detergent aisle of the store)
- Glitter (optional, or food coloring if you want)
- Water
Directions:
- Dissolve one cup of glue in one cup of water.
- Add glitter (or food coloring)
- Dissolve two teaspoons of Borax in 2 cups of water.
- Slowly pour the glue into the Borax solution while stirring. There will be excess water which once it solidifies, you pour off.
- Really dig in and knead to make it solidify more. You are going to get messy, but isn’t that the point?
- Store in plastic container in fridge, so it doesn’t mold.
