I created this DIY Dollar Tree Light up Snowman for my little people in the home. There is just something magical about the lights of Christmas and the winter season. I wanted to capture that in a snowman decoration that lit up.
This project was a labor of love as there are many steps involved. All of them are pretty simple and lots of fun though. Nearly all of the supplies came from the Dollar Tree as well keeping costs budget friendly.
Video tutorial also available HERE on my YouTube Channel.
Ok…..Let’s Create!
Supplies List
- 2 Bulb Ornaments – 1 large, 1 medium (Dollar Tree)
- 1 Snow Globe
- Faux Snow
- Tissue Paper
- Half Beads / Googly Eyes
- Felt (I used black and blue)
- Faux Carrot
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Paper plate or cardboard
- Empty ribbon roll or cardboard
- Mod Podge
- Elmer’s Glue (can also use Mod Podge)
- Black Paint
- Paintbrush
- Hot glue gun
- Tacky Glue (but Hot glue will work)
- Scissors
- Drill
- Fairy Lights
Instructions
Preparing the Ornaments (The Body)
The Bottom
The largest of the bulb ornaments will be the very bottom of the snowman. To prepare it for it’s purpose, the top (which is the bottom of the ornament) needed to be cut out. The base to the snow globe was my reference for size. I used a razer blade and then scissors. I would recommend drilling a large hole and then cutting with scissors though. The very bottom is pretty tough but once you are through that it is fairly easy to cut with scissors.
The Middle
I did this next step further on in the process but most sensical would be to do it now. Drill a hole in the bottom of the smaller bulb ornament. This hole just needs to be big enough to string fairy lights through.
Covering the Ornaments & Creating the Body of the Snowman
I took tissue paper in a design I liked and cut circles out of it. For the smaller ornament I used the base of the snow globe as a template for my circles. I cut out enough to cover around the middle, the top, and the bottom. For the top one, I cut a circle out of the middle to go over the neck of the ornament.
Similarly for the larger bulb I also cut circles but I used a roll of packaging tape for this template. You will need two circles set aside to cover the seam. This will make sense soon.
For filling in gaps, I cut out a bunch of the snowflakes from the tissue paper. I cut them in a circular shape in all the varying sizes and colors.
Next I applied the tissue paper circles to the smaller ornament using Mod Podge and a paint brush. I first did the top, then the bottom, then around the middle, and finally filled in any gaps. Then let it dry.
Once the smaller ornament was covered with tissue paper and the Mod Podge had dried, I glued it top down onto the larger ornament also top down. They were glued together using hot glue.
Once dry, I applied the cut circles to the larger ornament starting with the seam where it was glued. I took two circles and cut them to fit around the seam. I applied those first, then the other end, around the middle, and finally the smaller circles to fill in the gaps.
Once it has completely dried, apply a nice thick coat all over to seal it and give it that shiny finished Mod Podge look.
The Snow Globe (Head)
Start by adding Mod Podge or watered down Elmer’s Glue to the ornament. For this project, I used watered down glue. For my Keepsake Gnome Ornament I used Mod Podge not watered down as it gives it a thicker less see through look. The watered down Elmer’s Glue gives you a more see through coverage which is what I wanted with this project. Once you have some of whichever you choose added to the ornament, swirl it around until it coats the inside of the bulb fully.
Tip it upside down and drain excess.
When it is mostly drained you will add faux snow to the ornament and swirl it around until it coats the glue.
Place the ornament upside down somewhere to drain. I used a paper plate and placed a paint brush underneath so it could drain out.
The Hat
I used a paper plate, an empty spool of ribbon, and felt to make the hat. I first cut a circle out of the paper plate for the brim. Then I cut out felt to cover both sides. I used tacky glue for this step but would recommend a clear glue instead. Possibly spray glue. The tackly glue showed through the thin Dollar Tree felt in some places. I put that side on the under and used way less glue on the other side. Then trim the felt in the circular shape. I trimmed mine to close so I couldn’t glue it shut around the cardboard in some areas. In those areas I colored the cardboard with a permanent marker and then glued it shut where I could.
I then cut the end pieces off the empty ribbon roll. Next I covered the empty ribbon roll with felt. I used very little Tacky glue to attach it around. Make sure to leave enough at each end to cover the ends of the roll.
Then I bunched and pushed the ends in to cover the top and bottom of the roll. I secured the ends with hot glue.
Then I glued it to the brim.
Finally I cut a strip of blue felt and glued it on for the hat band.
The Scarf
I cut a strip the same width as the hat band for the scarf. I was at the end of my blue felt so I had to glue two strips together. Then I folded it in half and cut some fringe.
The Eyes, Mouth, and Buttons
For the eyes, buttons, and mouth I painted half beads and Googly eyes black. The bigger ones I painted were to big for the eyes and buttons and the smaller ones were to big for the mouth. So I used the smaller half beads for the eyes and buttons and some Googly eyes for the mouth.
The Nose
For the nose, I used part of a faux carrott I had leftover from Easter. You could easily create one with cardboard or foam though. I just used a razer knife and cut it down to the size I wanted it.
The Arms
Three cinnamon sticks made up the arms. One was cut into 4 smaller pieces. Two of the smaller pieces were then glued to the larger piece to create a branch look.
The Lights
Once the body of the snowman was all dry I took my fairy lights and strung them through. I started at the bottom of the snowman which is the top of the larger ornament. They didn’t easily go from the larger ornament into the smaller one. I found a pencil, eraser end first, worked good for pushing them up. Once it was all strung through I left some looped for inside the head.
Putting it all Together
The Head
I put the lights I had wrapped inside the snow globe and then using hot glue, glued it to the middle piece.
The Hat
Next step is to glue the hat on where you want it. I didn’t like it sitting up on the very top of the globe so I first cut an X in the bottom of the hat with a razer blade so that it sat down onto the snowman’s head a little. I then glued it down with hot glue.
The Scarf
I glued on the scarf around the bottom of the snow globe.
The Eyes, Mouth, Nose and Buttons
Next using hot glue, I glued the nose on, followed by the eyes, mouth, and buttons.
The Arms
Finally I gave the snowman some arms.
The Base
My plan initially was to just glue the neck of the larger ornament (or the bottom of the snowman now) into the lid to the snow globe. It fit nicely, hid the neck, and held it upright. You could then easily cover it with blanket snow or something. Last minute I decided to use this riser I had on hand that didn’t have a purpose. Since I had already strung the lights I had to remove a slat to put the battery pack through and then glue it back down. Then I glued the snowman to it. This way I can access the lights when the kids destroy this set in one season. The lights have a remote so that makes it even more popular with the littles.
Done.
I will call it a success. A fun light up snowman that gives off a beautiful blue color that just screams winter to me. What kid wouldn’t love it?
Your Turn to Create
I would love to hear if you gain inspiration from this post and make your very own DIY Dollar Tree Light up Snowman
