Turn an everyday recycled egg carton into this super cute snowman craft! This egg carton snowman is the sweetest little winter project — easy enough for kids, but still fun for adults to help with. With a bit of paint and a sprinkle of sparkle, simple egg carton cups turn into an adorable snowman with tons of personality!
This winter craft is perfect for preschoolers, elementary age kids, and it works beautifully for classrooms, holiday parties, or a cozy snow day activity at home. Each snowman turns out a little bit different, so you can create just one or make a whole frosty crew!
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How to Make an Egg Carton Snowman
Materials:
- Egg carton
- White acrylic paint
- White glue
- White glitter
- Pipe cleaners (colour of choice)
- Twigs
- Pom poms (15mm, to match pipe cleaner)
- Craft foam sheets (orange, black)
- Googly eyes (8mm)
Equipment:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Create the “snowballs”
- Cut 3 cups from an egg carton.
- Separate the cups and then cut the bottoms (technical tops) so they’re nice and even.
- Paint the outside of all three cups with white acrylic paint. Allow to dry.
- Add a generous amount of white glue to the top of each cup.
- Use a paintbrush to spread out the glue, covering the whole outside.
- Sprinkle fine iridescent glitter over top of the glue on each cup. Allow to dry.
Step 3: Glue the snowman together
- Cut a pipe cleaner in half. These will be used to give some height and bounce to the snowman as you connect him.
- Wrap the pipe cleaner pieces around your finger, creating coil shapes.
- Add a generous amount of hot glue to the center top of one cup section.
- Press the end of one of the coils into the glue carefully, holding it down until it stays on its own.
- Cut a slit in the side of another cup, going about 1/2 way up. Repeat on the exact opposite side.
- Cut 2 small twigs that aren’t too thick (5mm at most) to be about 2 inches long. They should ideally have little forked sections on the end.
- Slide the twigs into the cut slits in the egg carton. Secure them with dots of hot glue on the inside of the cup.
- Add glue to the inside of this cup.
- Then set it on top of the cup with the coil attached. Press it down and hold it for a few seconds so the pipe cleaner piece really connects with the glue.
- Add the second spiral on top of the cup with the arms. Then glue the last cup (the snowman’s head) on top.
Step 4: Decorate the snowman
- To make earmuffs for the snowman you’ll need 2 pom poms and a piece of pipe cleaner cut to about 3 inches.
- Bend the pipe cleaner into a “U” shaped curve and glue the pom poms on either end.
- Then add little dots of glue on the side of the snowman’s head and attach the earmuffs.
- Cut a carrot shaped nose from orange craft foam and then use a one-hole punch to cut 3 black buttons.Cardstock will work too, if you don’t have craft foam sheets.
- Glue the carrot nose to the snowman’s face and then add 2 googly eyes above.
- Finally, glue the buttons to the snowman’s body. We added 2 buttons to the middle section and 1 to the bottom.
- Your egg carton snowman is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- Adjust the height: Make a shorter or taller snowman depending on how many egg carton “snowballs” you stack. Two sections make a quick mini version, and three gives you a classic snowman shape.
- Add glitter while the paint is still wet: For one less step, sprinkle glitter onto the wet paint instead of waiting for it to dry and adding glue afterward.
What paint works best for an egg carton snowman?
Acrylic paint works best for egg cartons because it gives even coverage, looks bright, and dries quickly. Usually one coat is all you need.
You can also use tempera paint for younger kids since it’s washable and non-toxic, but because it’s less pigmented you may need two coats.
If I don’t have craft foam, what can I use for the nose and buttons?
Cardstock is a great substitute for both the nose and buttons. You can also:
- Paint on the buttons with black paint or a marker.
- Glue on rhinestones or tiny pom poms as the buttons.
- Use a small piece of orange pipe cleaner for a cute carrot nose.
How else can I decorate my egg carton snowman?
There are lots of easy ways to personalize your snowman! Here are a few options:
- Make a top hat from cardstock and/or pipe cleaners.
- Add a scarf using pipe cleaners, ribbon, or a small scrap of fabric.
- Try different styles of faces: add smiles, rosy cheeks, or different eye sizes for extra personality.
This egg carton snowman is a winter craft that feels fun from start to finish! They’re full of personality and are charmingly wobbly, thanks to the coiled pipe cleaners between layers.
This snowman craft is also a nice little reminder that the best seasonal projects don’t have to be complicated. Just grab a few simple supplies, add a bit of creativity, and you’ve made something cheerful that looks right at home as part of your winter decor!
Here’s even more snowman craft ideas:
Ping Pong Ball Snowman Tealights
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Low-Mess Crafts for Kids Book
72 cute and fun crafts that kids and parents alike can enjoy. All with as little mess as possible!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon Canada
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