Make a Snowman Bucket for Snow Time Fun Out of Recycled Materials

When a new snow has fallen, almost every child wants to hop on a sled and race down a hill, or build a snow fort or snowman or do all three. After their snowman has been built, they will race around looking for an old hat, scarf, something to use as eyes, nose and mouth, and maybe even an old pipe to stick in his mouth. Having all these things ready for your child when that snowman is made can make the experience much more enjoyable. An easy way to do this is by making a snowman bucket using recycled materials from around the house.

Items Needed to Make a Snowman Bucket

-Old metal bucket (one gallon or smaller)
-Can of white spray paint
-Can of black spray paint
-Markers
-Old hat
-Pair of old mittens or gloves
-Old scarf
-Old pipe
-Old golf balls (seven or eight)
-Carrot (optional)
-Sand shovel (optional)

How to Make a Snowman Bucket

Thoroughly clean the bucket. If there are any rust spots, wire brush them or use a rust remover solution. Use a hammer or mallet to smooth out any dents.

NOTE: To avoid this task, use a new metal bucket.

Spray paint the bucket inside and out with the white spray paint. After it has dried, let your child decorate the outside using the markers. They may want to draw snowflakes on it, a snowman face, or write their name.

While your child is decorating the bucket, spray paint the golf balls with the black spray paint and let them dry. You may have to do one side at a time.

Put the painted golf balls in the bucket as well as an old hat, scarf, mittens and pipe. If you have a sand shovel left over from a summer visit to the beach, you can put that in the bucket as well.

When the snow falls, your child can use the bucket to help scoop and carry snow to the area where the snowman is being constructed. They can use the painted golf balls for his eyes, mouth and nose, unless you have a spare carrot in the refrigerator. They can surround his neck with the old scarf and cover his head with the old hat. They can stick the pipe in his mouth and find some small branches to use for his arms and put the mittens on the ends to resemble covered hands.

For those readers who feel a need to be politically correct, please substitute snow person wherever the word snowman is used.

Source: Personal Experience