Last Updated on 13 March 2024 by Colette
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Christmas is a time for loving, giving, eating and, if you have small children, crafting. We’ve been utterly rubbish on the craft front of late, mainly due to so incredibly busy but also I’ve been lacking in inspiration. Perhaps I should just stick the craft stuff out and let the kids dive in, after all art and design is as much about process as product right?
Anyway, inspired by the success of our potato print penguins a couple of years ago I decided to have a go at potato print snowmen. Sometimes the simplest of crafts are the most effective!
What you need:
* A spud (obviously) although you could use two different sized sponges
* White, black and orange paint (I prefer to use acrylic paint for this as I think it gives a much nicer finish but be warned – it does take a bit more cleaning up and you don’t want it on your clothes)
* Paint brush
* Cotton buds
* Ribbon
* Plate / flat container for paint
* Ribbon (for optional scarf and to hang if making a tree decoration)
* Card or craft foam (craft foam is great if you’re making a tree decoration)
What to do:
1. Cut your potato to create two different sizes ovals, I cut mine at the widest point for the body and then cut one end off to make a smaller section of the head
2. Cover the larger potato “face” in white acrylic paint – I did try to just dip it in the paint however found I got a far better and more generous coverage with the use of a paint brush.
3. Press the painted side of the potato firmly onto your card or foam to create your snowman’s body – if you do this too quickly you will get a very patchy print
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the smaller section of potato using it to print a head shape above the body
5. Set your print aside to dry
6. Once your snowman is dry you can use a cotton bud dipped in black acrylic paint to create “coal” eyes and buttons and a second cotton bud dipped in orange acrylic paint for a carrotty nose.
7. Leave your snowman to dry again
8. Add a scarf using ribbon and Bostik Blu Tack Fine & Wide Glu Pen
You can use this technique for all sorts of snowman crafts – we made a Christmas card and a tree decoration. If you decide to go with the tree decoration you will need to cut out your snowman and create a loop of ribbon on the back to hang him on the tree.
Ta dah!
The only downside to this craft is that it’s not all done and dusted in one go, you do need to leave the prints to dry in-between which can be tricky if your little ones are feeling a little impatient!
What do you think? Would love to see yours if you decide to have a go!
For more Christmas craft ideas, check out our ultimate guide to Christmas
Have a go at taking great Christmas card photos, try baking these stained glass biscuits for your Christmas tree
Oh I love these! I think Olly would love to have a play around with potato prints
They're so effective aren't they – super simple too x