Sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on project ideas, coupon codes and new items!
Click or Tap anywhere outside this box to continue without signing up....
• Free Shipping on US orders over $99! Choose "Free Shipping" at Checkout •
• Free Shipping on US orders over $99! Choose "Free Shipping" at Checkout •
Project Tutorials >

Spun Cotton Snowman Craft Project Tutorial


Nothing says winter wonderland like a festive snowman and creating these charming spun cotton figures is super easy and fun.  With hundreds of possible combinations, customize each one individually or make a matching set.  Finished snowmen measure 2-1/2" to 4" tall.

Supplies: Spun Cotton Pieces to Make Snowmen: Balls, Heads, Bodies, Noses, Hands

Bases: Dresden Medallions or Spun Cotton 1/2 Balls

Hats: Plastic or Spun Cotton

Scarf Material: Tiny Tinsel Chenille, Velvet Bows and 1/8" Ribbon, Wired Chenille Roping

Buttons: Dresden Stars or Tiny Spun Cotton Balls

Items to Hold:  Velvet Leaves, Berries, Mushrooms, Pine Sprigs, Stamen, Flowers

Additional supplies: Hot Glue or Clear-drying Glue (like Elmer's or Alleen's Tacky Glue), Scissors, Paint, Paint Brush, Pipe cleaners or Skewers,

Step 1: Paint spun cotton buttons and stovepipe hats using a skewer or pipe cleaner as a handle and let dry.  We used black paint to imitate coal.

Step 2: Begin to assemble basic snowman shapes.  Glue head + ball (body) + base (like below left).  Glue nose + body + Dresden medallion (like below middle). Or glue tiny ball nose + head + ball (body) + Dresden medallion (like below right).  We will add hands later.


Step 3: Add a scarf.  Wired Chenille: A wired chenille scarf works best on all snowman assemblies, especially ball head + ball body as it fits nicely in the "neck" space.  Cut a 6-7" piece of wired chenille, wrap it around the neck then twist it twice (like closing a twist tie) to secure.  Trim ends as desired and bend wires for character (like a wind-swept look).

Tiny Tinsel Chenille: This soft trim works best on unitized snowman shapes, like above center.  Cut a 15-20" piece of trim, wrap it 2-3 times around the neck, tie a knot to secure, trim ends to desired length.  To add it to a ball head + ball body shape, experiment with wrapping a longer length around more times.

Bow Tie: This look works best on unitized snowman shapes.  To create a bow tie use a velvet bow + a length of velvet 1/8" ribbon in a similar color.  Cut about 3" of 1/8" velvet ribbon, glue it around neck with ends meeting in front, finish with a velvet bow glued in front over ribbon ends.  Let dry.

Step 4: Add snowball hands and any held items.  Hands can be positioned on sides, on only one side, or clasped in front.
Glue hands in place and let dry. 

Group berries, mushrooms, leaves and sprigs -- cut stems to fit into hole in spun cotton ball "hand" or twist several items together leaving stems longer to be held between clasped hands.  Glue in place and let dry.

Step 5: Add hat and buttons. Hats can be tilted for character or placed upright.  Glue in place and let dry.  Determine placement of buttons, glue in place and let dry.  Display proudly.


Tips: Use the end of a paintbrush to gently press into the stovepipe hat base to create a depression.  This will allow it to sit better on the round head.

Snowmen are equally adorable whether holding a single item or a mix.  Try having him hold just one statement item like a colorful mushroom.

Adding the scarf early in the assembly is intentional -- it's much easier to determine hand and button placement when you already know the scarf location.

Use a tiny round ball as a snowball nose: The same size ball used for buttons also double as a nose.

It is not necessary to paint the white spun cotton pieces that will remain white.  We only painted the coal buttons and stovepipe hat.



12 Mini White Fabric Millinery Edelweiss ~ Austria ~ 3/4"

12 Mini White Fabric Millinery Edelweiss ~ Austria ~ 3/4"

$5.95

12 Small White Fabric Millinery Edelweiss ~ Austria ~ 7/8"

12 Small White Fabric Millinery Edelweiss ~ Austria ~ 7/8"

$5.95

24 Tiniest Green Velvet Leaves ~ 1/2" Long (2 bundles of 12)

24 Tiniest Green Velvet Leaves ~ 1/2" Long (2 bundles of 12)

$5.95

6 White Fabric Millinery Edelweiss ~ Austria ~ 1-1/2"

6 White Fabric Millinery Edelweiss ~ Austria ~ 1-1/2"

$6.95

6 White Fabric Millinery Edelweiss ~ Austria ~ 1-3/8"

6 White Fabric Millinery Edelweiss ~ Austria ~ 1-3/8"

$6.95

Antique Gold Dresden Foil Snowflakes or Halos ~ 8 Asst.

Antique Gold Dresden Foil Snowflakes or Halos ~ 8 Asst.

$5.95

Gold Dresden Foil Snowflakes or Halos ~ 8 Asst.

Gold Dresden Foil Snowflakes or Halos ~ 8 Asst.

$5.95

Light Blue Dresden Foil Snowflakes or Halos ~ 8 Asst.

Light Blue Dresden Foil Snowflakes or Halos ~ 8 Asst.

$5.95

Long Red and White Cigar Stamen with Green Wired Stems

Long Red and White Cigar Stamen with Green Wired Stems

$9.95

Silver Dresden Foil Snowflakes or Halos ~ 8 Asst.

Silver Dresden Foil Snowflakes or Halos ~ 8 Asst.

$5.95

Bundle of Petite Velvet Forget me Nots ~ Czech Republic ~ RED

Bundle of Petite Velvet Forget me Nots ~ Czech Republic ~ RED

$8.95

18 Miniature Composition Blueberries ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

18 Miniature Composition Blueberries ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

18 Miniature Composition Green Blueberries ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

18 Miniature Composition Green Blueberries ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

18 Miniature Glossy Black Currants ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

18 Miniature Glossy Black Currants ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

18 Miniature Glossy Red Currants ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

18 Miniature Glossy Red Currants ~ 3/8" ~ Czech Republic

$4.95

36 Miniature Lacquered Red Berries with Black Dots~ 3/8"

36 Miniature Lacquered Red Berries with Black Dots~ 3/8"

$7.95

36 Miniature Lacquered Red Berries with Textured Dots~ 3/8"

36 Miniature Lacquered Red Berries with Textured Dots~ 3/8"

$7.95

5 Medium Spun Cotton Snowman Heads with Red Noses 1"

5 Medium Spun Cotton Snowman Heads with Red Noses 1"

$6.95

5 Medium Spun Cotton Snowman Heads with Red Noses in Natural 1"

5 Medium Spun Cotton Snowman Heads with Red Noses in Natural 1"

$6.95

Black Classic Dresden Stars ~ 240

Black Classic Dresden Stars ~ 240

$3.95

Burgundy Classic Dresden Stars ~ 240

Burgundy Classic Dresden Stars ~ 240

$3.95

Dark Blue Classic Dresden Stars ~ 240

Dark Blue Classic Dresden Stars ~ 240

$3.95

Light Blue Classic Dresden Stars ~ 240

Light Blue Classic Dresden Stars ~ 240

$3.95

Light Green Classic Dresden Stars ~ 240

Light Green Classic Dresden Stars ~ 240

$3.95

Light Purple Classic Dresden Stars ~ 240

Light Purple Classic Dresden Stars ~ 240

$3.95

Mixed Bundle of Petite Velvet Forget me Nots ~ Czech Republic ~ CHRISTMAS MIX

Mixed Bundle of Petite Velvet Forget me Nots ~ Czech Republic ~ CHRISTMAS MIX

$8.95

Silver Classic Dresden Stars ~ 240

Silver Classic Dresden Stars ~ 240

$3.95

Small Vintage Velvet Bows ~ Set of 6 ~ FRENCH BLUE

Small Vintage Velvet Bows ~ Set of 6 ~ FRENCH BLUE

$5.95

Small Vintage Velvet Bows ~ Set of 6 ~ TRUE RED

Small Vintage Velvet Bows ~ Set of 6 ~ TRUE RED

$5.95

Tiny Velvet Ribbon Trim in Spruce Green ~ 1/8" wide

Tiny Velvet Ribbon Trim in Spruce Green ~ 1/8" wide

$1.49

Mixed Bundle of Petite Velvet Forget me Nots ~ Czech Republic ~ GREEN + WHITE MIX

Mixed Bundle of Petite Velvet Forget me Nots ~ Czech Republic ~ GREEN + WHITE MIX

$8.95

Small Vintage Velvet Bows ~ Set of 6 ~ DEEP GREEN

Small Vintage Velvet Bows ~ Set of 6 ~ DEEP GREEN

$5.95

Small Vintage Velvet Bows ~ Set of 6 ~ PURPLE

Small Vintage Velvet Bows ~ Set of 6 ~ PURPLE

$5.95

Bundle of 12 Green Fabric Pine Sprigs  ~ Austria ~ 1-1/2" Long

Bundle of 12 Green Fabric Pine Sprigs ~ Austria ~ 1-1/2" Long

$4.95

Bundle of 12 Green Fabric Pine Sprigs with White Accents~ Austria ~ 1-1/2" Long

Bundle of 12 Green Fabric Pine Sprigs with White Accents~ Austria ~ 1-1/2" Long

$4.95

Burgundy & White + Silver Chenille Sparkle Cording ~ 5 yards ~ Tiny 1/8" wide

Burgundy & White + Silver Chenille Sparkle Cording ~ 5 yards ~ Tiny 1/8" wide

$6.95

Cornflower Blue & White + Silver Chenille Sparkle Cording ~ 5 yards ~ Tiny 1/8" wide

Cornflower Blue & White + Silver Chenille Sparkle Cording ~ 5 yards ~ Tiny 1/8" wide

$6.95

Dusty Pink Fabric Pine Sprigs or Pampas Grass ~ Bundle of 12 ~ 1-1/2" Long

Dusty Pink Fabric Pine Sprigs or Pampas Grass ~ Bundle of 12 ~ 1-1/2" Long

$4.95

Green & White + Silver Chenille Sparkle Cording ~ 5 yards ~ Tiny 1/8" wide

Green & White + Silver Chenille Sparkle Cording ~ 5 yards ~ Tiny 1/8" wide

$6.95

Light Green & White + Silver Chenille Sparkle Cording ~ 5 yards ~ Tiny 1/8" wide

Light Green & White + Silver Chenille Sparkle Cording ~ 5 yards ~ Tiny 1/8" wide

$6.95

Light Green Fabric Pine Sprigs or Pampas Grass ~ Bundle of 12 ~ 1-1/2" Long

Light Green Fabric Pine Sprigs or Pampas Grass ~ Bundle of 12 ~ 1-1/2" Long

$4.95

Palest Pink Fabric Pine Sprigs or Pampas Grass ~ Bundle of 12 ~ 1-1/2" Long

Palest Pink Fabric Pine Sprigs or Pampas Grass ~ Bundle of 12 ~ 1-1/2" Long

$4.95