Soapy snowmen are good, clean fun

By Jayne Griffin, EdD

In January, Chattanooga may be balmy or brisk. But whatever the temperature, you can create your own snow fun—and, while you’re at it, you can enjoy the perfect indoor family craft. Soapy snowmen let kids get creative, use basic kitchen tools and make a truly “clean mess.”

Here’s what you need:

∑ large bars of Ivory soap
∑ water
∑ toothpicks
∑ buttons
∑ felt
∑ twigs
∑ beads
∑ yarn
∑ grater
∑ bowl
∑ mixer (hand or stand)

Here’s what you do:

1. Grate large bars of Ivory soap to make 2 cups of soap flakes for the “snow” for each snowman. (You can use a food processor to speed things up.)
2. Place 2 cups of flakes in a mixing bowl. Add 1/2 cup of water and mix until the flakes are the consistency of dough.
3. Immediately shape “snow dough” into 3 balls—small, medium and large.
4. Stick a toothpick in the center of the largest bottom ball, and place the middle-sized ball on top of the toothpick. Then use a small piece of toothpick to hold the head (small ball) on top of the body.
5. Decorate with twig arms, a scarf, eyes, nose and mouth, hat and other accessories to make a dashing snowman, a lovely snowlady, or even a snow family.
6. When it’s time for the snow family to melt away, your can use the pieces of your snowlady or snowman for bathtub soap!

Jayne Griffin is director of education for the Creative Discovery Museum.