1Make the salt dough.

Make some uncolored salt dough. If you don't have time to make your own dough, you can use white self-hardening clay.

2Make the head and body.

Make two salt dough balls—a big one for the snowman's body and a smaller ball for the head.

3Place a drinking straw.

Cut a piece of drinking straw an inch longer than the snowman's body. Insert the straw from the top of the body and carefully push it down until only an inch or so sticks out from the top. The drinking straw will make the connection between the head and body more stable.

4Connect the head to the body.

Stick the snowman's head into the drinking straw. Gently push down until the head touches the body.

5Decorate with beads and buttons.

Small buttons, beads and even sequins are perfect for adding details on your snowman. Whenever you put each of these materials, carefully push them into the dough and pat the dough around the bead or button to fix them in place.

Eyes - place a pair of wiggle eyes, small buttons or flat round beads to make the snowman's eyes

Mouth - arrange several small black beads to form a smiley mouth

Buttons - place a row of three or more colorful small buttons, flat round beads or sequins on the snowman's tummy

6Create a nose.

Try these ideas for making a nose for your snowman:

a.)  Drinking straw or pipe cleaner - cut a short piece of drinking straw, position below the eyes and carefully push into the dough.

For a tiny snowman, cut a short piece of pipe cleaner and similarly place on your snowman's head.

b.)  Paper cone - draw and cut out a small circle, mine is around 1¾" in diameter. Fold and cut the circle into quarters.

Take one quarter circle. Apply glue on its entire surface. Gently roll the paper into a narrow cone.

If you find the cone too tall, trim it at the base. Position the cone-shaped nose on the snowman's head. Carefully push the cone's base into the dough. Pat the dough around the the nose.

7Cut a pair of drinking straws.

Prepare a pair of flexible or bendy drinking straws to make into the snowman's arms. Starting from the end close to the flexible section, cut each drinking straw to a length of about 4 inches.

8Cut slits on each drinking straw.

Cut four ¾" long slits on the end close to the drinking straw's flexible section. Fold out the fringes to create the snowman's hands.

9Attach the arms.

Place the drinking straw arms at the sides of your snowman's body. Gently push in the drinking straw into the salt dough, then pat the dough around the base of each drinking straw arm.

After this step, set your snowman aside to dry at room temperature. It will take three days or more for the dough to set.

10Make a hat.

While waiting for your salt dough snowman to set, you can make your snowman's hat. Check out these ideas:

a.)  Upcycled materials - bottle caps, thimbles, spent coffee pods, tiny paper cups or medicine cups, and other disposable containers can be used as is or decorated into an interesting hat.

An old baby's sock or an adult glove that you plan on throwing out anyway can be made into a bonnet for your snowman. Simply cut out the toe end of a baby sock or the thumb of a large knit glove.

b.)  Salt dough - make colored salt dough, take a small piece and form it into a hat shape that fits on your snowman's head. Let the salt dough hat dry completely.

c.)  Paper hat - make a classic paper top hat for your snowman.