I have vivid memories from when I was a child and watching the first snowfall of the season.
I remember going to bed at night excited about the chance of no school the next day and excited to explore the beautiful winter wonderland.
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The Snowy Day written by Ezra Jack Keats is about a boy named Peter who is excited to go out and explore the first winter snowfall.
Written in 1962 but still relevant today, The Snowy Day reminded me of my childhood and how amazingly fun snow can be as a child.
During Peter’s snow adventures and exploration he creates a snowball but later discovers it goes missing!
This was a great spot in the story to pause and ask your child “what happened to the snowball?” or “Where did the snowball go”?
Stopping and asking your child open-ended questions while reading together is an excellent way to boost their creative and STEAM thinking skills.
Lil B (6) and M-Woww (4) had fun discussing the properties of snow and snowballs this lead to creating a paper snowball ornament that would not disappear!
Read below for our full tutorial on how to use Epsom salt to create a crystallized paper snowball ornament.
Materials:
Paint Brush
Mod Podge or Glue mixed with water
Hole Punch
Ribbon
Clear Spray Varnish (for Adult Use Only)
Tutorial:
Step 1: Cut a circle out of a piece of white cardstock paper. Use a hole punch to create two small holes towards the top center of the circle.
Step 2: Cover the circle with mod podge or your glue mixture.
Easy Clean Up Tip: Use a cookie sheet or plastic tray under your ornament to contain the mess and make clean up easy.
Step 3: Sprinkle Epsom salt on top of the glue. Coat the glue generously with the salt. Let dry completely.
Optional Step: Add another coat of glue and Epsom salt for full coverage of your paper snowball.
Step 4: After the ornament is completely dry shake off any loose salt.
ADULT USE ONLY: To protect and seal your snowball ornament spray it with a clear top coat varnish.
Step 5: String the ribbon through the two holes and tie the ends together with a knot to hang the ornament on a tree.
I have never lived in a place where it snowed so I always dreamt of snow days. Maybe that’s why The Snowy day is a favorite book in our house. Your snowball ornaments are magical.
My children so far have only lived in a warmer climate. This winter is their first experience in a colder climate. We shall see how it goes… 🙂 Thank you for commenting!
Love how simple these are Jamie!! We are big fans of Ezra Jack Keats too!
Aww, thank you! We are Ezra Jack Keats fans too!:)
This is such a clever Toddler Ornament Idea! Ooooohhh I hope it snows soon!
Thank you! When working with a variety of ages it is good to have some for the younger crowd too! Thank you for commenting!
Awww, sometimes simple can be so effective! 🙂
Thank you! I agree, simple can be beautiful! 🙂
Love how simple these are! The Snowy Day is one of my favorite children’s books.
Thank you! We love the book even though my children don’t have much experience with snow! 🙂
So cute and I love how simple it is!
Thank you! We love breaking up different activities with a simpler project every once and awhile. Thank you for commenting. 🙂