How to Make a Rustic Snowman Decoration

The holidays may be over, but for us, it's still winter. And for me that means winter-themed decorations. Here's a sweet rustic snowman decoration that is sure to melt your heart. This is the perfect beginner project for getting to know to know your Proxxon tools.

Supplies and Equipment for Making the Rustic Snowman

• Scrap wood or MDF
• 1/8" dowel
• Buttons
• Ribbon
• Strong liquid adhesive
• Grey and white acrylic paints
• Artist's cement (optional)
• Proxxon Bandsaw MBS/E
• Proxxon Disc Sander TSG 250
• Proxxon Drill Press TBM 115
• Proxxon Delta Sander OZI/E

Instructions for Making the Rustic Snowman

1. Dimensions for this snowman can vary, depending on what scraps you have available. You're only limited by the working tolerances of your machines. My snowman's overall measurements are 4¼" tall x 1" wide x ¾" deep, made with three smaller blocks.
2. Begin by marking your cutting lines on the scrap lumber.
   
    
3. Cut pieces for head, middle body, and bottom body on the bandsaw. Don't be worried about exactness; a few wonky cuts adds character to the finished piece. In fact, you can plan wonky cuts :) The goal is to get comfortable using your tools.
   
4. Sand the pieces on the disc sander.
   
5. Drill holes on the bottom of the head piece, top and bottom of the middle body piece, and top of the bottom body pieces to accommodate the dowels. These holes don't need to be exactly positioned, but should come close to the center of the piece.
   
6. Paint the pieces with a coat of gray acrylic paints, and let dry thoroughly. Next, paint one of two coats of white acrylic, depending on the coverage you get and the look you want. Some of the grey paint shadowing through the white give an even more rustic look. Let paint dry.
   
7. Option: Coat the pieces with artists' cement to create texture. Let the cement cry thoroughly.
   
8. Sand each piece using the Delta sander. How much you sand and expose the grey paint and the base substrate will determine how rustic your snowman will be. Remember: you can also sand more.
   
9. Use a strong liquid adhesive to secure the dowels in place. The dowels give added support to keep the pieces together.
   
10. Decorate your snowman with a ribbon scarf and buttons. If desired, add facial features with a Sharpie or paint.