Winter Planter Snowman DIY

Step 1: you need to make the orbs. I’ve made them before as shown on my site but slightly revised the material in this one.

For the orbs:

• Portland cement & water
• Balloons/Beachballs/blow-up balls.
• Gloves
• mixing utensils and bucket
• Scissors
• Fuzzy thick yarn

Step 2: Blow up the balloons or balls. I used beach balls for the larger ones and balloons for the smaller ones. You will need some bowls or something that they can rest on when setting/drying.

Mix up a thin mix of portland cement with water. It will need to be on the runnier side, like a slurry. Unwrap a bunch of yarn that is enough to wrap the sphere about 25 times. Don’t worry, you can add more later if not enough. NOTE: don’t lose the cut end in the bucket! It’s impossible to find (ask me how I know)

The colour of the yarn doesn’t matter, as it will (should)be covered completely.

Step 3: Put the wool it into the slurry and knead it well. The cement needs to get into the fibres quite well. The yarn tends to suck up all the moisture, adjust accordingly by adding a 'smidge' of water. Once it’s well covered, pull the yarn out and wrap around the ball. It can be hard to start it, wrap the end around itself once it has one full wrap, and then keep wrapping. It is similar to winding a ball of yarn or string.

Step 4: Make the snowman a hat, some mitts and a scarf out of an old seater (or reuse some old kid's ones)

Step 5: Get some branches for arms and a plant stake as the centre stick to hold them vertical. You may use 3 or 2, whatever you desire. Add some greenery around as a base.

How cute is that?! And the best thing is that after christmas they become the great accents in the garden again; no waste! They will last many years!

See the full instructions here