The first flurries of the season fell in my neighborhood over the weekend. Winter is on its way! Here are ten suggestions for the next time you get snowed in from work or school.
Build a snow sculpture. A classic snow day activity is to build a snowman. You can make something cheery and traditional (think Frosty the Snowman), massive and dramatic, or comical (think Calvin and Hobbes). If there isn’t enough snow to build a tall sculpture, you can build a snow castle (like a sand castle but with snow) or build relief sculptures on trees. Pack some snow on the side of a tree trunk and then mold it into a face. Add rocks, leaves, sticks or berries to make facial features and details.
Make a frozen suncatcher. Gather small, colorful objects such as leaves, berries, birdseed, pine needles, or fruit slices and arrange them in plastic lid, paper plate, or shallow container. If you are using paper products be sure to spray with non-stick cooking spray to ensure your suncatcher releases later. Partially fill the container with water to a shallow depth (no more than 0.5” to 1” deep depending on the container). Arrange the objects however you like to make your design. You can add a few drops of food coloring if you want more color. Place a loop of ribbon, wire, or twine into the water towards the top of your design so that you can hang it later. Allow your design to freeze (outdoors or in the freezer).
Draw with your Footprints. Walk around your backyard, driveway, or park using your footprints as your brush. Walking in a straight line makes a dashed line. Dragging your feet makes a solid line. Walking over the same area over and over can create a solid space. Use your footprints and creativity to draw a picture or write a message. You can go over your design with a mixture or water and foot coloring to make it stand out.
Ice Bowling. Make your own outdoor bowling set with water bottles and a water balloon. The bottles are the pins and the ice water balloon is the ball. Fill the water bottles with water and place them outside or in the freezer to freeze solid. Be sure to leave room at the top to give the water room to expand as it freezes so it doesn’t distort the bottom of the bottle. You can use a few drops of food coloring to make the pins more visible and fun. Fill a round balloon with water and freeze to make a round bowing ice ball. Once everything is frozen solid, set up your bowling lane.
Frozen Bubbles. If it is an exceptionally cold day (below 20 degrees Fahrenheit or -7 Celsius) you can blow bubbles that will freeze. Check out these tips for making a bubble solution specially designed for cold weather bubbles.
Snow Painting. Fill a large plastic container with fresh snow. Use watercolor paints (or water and food coloring) to paint on the snow. Experiment with mixing different colors.
Virtual Museum Tour. When you’re ready to head inside, grab a cup of hot chocolate and visit a world class art museum right from your couch. You can find a list of great options here.
Snowflake Decorations. Fold round paper such as coffee filters, tissue paper, or newsprint into wedges and cut out different lines and shapes. Unfold the paper and see your symmetrical designs. You can experiment with your own ideas or check out these patterns. Leave them white or paint with watercolor. Hang your finished flakes in the window.
Edible Snowflakes. For this snack you’ll need toothpicks as well as large and small marshmallows. Use a large marshmallow for the center of your snowflake. Gently push the point of a toothpick into the marshmallow so that it sticks out without going all the way threw. Repeat this evenly all the way around the marshmallow. Add the smaller marshmallows to the toothpicks. Add your marshmallow snowflake to the rim of your mug of hot chocolate and enjoy. You can use these same materials to make edible snowmen (check out different examples here).
Make Something Cozy. Cold, snowy days are great for knitting, crochet, or weaving. If you’re looking for a new project, check out some ideas here. Smaller projects like a bookmark, coffee cozy, or bracelets can usually be made in a single day.