Participants in this activity must be able to grasp a paint brush, pick up small items such as beads and wiggle eyes, and squeeze a glue bottle.
When I facilitate this activity, I have snowman noses and holly pre-cut and ready in small paper plates. I also have the flat beads in a plate and small eyes in another paper plate. I place a glue bottle, paint brush, and collection of sticks at each work station. Paints and paint dishes are also on the table.
Participants decide what they want to make first and gather their needs. The tree requires one jumbo craft stick for the trunk (painted any color) and at least eight pre-cut craft sticks for the branches. (I use a wire cutter to snip the sticks to the right size). Participants paint the branches a shade of green and choose the decorations while they dry. Once branches are dry, participants glue them to the trunk and add small flat gems. Staff member uses a hot glue gun to add a hanging ribbon.
The snowman requires eight regular craft sticks. Five sticks form the head and hat, one forms the hat brim, and two are cut to fit across the back and hold it all together. Instruct participants to paint the five head sticks white (the whole stick). Paint a sixth stick black.
Lay two short sticks out, (each stick should be just short of the width of five craft sticks) parallel to each other and about 3 1/2 in apart. Run a bead of glue the length of each stick and lay the five white sticks across them, white side up. Next, glue the black stick across the white about third of the way down from the top. Tilt it slightly to form a cocked hat.
Once the glue has dried paint the remainder of the hate black (the top third of the snowman). Attach the nose next as it will be easier to place the eyes once the nose is on. Glue on the two wiggle eyes and using a small pointed brush add a painted smile by sampling “daubing” a small amount of paint onto the face. Glue the holly leaves to the hat and add a red bead, sequin, or pompom for a berry. Using a hot glue gun, add a ribbon for hanging.
