ARCTIC playmates

A pink-cheeked snowman scouts the landscape with furry friends to explore cold-weather joys. Paint, glitter, and greenery customize the clay crew.

- NANCY MALAY

SNOW PATROL

Polar bears frolic. A bunny hitches a ride on a handy sled. Watching it all is a snowman clasping a basket of winter greenery. All of the clay-covered creatures start with an aluminum foil infrastructure. Turn to page 45 for one more animal friend to complete the menagerie.

MATERIALS

☐ 18-inch roll of aluminum foil

☐ Glue: crafts and quick-setting fabric (such as Beacon Fabri-Tac brand)

☐ Toothpicks

☐ Air-dry clay (such as Creative Paperclay brand)

☐ Fine-grit sandpaper

☐ Acrylic paint: white, black, orange, pink, brown, green, red

☐ Artists brushes

☐ Clear acrylic spray finish: matte

☐ White marking pen

☐ Piece of black felt (hat)

☐ Small artificial greenery and berries

☐ Narrow imitation leather strip (belt)

☐ Small buckle

☐ Scrap of knit fabric (scarf)

☐ Decoupage medium (such as Mod Podge brand)

☐ Fine glitter: clear

☐ Small basket filled with greenery and berries

☐ Narrow velvet ribbon

☐ 2 papier-mâché cones: 8- to 15-inch (trees)

☐ Artificial greenery

☐ Scrap of thin cardboard (star)

☐ Red confetti glitter

☐ Red tinsel trim

MAKE THE SNOWMAN ARMATURE

Tear off several 12x18-inch pieces of aluminum foil for snowman armature. Tear off more pieces as needed.

Roll and compress the foil to make three balls: a 32-inch-diameter ball for the base, a 24-inch-diameter ball for the torso, and a 12-inch-diameter ball for the head. Continue adding firmly packed foil layers until the three balls stacked together are about 74 inches tall; press one side of the base so the ball sits flat.

Add crafts glue to top of torso and one end of a toothpick. Push glued end of toothpick into torso. Add crafts glue to remaining end of toothpick and push head onto toothpick. Repeat with base and torso.