Primitive Fake Snowballs

Make these primitive fake snowballs to fill bowls, add to your potpourri, or use in table arrangements. There's no limit to the places these handmade faux snowballs look great at. If you enjoy craft projects where you get a little messy, then this one is just for you. That's because you may get messy, but the end result is well worth the mess. Let's get started!

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Supplies for Primitive Snowballs

• Foam Balls (any size you want)
• Joint Compound (Can be found at Walmart over in the hardware section)
• Mica Flakes, Glass Glitter or regular glitter
• Paint stick or utensil to stir compound
• surgical gloves (optional)
• apron or old clothes to wear over your clothes
• Some old baking sheets or disposable pans to work on
• Aluminum foil (cover the pans with it if you intend to reuse the pans again)
• Plastic table cloth to protect your work surface
• 150 grit Sand Paper
• Paint Brush
• Modge Podge®
• Protective Mask  to cover your mouth during sanding.

Making Primitive Fake Snowballs

Part One

1. Gather all your supplies and set up your work space.
2. This step is optional: Squeeze your foam balls or roll them on the counter to “compact” them.
3. Open the join compound and stir it well. Let is set for 30 minutes so it becomes less slushy. Using your hands, press compound onto the foam balls. They don't have be pretty, just cover the entire surface.
4. Let them Dry overnight.

Part Two

1. Dampen your hands and rub them over the ball. Because the compound produces a lot of dust, this step will cut down the amount of dust produced.
2. Wearing a protective mask, lightly sand with 150 grit sandpaper. Cut down on the inside dust by doing this step outdoors. The sanded one are on the left in the image above.
3. Wipe the dust off. Next, working over aluminum foil on your work surface, and working on one ball at a time, cover the ball with with Modge Podge® and roll in a dish filled with mica flakes or glitter until completely covered.
4. Let it dry and move onto the next one until all your snowballs are covered.

As a final note, if you find the compound method too much work,  you can apply Snowtex instead. It even works on plastic and glass ornament balls.

There are many uses for these primitive fake snowballs:

• Smaller balls filling up a mason jar or put in with some wintertime potpourri or fixins.
• Fill a treenware bowl or basket with potpourri fixings, pine cones, and greeenery. Add some snowballs as special touch.
• Set them on a shelf with some of your snowman collectibles. Sprinkle some fake snow about the scene.
• Add ribbons or twine and hang on the Christmas tree.

Original tutorial submitted by Megan, a member of our crafters community.