Does anyone have a recipe for 'bumpy' dough to make snowmen?

Question

the snowman is heavy and sparkles like real snow, it can be knocked around and doesn't break, but looks like it is made out of paper and maybe plaster of paris? i have tried newspaper, starch, flour, water, paint, etc.
the closest i can get to it is newsprint paper and plaster of paris, but i still can't get the correct mix.

Answer 1

I agree it might be "soap clay" since you said it was heavy (which can be glittered while it's still wet), but I guess it's also possible that it's some type of air-dry "clay" with something heavy inside as a form or just for weight on the bottom too. (See info about soap clay at end.)

Celluclay is an inexpensive, paper-based clay that dries to a somewhat bumpy texture (or can be shaped that way intentionally)... it's dry mix of shredded paper (white or gray) that's mixed with water at home, then shaped or applied to other things...it should also accept glitter pressed into its surface before drying, I assume (could use regular silver craft glitter, or for a more real snow look, use whitish iridescent glitters which come in various sizes from microfine to larger).

In that case, you'd want to use something heavy (rock, brick, or whatever) in the base area to keep it from knocking over easily, and depending on the final size, you might also want to use a form or armature under the whole snowman or tree or whatever, so you wouldn't have to use as much "clay" (a couple of balls of wadded aluminum foil, maybe over a wad of paper, or "Styrofoam" balls, etc. --or cones if a tree). Brown papier mache shapes (like balls and bowling pins, etc.) can also be purchased at craft stores, which could be used as a base form.

For a snowman, you'd need to attach the balls together before adding the clay (with a few toothpicks, or masking tape, or even some of the clay --then dry before proceeding probably).

There are other types of clay that you could use (purchased at craft or hardware stores, or homemade like salt dough clay, for example), but again the cost could be important if the item isn't small. Or you could use or even joint compound, spackling, or plaster over the form, but some of those can be brittle where they're thin.

SOAP "CLAY"

This stuff used to be made from soap powder (Ivory Snow Flakes) but that hasn't been made since the late 70's so some people now use grated bars of "soap" (Ivory, not Dial or Dove) instead.... Some lessons and other info:

…buy (a bar of) Ivory soap and put it into a food processer (or grate-chop finely)
...add enough water to make it moldable... mix... then shape

.....snowballs could be made then be pressed together as snowmen... embed features while wet

This recipe is for soap powder "paint," but the idea is pretty much the same:
2 cups soap powder
1 cup water
wire whisk
paintbrushes
cardboard
construction paper
magic markers or paint
1. in large bowl whisk soap powder and water together until mixture is the consistency of soft butter
2. paint mixture onto cardboard or fingerpaint with it.
... if snow paint becomes too stiff, add a few drops of waster and whisk again.
3. when completly dry, finish picture by adding construction-paper cutouts.

snow tree
...make chicken wire into a cone shape
...put newspapers inside the cone to reinforce it.
...put the ivory flakes paste on it, adding glitter to the surface if desired
…for decorations on the tree, could use little metallic balls, or odd pieces of jewelry, etc.

Then there's also WHIPPED WAX clay:
--melt candle wax in a double boiler (don’t use pot again for food)
--let it cool a bit until begins to become cloudy
--put the shafts of the a mixer though a layer of waxed paper (to protect from spattered wax)
--use mixer until wax is whipped, then spread wax or shape it
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_occasions/article/0,1789,HGTV_3268_1391393,00.html


Have fun!

Diane B.

Answer 2

It is pointless to go thru all the work and heating the oven for only 6 cookies. Instead make a full batch, freeze the dough balls on a parchemnt paper lined sheet, then place in a baggie. Take out 6 at a time. Or make Huge cookies with a regular recipe.

Answer 3

I had one that was made of soap flakes or laundry detergent, with just a very little water added to make a thick paste. Once it dried, we had it for years. It never got dented or broken, and it stayed a pretty white, too. If you put sparkles in with the soap, it would be very pretty. Be sure you use plastic sparkles, as metal ones will rust over time.