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melted snowman ornament

November 27, 2012 By Linda 50 Comments

Have you heard about the demise of Hostess?  The uncertain fate of the Twinkie and the Cupcake and the Ho Ho?  And all that Hostess hoarding madness?

 

When I first heard of the union strike at the Tinley Park plant, I brushed it aside.  Made a joke with my son.  Figured that the shelves might be bare for a week or so while all the haggling took place behind closed doors.  I didn’t realize then the extent of the company’s troubles …

 

You see, I actually visited that Tinley Park plant.  Was given a rare tour — complete with hairnet and latex gloves — of the inner workings.  And was presented with freshly-baked-right-off-the-line Ho Hos and Twinkies at the end of that tour.  Did I mention they were freshly baked?  Still warm to the touch??

 

Mmmmm …

 

This all happened many years ago when Hostess was a client.  However briefly.  I think there may have be an anniversary involved.  A big one. I can’t remember the details.

 

But I will certainly never forget the smell and feel and taste of that freshly baked Ho Ho.

 

It’s always sad when good things come to an end.  Not that Hostess products are good for you … but they do conjure good memories of childhood lunch boxes.  And the joy of finding a Ho Ho or Twinkie lovingly packed away by mom.

 

And when I first spotted a melted snowman ornament online, it brought back memories of the end of yet another old friend …Calvin & Hobbes.  Hands down the funniest comic strip of all time.  And I especially adored the fun things cartoonist Bill Watterson did with snowmen …

 

When I heard Mr. Watterson was retiring my beloved Calvin & Hobbes I was so very sad.  I mean, my morning cup of coffee with the morning paper would never be the same …

 

So in tribute, I created my very own melted snowman ornament.

 

How To Make Melted Snowman Ornament

Materials*

Clear Ornament (you can find a selection here and here)

Epsom Salt

Orange Felt

Peppercorns

*some affiliate links included

Melted Snowman Ornament 2

 

It was seriously easy.  I found the clear plastic ornament at Michaels.  You don’t have to commit to a full box.  Or worry about those fragile glass ornaments.  The plastic variety were for sale as a single serve item … a la carte, if you will …

 

Melted Snowman Ornament-3 3

 

The snow is Epsom salt.  The nose is felt.  The eyes and mouth “rocks” are peppercorns.

 

I also made one using table salt.  Only problem, the peppercorns kept rolling all over the place … thanks to gravity, they preferred to hang out along the outer edges.  Not the look I was going for …

 

Between this ornament and my Charlie Brown Christmas tree ornament, I may need to get our Christmas tree up sooner than later …

🙂

Christmas Ornament Craft Idea

 

P.S.  Which Hostess goodie will you miss the most?  I’m 100% a Ho Ho gal — which, as I proof this, sounds dirty …

You Might Also Like:

Snow Globe Ornament Ideas

Vintage Car Snow Globe Ornament

Christmas Craft Ideas

Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Ornament

Christmas Crafts: Homemade Ornaments

12 Handmade Ornament Ideas

Filed Under: DIY & Crafts, Holiday & Seasonal Tagged With: holiday, ornament


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Comments

  1. Sandra @Beneath this Roof, Within these Walls says

    November 27, 2012 at 5:34 am

    That ornament is seriously cute! I was in the thrift store yesterday and saw a box of small clear ornaments, but I passed them up, they just had a bit of tinsel inside. I am going back today and snag them if they are still there–didn’t think how easy it would be to change the inside! I am going to have melted snowmen, lol. What a great idea.
    I am definitely a HO HO gal too!! (It can’t be dirty, Santa says it all the time, right? 🙂

    Reply
  2. Heidi @ Decor & More says

    November 27, 2012 at 6:22 am

    You’re the ornament queen, Linda! Too cute. I snapped up some vintage glass ornaments at the thrift store (still in the sealed box!) the other day — think I”ll have to try this one… 🙂
    xo Heidi

    Reply
  3. jillflory says

    November 27, 2012 at 6:33 am

    That is adorable! What fun!

    Reply
  4. shirley@housepitalitydesigns says

    November 27, 2012 at 6:40 am

    I am not sure what to think about the whole Hostess Twinkie situation….but I know what i think about the ornament…too darn, darn, cute!!….love the plastic ornament, as I have had many “accidents” with the glass ones last year filling them with Legos…

    Reply
  5. Rita@thissortaoldlife says

    November 27, 2012 at 7:15 am

    Why do all the Hostess product names sound naughty? I’m a Ding Dong girl. Always had a box of them in our house when I was growing up!

    Reply
  6. smithshack71 says

    November 27, 2012 at 7:52 am

    Cute! 🙂

    Reply
  7. Ann Drake says

    November 27, 2012 at 7:52 am

    I knew we were kindred souls. Every day when I was a girl my mom packed me a bologna sandwich, little bag of chips and a HoHo for my school lunch. Every day…for years. I would pick off the chocolate coating and eat that part first. I can see it like it was yesterday. It was a part of my life and when I heard Hostess was going under I nearly cried. Thanks for sharing your little ornament. Love it. Enjoy your day!

    Reply
  8. K @ Shift Ctrl Art says

    November 27, 2012 at 8:00 am

    That is an awesome ornament. Love the “ingredients” you used! 🙂

    Reply
  9. Stephanie from Toastie Studio says

    November 27, 2012 at 8:17 am

    So cute, and yet so sad, poor snowman!

    Reply
  10. Linda says

    November 27, 2012 at 8:20 am

    How cute!!

    Reply
  11. Shari @ Turnstyle Vogue says

    November 27, 2012 at 9:14 am

    Oh. my. gosh. Go look at my post yesterday…it just happens to me a Melted Snowman Ornament! Too funny!! Looks like we were busy with ornaments instead of prepping that turkey for Thanksgiving. 🙂 Great minds, huh?

    Reply
  12. Erin says

    November 27, 2012 at 12:41 pm

    And so it begins….. Now I will have to drag some decorations out to keep up with you!

    Reply
  13. Debbie says

    November 27, 2012 at 2:45 pm

    Linda, that’s too stinkin’ cute! Would you believe I saw that on Pinterest earlier and had no idea it was yours!! Wow. Small blog world, huh? You’re so creative!

    Debbie

    Reply
  14. Anne says

    November 27, 2012 at 5:09 pm

    What a sweet idea! And a no break too I LOVE that! Oh yes hostess is gone can you believe it.I did manage to get a box of raspberry coconut zingers.Not our favorite but I did like them as a kid and my daughter has never had one.And then I heard people were selling these for a outrageous amount of money on ebay.We still have not opened the box yet 😉
    xx
    Anne

    Reply
  15. theboldabode says

    November 27, 2012 at 6:15 pm

    Oh, linda! I weep for Hostess… and I LOVED Calvin and Hobbs… What a creative tribute!

    Reply
  16. amy of while wearing heels says

    November 27, 2012 at 6:21 pm

    Another incredibly sweet ornament. I love that you referred to Micheal’s selling individual clear ornaments as a la carte :). I had no idea that Calvin and Hobbs was coming to an end as well. As long as you don’t tell me that It all started with paint is fading away as well…I think I’ll survive to 2013 🙂

    Reply
  17. Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says

    November 27, 2012 at 9:05 pm

    These are so cute! I definitely want to make this one!

    I must admit I never really was a HoHo or Twinkie fan, but I do love the Hostess Mini Muffins!

    Reply
  18. Nana Diana says

    November 27, 2012 at 9:12 pm

    My gosh, Linda- Is that ever cute. My kiddos would love these- xo Diana

    Reply
  19. Diana @ Boy + GIrl says

    November 28, 2012 at 8:28 am

    Linda! That is one of the most adorable ornaments I’ve ever seen!

    Reply
  20. Karen says

    November 28, 2012 at 5:41 pm

    Oh my goodness that is cute! I love it.

    Reply
  21. emmabriggs619 says

    November 28, 2012 at 8:40 pm

    If your child loves playing with glue, then she will love making whimsical little snowman ornament that can be hang on a Christmas tree.

    Reply
  22. Marianne says

    November 28, 2012 at 11:55 pm

    I grew up in Tinley Park and love Ho Ho’s more than just about anything.

    But your melted snowman is helping heal the pain.

    Reply
  23. Julie says

    November 29, 2012 at 10:58 pm

    This is seriously cute! I am going to make some because not much impresses my 15 year old son, but he thought these were such a laugh.

    Reply
  24. Shana says

    November 30, 2012 at 4:07 am

    Twinkies (sniffle) I only ever ate then with my Grampa. It was “our” secret. Lol I know now mom okayed it. It’s still special to me. He is long passed I tried to have one but it wasn’t the same. I loved seeing them and sharing the fun with my kids. :0( sad how something so simple makes life do perfect. Will miss you Twinkies :0)

    Reply
  25. Kelly says

    November 30, 2012 at 10:00 am

    You’re such a dirty girl. Just kidding…I think.
    I LOOOVE Calvin and Hobbes! I still have the “snowman house of horrors” clipped out and in my secret comic stash…along with a couple others.
    I can’t say I have a favorite Hostess treat…the last time I had a ho ho…it was very disapponting and nowhere near as good as I remember as a kid. So sad. 🙂
    Hope your weekend is fabulous!
    Kelly

    Reply
  26. Kelly @ View Along the Way says

    December 1, 2012 at 8:41 pm

    OMIGOSH. So SO cute! I loved Calvin and Hobbes too. I think we own all the books, and I’m pretty sure Calvin has been reincarnated in my son. I’m in trouble.

    Reply
  27. Ashley says

    December 3, 2012 at 10:09 am

    AMAZING idea! I love it!!! xoxo

    Reply
  28. Sandy says

    December 3, 2012 at 2:39 pm

    Way too cute! I can’t try to make one.

    Reply
  29. Michele says

    December 5, 2012 at 10:05 pm

    Super cute!!!! Pinned:) Come on over and visit my my post to Wow us wed http://www.sewsweetvintage.com/2012/12/upcycled-denim-christmas-stocking.html

    Reply
  30. Jennifer @ Brave New Home says

    December 9, 2012 at 3:12 pm

    Adorable!

    Reply
  31. Becky S says

    December 14, 2012 at 10:46 am

    I wonder if you could try to mix a little ModPodge with the salt to get it to stay in place.

    Reply
  32. Bonny @ thedomesticatedprincess.com says

    December 20, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    This is adorable. It would make a great ornament for kids to make during their holiday parties too, so I’m pinning this for when I get talked into being room mom. I also loved Calvin and Hobbes and still have a Calvin t-shirt I sleep in on occasion. Best cartoons ever! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  33. SoonerLaura says

    December 21, 2012 at 11:02 am

    Pinning this. I love it!

    Reply
  34. Jodie Fitz says

    December 21, 2012 at 9:56 pm

    Love this ornament!! So adorable….
    Have a great holiday season!
    ~ Jodie at http://www.jodiefitz.com

    Reply
  35. Katie says

    February 22, 2013 at 11:59 am

    I took this same basic idea and used it to make ornaments for our Dallas Cowboy tree. I used the Epsom salts and instead of snowman parts, added blue star sequins. Sequins are too expensive to completely fill even one ornament but floating on top of the “snow” they look amazing in a much smaller quantity.

    Reply
  36. Tyler Jenks says

    February 19, 2014 at 1:54 pm

    Love the ornament! If anybody needs to buy any of the items from the materials list, a complete cart can be found here (commissions go to Linda):

    http://rdy.cr/fbfd23

    Reply
  37. Renee says

    November 23, 2014 at 11:41 am

    I love this!! I have featured it on my Top 10 DIY Ornament Roundup on 11/28

    Reply
    • Linda says

      November 23, 2014 at 12:38 pm

      Thank you so much for the feature!!! 🙂 Linda

      Reply
  38. Raye says

    November 17, 2016 at 3:28 pm

    Love this idea, saw it a couple years ago and copied…but I used table salt…like you said it moved around too much and the nose and peppercorns got buried, but if I used less salt there wasn’t enough “snow” to look good. I tried glueing the salt and adding a little loose but it didn’t really work in the long run…does the epson salts stay?? What happens after they have been moved around and stored for a year…do they still look good and like a melted snowman?? Thanks for any help anyone can give me 🙂

    Reply
    • Linda says

      November 17, 2016 at 5:56 pm

      It does sit fine on the Epsom salt but it absolutely doesn’t store well – especially if you jiggle it around. My recommendation is to just make it again each year!

      Reply
  39. Barbi Schmuhl says

    December 21, 2020 at 6:36 pm

    How do you keep the epsom salt and the peppcorns and felt from mixing together when you store it?

    Reply
    • Linda says

      February 25, 2021 at 10:00 am

      It doesn’t store well. I suggest just remaking for the next year. The Epsom salt can get a little weird – especially if not store din a dry area.

      Reply

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