Part of the fun of crafting with repurposed items is looking for random finds that can be turned into something completely different.
I am always on the lookout for something old and beaten up that I can transform into a one-of-a-kind treasure. These snowman screwdrivers do just that!
Shopping at a large discount store outside of Altoona, PA, I came across a bucket full of rusty vintage screwdrivers priced at 3 for $1. Though I had no idea what I could do with them at the time, it was a deal I couldn't pass up. I bought a handful and my mind immediately began planning what I could create.
I decided that an old, worn out screwdriver could easily take on another life as snowman with a little paint and clay. Read on to find out exactly how I created this unique piece of winter decor so that you can make some yourself to decorate after Christmas!
Supplies You'll Need to Make Snowman Screwdrivers
- Wood-Handled Screwdrivers: You can pick up old screwdrivers like these in thrift stores, antique shops, yard sales. For a more modern look, consider using a newer crewdriver.
- Oven Bake Clay - My favorite is Sculpey Brand
- Aluminum Foil
- Craft Glue - I used both liquid glue and a hot glue gun
- Acrylic Craft Paint - I used light buttermilk, burnt orange, and black from Americana
- Red-Orange Colored Pencil - For adding blush to the snowman's cheeks
- Antiquing Medium (optional) - For adding a primitive aged look to the snowman
- Matte Acrylic Sealer or polyurethane
- Glass Glitter
- Mod Podge
- Scrap of flannel or wool for the scarf
- Wired Stem Greenery
- Tiny Rusty Jingle Bell
- Floral wire
How to Make a Snowman Using a Vintage Screwdriver
STEP 1: Making a Snowman Head
Make a ball of crumpled foil that is slightly smaller than you want the snowman's head to be.
Then cover the foil ball with a thin layer of oven-bake clay.
Press the clay ball down on the top of the screwdriver to make sure the clay forms to the rounded head of the screwdriver. Otherwise, it will not glue together securely after the head is baked.
STEP 2: Create a Snowman Nose and Eyes
Take a small amount of clay and form a carrot shaped nose. After I get the shape and size I'm looking for, I like to twist and pinch the nose in places to give it a little character.
You'll want to dig a little bit of the clay out of the snowman's face where the nose will be attached. That way the nose gets pushed into the face and everything bakes together. I have a sculpting tool for doing this, but you could also use a toothpick.
Then, use the same tool to carve two eyes into the face, wherever you'd like them placed.
STEP 3: Bake the Snowman Head
Place the heads on a parchement lined baking sheet. Bake according to the directions on the package of clay.
My screwdrivers were all different shapes and sizes. Since the head was formed to the top of the screwdriver, I kept the heads and screwdrivers in the same order so that I knew which ones went together after baking. Keep this in mind if you are making more than one snowman.
STEP 4: Attach Snowman Heads
After the heads come out of the oven, allow them to cool completely to the touch.
Then, glue each head onto the matching screwdriver base. I covered the base of each head with craft glue because I consider it longer-lasting method, but I also added a small amount of hot glue to hold the head in place until the craft glue dried. It has a tendency to slide around a bit since the head of the screwdriver is round.
Step 5: Paint the Snowman
- Paint the wooden handle of the screwdriver and the snowman's head with a creamy white color.
- Paint the nose with orange and the eyes with black using a small brush.
- To get rosy cheeks, lightly dampen the check area with water, pat the water off, and then color the cheeks with a red-orange or pink colored pencil depending on the shade you'd like. Use your finger to blend the colored pencil so that it doesn't look colored on. Make sure that the cheek is almost dry or the color will just wipe off when you try to blend it.
Step 6: Make the Snowman Look Old
Sand the handle of the screwdriver in different areas with fine grit sandpaper to make it look a little worn.
Coat the entire piece, including the metal blade of the screwdriver, with either an acrylic craft sealer or polyeurethane. This will keep the metal from getting anything dirty or rusty and will protect your painted finish.
Then brush antiquing medium over the snowman head and body and wipe off with a soft clean rag or paper towel.
Alternatively, you can mix strong instant coffee to brush onto the snowman. Let it air dry and the coffee will soak in and give you a nice primitive, vintage look. If you end up with too much staining, use a little bit more coffee when it is dry to brush it all out.
Step 7: Add Some Accents
Tie a scarf around the snowman's neck and attach a tiny jingle bell and piece of greenery stem with some floral wire. Brush on a little Mod Podge to the top of the snowman's head and nose, then sprinkle with glass glitter. You may also want to add a little to the greenery. This adds a little sparkle to your snowman and is a nice finishing touch, but is optional.
Styling Ideas for Primtive Snowmen
I set up a display of three snowman screwdrivers in an old green metal toolbox filled with a little greenery. Then I added a few more old, rusty tools to the vignette as a nod to their past life.
A few more styling ideas:
- Tuck several snowman into greenery lining a shelf or mantel
- Poke a few into a winter centerpiece or table vignette
- Display them in a crock or teapot (as shown below) with some pine
These little snowmen are a reminder that some of the best decorations aren't bought. They are made slowly, thoughtfully, and often from things that were almost forgotten.
Every winter when these little snowmen come out of storage, I’m reminded that the simplest decorations often carry the most meaning. They started as tools meant for hard work and ended up as something cheerful and lighthearted...proof that usefulness and beauty don’t have to be separate things.
If you have a few old tools tucked away, this might be your sign to give them a second life this season.
