Build a snowman

A snowman takes about ten minutes of rolling and a few more of decorating, and you don’t need anyone’s help. It’s the quickest winter thing you can do, so if you wake up to snow, it’s easy to fit in before class or work.

When and where

You need the right snow. Squeeze a handful: if it packs into a ball, you’re in business. If it stays dry and crumbles, it’s too cold and powdery, and worth waiting for a milder afternoon when it turns slightly wet. Snow that has started to soften in the sun is often the best of all.

Pick a flat spot with plenty of untouched snow around it, like a yard, a park or a quiet patch of lawn. Keep away from roads and driveways. Late morning to early afternoon is the best time, and you’ll want to finish before dark.

What to bring

Beyond the face things you’ve got:

• A hat and waterproof boots.
• A spare pair of gloves. Wet hands get cold quickly.
• An old scarf and hat for the snowman, if you can spare them.
• Sticks for arms, which you can usually find on the ground nearby.

How to do it

1. Start a small ball. Pack a handful of snow into a ball about the size of a grapefruit.
2. Roll it. Push it along the ground. It will pick up snow and grow. Change direction every few turns so it stays round.
3. Stop at the right size. The base should be as big as you can comfortably roll, usually about knee height. Leave it where you want your snowman to stand.
4. Roll a second, smaller ball. Make it about two-thirds the size. Lifting it onto the base is easier with two people.
5. Make the head. Roll the smallest ball and set it on top.
6. Fill the gaps. Pack handfuls of snow around the joins so the whole thing feels solid.
7. Give him a face. Push in a carrot nose, buttons or pebbles for the eyes, and a curve of smaller ones for a smile. Add stick arms and a scarf.

Making him look like someone

The face is where a snowman gets his character, so it’s worth a few extra minutes. Scrunch up a scarf or tie it loosely, so the ends hang down. Try a hat that sits at a slight angle. Use different sizes of stones or buttons for eyes to give him an expression, or put them at slightly different heights.

Think about size, too. A small snowman is quick and easy to finish alone, and a big one needs two people to lift the head. If the snow is only a thin layer, make a snow cat or a snow bunny instead, which needs far less. A row of tiny snowmen on a fence or a wall looks lovely and uses almost no snow. Whatever size you pick, give him a name. It’s a small thing, and it makes the photo better.

What goes wrong

• The snow won’t stick. It’s too dry or too cold. Wait for a warmer hour or day.
• The ball breaks apart. It isn’t packed enough. Press as you roll.
• The balls slide off. Flatten the top of the one below, and push each ball down into it.
• The head keeps falling. Make it smaller, and press a little hollow into the middle ball to seat it.
• Hands freezing. Go in and warm up. The snowman will wait.

If you don’t have snow

Not everyone gets it. For a no-snow version, stack three white paper circles or pom-poms on a card or a window, or draw a snowman with a washable marker. It isn’t quite the same, but it still counts.

Keeping him

A snowman lasts as long as the weather lets him. Take a photo straight away, with the light behind you. When he melts, pick up the buttons and any other small pieces.

Make it a winter morning

Build him in the first hour of snow, then go in for a hot chocolate. If a friend is around, turn it into a snowball fight afterwards.