Snow days, chilly afternoons, and long winter breaks all call for one thing: a craft that’s easy to set up, fun to make, and cute enough to hang on the fridge. This dish soap stamped snowman craft checks every box.
With a cardboard toilet paper roll, a little white paint, and a squeeze of dish soap, kids can stamp bubbly, textured circles that turn into a whole family of snowmen. No two prints come out the same, which is half the magic. Some circles fill with frothy bubbles, some come out as thin, frosty rings, and every snowman ends up with its own personality.
This winter kids’ activity works for toddlers who love to stamp, for older kids who want to add funny details, and for classrooms that need a simple, low-cost art project. Let’s get stamping!
Craft Supplies:
- Blue cardstock paper
- White acrylic paint
- Dawn dish soap
- Cardboard toilet paper rolls (one or two per child)
- A cup or small container for mixing (a paper cup works great)
- Markers
- Glittery foam snowflake stickers
- Optional: a spoon or craft stick for stirring, and newspaper or a plastic tablecloth to protect your table
Directions:
Step 1: Set Up Your Craft Space
Cover your table with newspaper, a plastic tablecloth, or a craft mat. Lay out a sheet of blue cardstock for each child. Keep a damp paper towel nearby for quick cleanups and messy fingers.
Step 2: Mix the Paint and Dish Soap
Pour a few tablespoons of white acrylic paint into your cup. Add about half as much dish soap. A good starting point is 2 parts paint to 1 part dish soap.
Stir gently with a spoon or craft stick. You want a smooth, milky white mixture with small bubbles around the edges. Keep the mixture shallow in the bottom of the cup so the end of the roll gets coated without soaking through.
Tip: If the mixture feels too thick, add a tiny splash of water. Thinner paint makes more bubbles, while thicker paint makes bolder, solid circles. Try a test stamp on scrap paper first to see what you like.
Step 3: Dip the Toilet Paper Roll
Stand the toilet paper roll upright in the cup and press it into the paint mixture. Give it a little wiggle so the whole rim gets coated.
Here’s where the fun happens. When you lift the roll out, the soapy paint often forms a thin bubbly film across the opening. That film is what gives your snowmen their frothy, snowy texture.
Step 4: Stamp Your First Circle
Press the painted end of the roll straight down onto the blue cardstock. Hold it for a second, then lift it straight up.
You’ll see a white ring, and many times the center fills with delicate dried bubbles. Every print is a little different. Some look like fluffy snowballs, others look like frosty outlines. Both make adorable snowmen!
Step 5: Layer Circles to Build Snowman Bodies
Now it’s time to build. Dip the roll again and stamp a second circle just above the first, letting the edges overlap slightly. Add a third circle on top for a classic three-tier snowman.
Mix it up across the page:
- Three-tier snowmen for the tall, traditional look
- Two-tier snowmen for chubby little buddies
- Single-circle snowman heads for a playful, peeking-out style
Want different sizes? Gently squeeze the roll into a slightly smaller oval before stamping the head, or use a smaller round object like a bottle cap for a tiny top circle.
Re-dip the roll before each stamp to keep the bubbles coming.
Step 6: Let the Paint Dry
Set the artwork aside to dry completely. This usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how thick the paint went on. The bubbles will settle into a soft, textured finish as they dry.
This is a perfect time for a snack, a winter story, or a quick hand wash.
Step 7: Draw the Hats, Faces, and Noses
Once the paint is dry, bring your snowmen to life:
- Top hats: Use a black marker to draw a hat on each snowman’s head.
- Eyes and mouths: Add black dots for eyes and a curved row of dots for a smile.
- Carrot noses: Draw a small orange triangle in the middle of each face.
- Buttons: Dot a few black buttons down the middle circle.
Encourage kids to give each snowman a different expression. A surprised snowman, a sleepy snowman, and a silly snowman make the scene feel like a real snowman family.
Step 8: Add Stick Arms
Grab the bronze and gold metallic Sharpie markers and draw stick arms coming out from each side of the body. Add little branches at the ends for twiggy fingers. The metallic shine gives the arms a fun, wintery glow against the blue paper.
Step 9: Finish With Snowflakes
Peel and stick glittery foam snowflake stickers across the sky. Scatter them between the snowmen to fill empty space and add sparkle. Now your snowy scene is complete!
RELATED —> Bubble Stamped Turkey
We love seeing your kids’ snowy masterpieces! Snap a photo of your dish soap stamped snowmen and tag @GLUEDTOMYCRAFTS so we can cheer on your little artists. Don’t forget to save this tutorial for your next snow day, and check out more easy winter crafts for kids here on Glued To My Crafts. Happy stamping, and stay cozy! ☃️
