Wooden Shim Snowman | DIY Wood Winter Craft
Hey friends! You probably remember that shim tree that was all over the Internet last year. Well, today we’re taking that idea up a notch—because instead of making a tree, we’re turning those wood shims into the cutest little snowman you’ve ever seen. This is such a fun winter craft, and it’s perfect for using simple supplies you might already have at home.
Supplies You’ll Need
10 standard wood shims
- Craft stick or paint stir stick
Hot glue gun & glue sticks
Sandpaper or sanding block
Acrylic paint: black, vintage white, red, orange (toasted terracotta is my favorite!),
Antique wax & blending brush
Fabric for scarf
Cardinal & snowman nose (from our Christmas embellishment pack)
Small rusty bells
Paint effect Sharpie marker (fine tip)
Blush or light pink paint (for cheeks)
Fake snow: DecoArt Snow-Tex
Fine glitter
Step 1: Assemble the Snowman Base
Start by gluing your 10 shims together. Make sure the thin, pointy ends are facing up and the thicker ends are at the bottom. I squeezed the tops together a little to make a large triangle shape. Once they’re all glued, give everything a good sand so you’ve got a nice, smooth surface to work with.
Step 2: Create the Hat
Take your craft stick and measure it across the top of your snowman to mark the hat brim. Cut it to size. Paint the top section of the shims black for the hat, and paint your craft stick black as well. Be sure to paint the fronts, backs, and sides so it looks nice and finished.
Step 3: Paint the Snowman Body
Using vintage white acrylic paint, cover the bottom half of the shims. Again—front, back, and sides. I gave mine two coats for full coverage. Let it dry completely before moving on.
Step 4: Prepare the Embellishments
From the Christmas embellishment pack, grab the cardinal and the snowman nose. Paint the cardinal red, and paint the nose with your favorite orange color (mine is toasted terracotta). Give them two coats and let dry. Once dry, lightly sand them for a rustic look, then blend on some antique wax with a brush.
Step 5: Distress and Attach the Hat Brim
Sand the entire snowman—including the hat, brim, and body a bit—for that charming distressed look. Hot glue the hat brim (craft stick) in place.
Step 6: Add the Scarf
Cut a strip of fabric (mine is from Jubilee Fabrics, they have gorgeous options for winter crafts!) and tie it around your snowman’s neck. Play around with the ends to make it look cute and cozy.
Step 7: Paint the Face
Hold the nose in place (before gluing it down) while you draw the eyes so you can adjust it if needed. Add cheeks with blush or light pink paint. Glue on the nose, then use your Sharpie paint marker to add a dotted smile under it. Add a touch of white paint to the eyes for highlights.
Step 8: Add Details & Decor
Cut a small piece of craft stick to stack under the cardinal for support so it lays flat on the hat brim. Add the cardinal on top of the hat, hot gluing everything in place. Instead of buttons, I opted for rusty bells to go down the bottom center of my snowman.
Step 9: Finish with Snow & Sparkle
Apply DecoArt Snow-Tex with a palette knife to the hat, scarf, and anywhere you want that snowy touch. Sprinkle on glitter while it’s still wet. Let everything dry completely.
And that’s it! This wooden shim snowman turned out so cute and festive. I can’t wait to hear if you try this one—let me know in the comments!
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