Great tips to build the perfect snowman.

How to Make a Basic Snowman
Put your waterproof gloves or mittens on, and grab a handful of snow. If the snow's just wet enough to pack into a tight ball, it's perfect for building. Call your helpers (the more the merrier) and get started.

Begin with a small ball, packing it thoroughly, until it gets too big to hold in your hand. Now, roll that ball slowly across your lawn and watch it grow. Keep rolling and packing until you have a fairly symmetrical, large, round ball for the snowman's bottom section.

Make a smaller ball for the midsection, and a still smaller ball for the head. Place the midsection on the bottom and the head on the middle (helpers come in handy), and stick the balls together with some extra snow or a well-placed branch. That's the foundation of your perfect New Year's snowman.


Backyard Tactics: Less Traditional Techniques
If rolling, lifting and packing snowballs is too much work, use buckets to gather your snow. Dump it out, and slap it around until it looks like a person. Groups can even compete to see who can assemble a five foot snowman the fastest. Make sure you keep the hot drinks and cookies coming, throw a few snowballs, and make snow angels After all, it's about having a great time together.


Strength in Numbers
Your snowman needs friends, too. Create a fun display on your grass. Snow dogs, with bandanas and glasses, make cute companions for your snowman, and olives make great snow dog noses! You can give Mr. Snowman a snow wife and snow kids. One Lake Tahoe, Calif. snowman contest winner created a snow knight, complete with horse and dragon. The sky (as blustery as it is) is the limit!


Lawn Art: Be Creative
There's an art to dressing your new snowy friend. Push sticks into the middle section, twisting them in a corkscrew motion to get them in securely, and repacking the snow to hold them in place, if necessary. You don't want to amputate your snowman's limbs when adding clothes! Give him a face, using dark, round items for eyes. Candy and produce make colorful and interesting noses and mouths.

Dress your snowman for success. Top hats tend to blow away if your yard is windy, so tie the hat on, or use a knitted cap instead.

Be as traditional or outrageous as you want to be. While a corncob-piped, carrot-nosed Christmas snowman will always be in style, a snowman (or snow-woman) that reflects your personality can be tremendous fun. Use what you have around the house to clothe your snowman: dress it as a doctor, a rock star, a waiter (complete with tray!), a grass-skirted hula girl, or a celebrity--just have fun with your creation.


Build Memories, Too
Take plenty of pictures. The sun will return, and you'll part ways with your lawn friends. Take care to preserve your wonderful snowman and remember the fun you had making it. Finally, don't worry if your snow creation turns out a little lumpy, or doesn't look like Frosty. Remember that the "perfect" snowman is the one that makes you smile.

Sources
eHow.com
FamilyFun.com