Have you heard about the demise of Hostess? The uncertain fate of the Twinkie and the Cupcake and the Ho Ho? And all that Hostess hoarding madness?
When I first heard of the union strike at the Tinley Park plant, I brushed it aside. Made a joke with my son. Figured that the shelves might be bare for a week or so while all the haggling took place behind closed doors. I didn’t realize then the extent of the company’s troubles …
You see, I actually visited that Tinley Park plant. Was given a rare tour — complete with hairnet and latex gloves — of the inner workings. And was presented with freshly-baked-right-off-the-line Ho Hos and Twinkies at the end of that tour. Did I mention they were freshly baked? Still warm to the touch??
Mmmmm …
This all happened many years ago when Hostess was a client. However briefly. I think there may have be an anniversary involved. A big one. I can’t remember the details.
But I will certainly never forget the smell and feel and taste of that freshly baked Ho Ho.
It’s always sad when good things come to an end. Not that Hostess products are good for you … but they do conjure good memories of childhood lunch boxes. And the joy of finding a Ho Ho or Twinkie lovingly packed away by mom.
And when I first spotted a melted snowman ornament online, it brought back memories of the end of yet another old friend …Calvin & Hobbes. Hands down the funniest comic strip of all time. And I especially adored the fun things cartoonist Bill Watterson did with snowmen …
When I heard Mr. Watterson was retiring my beloved Calvin & Hobbes I was so very sad. I mean, my morning cup of coffee with the morning paper would never be the same …
So in tribute, I created my very own melted snowman ornament.
How To Make Melted Snowman Ornament
Materials*
Clear Ornament (you can find a selection here and here)
Orange Felt
Peppercorns
*some affiliate links included
It was seriously easy. I found the clear plastic ornament at Michaels. You don’t have to commit to a full box. Or worry about those fragile glass ornaments. The plastic variety were for sale as a single serve item … a la carte, if you will …
The snow is Epsom salt. The nose is felt. The eyes and mouth “rocks” are peppercorns.
I also made one using table salt. Only problem, the peppercorns kept rolling all over the place … thanks to gravity, they preferred to hang out along the outer edges. Not the look I was going for …
Between this ornament and my Charlie Brown Christmas tree ornament, I may need to get our Christmas tree up sooner than later …
🙂
P.S. Which Hostess goodie will you miss the most? I’m 100% a Ho Ho gal — which, as I proof this, sounds dirty …
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That ornament is seriously cute! I was in the thrift store yesterday and saw a box of small clear ornaments, but I passed them up, they just had a bit of tinsel inside. I am going back today and snag them if they are still there–didn’t think how easy it would be to change the inside! I am going to have melted snowmen, lol. What a great idea.
I am definitely a HO HO gal too!! (It can’t be dirty, Santa says it all the time, right? 🙂
You’re the ornament queen, Linda! Too cute. I snapped up some vintage glass ornaments at the thrift store (still in the sealed box!) the other day — think I”ll have to try this one… 🙂
xo Heidi
That is adorable! What fun!
I am not sure what to think about the whole Hostess Twinkie situation….but I know what i think about the ornament…too darn, darn, cute!!….love the plastic ornament, as I have had many “accidents” with the glass ones last year filling them with Legos…
Why do all the Hostess product names sound naughty? I’m a Ding Dong girl. Always had a box of them in our house when I was growing up!
Cute! 🙂
I knew we were kindred souls. Every day when I was a girl my mom packed me a bologna sandwich, little bag of chips and a HoHo for my school lunch. Every day…for years. I would pick off the chocolate coating and eat that part first. I can see it like it was yesterday. It was a part of my life and when I heard Hostess was going under I nearly cried. Thanks for sharing your little ornament. Love it. Enjoy your day!
That is an awesome ornament. Love the “ingredients” you used! 🙂
So cute, and yet so sad, poor snowman!
How cute!!
Oh. my. gosh. Go look at my post yesterday…it just happens to me a Melted Snowman Ornament! Too funny!! Looks like we were busy with ornaments instead of prepping that turkey for Thanksgiving. 🙂 Great minds, huh?
And so it begins….. Now I will have to drag some decorations out to keep up with you!
Linda, that’s too stinkin’ cute! Would you believe I saw that on Pinterest earlier and had no idea it was yours!! Wow. Small blog world, huh? You’re so creative!
Debbie
What a sweet idea! And a no break too I LOVE that! Oh yes hostess is gone can you believe it.I did manage to get a box of raspberry coconut zingers.Not our favorite but I did like them as a kid and my daughter has never had one.And then I heard people were selling these for a outrageous amount of money on ebay.We still have not opened the box yet 😉
xx
Anne
Oh, linda! I weep for Hostess… and I LOVED Calvin and Hobbs… What a creative tribute!
Another incredibly sweet ornament. I love that you referred to Micheal’s selling individual clear ornaments as a la carte :). I had no idea that Calvin and Hobbs was coming to an end as well. As long as you don’t tell me that It all started with paint is fading away as well…I think I’ll survive to 2013 🙂
These are so cute! I definitely want to make this one!
I must admit I never really was a HoHo or Twinkie fan, but I do love the Hostess Mini Muffins!
My gosh, Linda- Is that ever cute. My kiddos would love these- xo Diana
Linda! That is one of the most adorable ornaments I’ve ever seen!
Oh my goodness that is cute! I love it.
If your child loves playing with glue, then she will love making whimsical little snowman ornament that can be hang on a Christmas tree.
I grew up in Tinley Park and love Ho Ho’s more than just about anything.
But your melted snowman is helping heal the pain.
This is seriously cute! I am going to make some because not much impresses my 15 year old son, but he thought these were such a laugh.
Twinkies (sniffle) I only ever ate then with my Grampa. It was “our” secret. Lol I know now mom okayed it. It’s still special to me. He is long passed I tried to have one but it wasn’t the same. I loved seeing them and sharing the fun with my kids. :0( sad how something so simple makes life do perfect. Will miss you Twinkies :0)
You’re such a dirty girl. Just kidding…I think.
I LOOOVE Calvin and Hobbes! I still have the “snowman house of horrors” clipped out and in my secret comic stash…along with a couple others.
I can’t say I have a favorite Hostess treat…the last time I had a ho ho…it was very disapponting and nowhere near as good as I remember as a kid. So sad. 🙂
Hope your weekend is fabulous!
Kelly
OMIGOSH. So SO cute! I loved Calvin and Hobbes too. I think we own all the books, and I’m pretty sure Calvin has been reincarnated in my son. I’m in trouble.
AMAZING idea! I love it!!! xoxo
Way too cute! I can’t try to make one.
Super cute!!!! Pinned:) Come on over and visit my my post to Wow us wed http://www.sewsweetvintage.com/2012/12/upcycled-denim-christmas-stocking.html
Adorable!
I wonder if you could try to mix a little ModPodge with the salt to get it to stay in place.
This is adorable. It would make a great ornament for kids to make during their holiday parties too, so I’m pinning this for when I get talked into being room mom. I also loved Calvin and Hobbes and still have a Calvin t-shirt I sleep in on occasion. Best cartoons ever! Thanks for sharing.
Pinning this. I love it!
Love this ornament!! So adorable….
Have a great holiday season!
~ Jodie at http://www.jodiefitz.com
I took this same basic idea and used it to make ornaments for our Dallas Cowboy tree. I used the Epsom salts and instead of snowman parts, added blue star sequins. Sequins are too expensive to completely fill even one ornament but floating on top of the “snow” they look amazing in a much smaller quantity.
Love the ornament! If anybody needs to buy any of the items from the materials list, a complete cart can be found here (commissions go to Linda):
http://rdy.cr/fbfd23
I love this!! I have featured it on my Top 10 DIY Ornament Roundup on 11/28
Thank you so much for the feature!!! 🙂 Linda
Love this idea, saw it a couple years ago and copied…but I used table salt…like you said it moved around too much and the nose and peppercorns got buried, but if I used less salt there wasn’t enough “snow” to look good. I tried glueing the salt and adding a little loose but it didn’t really work in the long run…does the epson salts stay?? What happens after they have been moved around and stored for a year…do they still look good and like a melted snowman?? Thanks for any help anyone can give me 🙂
It does sit fine on the Epsom salt but it absolutely doesn’t store well – especially if you jiggle it around. My recommendation is to just make it again each year!
How do you keep the epsom salt and the peppcorns and felt from mixing together when you store it?
It doesn’t store well. I suggest just remaking for the next year. The Epsom salt can get a little weird – especially if not store din a dry area.