14 Incredible Ice and Snow Sculptures

One of the most enjoyable aspects of cold weather is the ability to play in the snow. Whatever your age, there's an inherent joy found in creating a snowman or snow fort. And exploring a creative take on this classic winter activity is even better. Here are fourteen chilly projects sure to inspire your winter creativity. Almost all of them are by DIY sculptors, and there's sure to be something here that matches your artistic flair, no matter what your skill level.

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Think Outside the Box

This unique twist on a classic snowman is a reminder that clever, funny concepts can carry the day. And even something as ordinary as a mailbox can be transformed into a holiday decoration. This is a conversation piece with a surprising and humorous snow sculpture.

As an aside, notice the exposed ground around the snowman. There was just enough snow to create the sculpture. Vertical shapes like this mailbox also act as a kind of armature, letting you build higher than you might otherwise be able to. And to conserve snow, which can be handy if there wasn't a heavy snowfall. Also, fence posts and trees are some more great building bases to get the most out of your snow season.

Photo: Courtesy of Reddit

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Byjeng/Shutterstock

Use Some Ice at the Party

You may have noticed that most of these examples are snow sculptures, rather than ice works. That's because ice sculptures require a little more work to get up and running. Getting ice is easy enough in a cold climate; simply fill a plastic storage bin with water and leave it outside in freezing temperatures. But to sculpt it you'll need picks and chisels, and to cut out large sections you may even need to sharpen your chainsaw. And all those tools mean that ice sculpture isn't as suited to on-the-fly projects. Also their sharp edges mean that children need more supervision to get involved.

The big advantage of ice work is that it lasts longer than snow sculptures, and the ice can be transported. So the next time someone asks you to bring some ice to the party, exceed their expectations!

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Get Abstract

Not all sculptures need to be of people or creatures. Sometimes the pleasing visuals of abstract shapes can be beautiful to look at and fun to make. And a delicate-looking shape like this one can be made with simple snowballs. Also, it can be added to in between other tasks, like taking care of all those pesky cold weather maintenance items.

With no right or wrong way to make an abstract sculpture, these are great projects for the whole family, even those who might be too self-conscious to get involved with a more traditional design. After you create a few of these sculptures, you'll find sometimes their real beauty emerges or changes as the original design melts, revealing more intricate shapes and shadows in the sunlight.

Photo: Courtesy of Imgur

DIY Advice

Think Outside the Box

Use Some Ice at the Party

Get Abstract

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