To go with the window frosting, I wanted to flock my evergreen wreath and Christmas tree. Yeah, flocking is not cheap. While discovering this fact, I came across website after website that gave recipes for making fake snow from Ivory Soap Flakes. Which, would make an awesome Christmas craft, if they hadn’t discontinued Ivory Soap Flakes back in 1978! How the hell do these recipes make it to the internet? Perhaps some old lady has a bomb shelter full of Ivory Soap Flakes that she pulls out each year to whip up some faux snow? Then she blogs about it… and everyone just copies the blog without actually trying it out. So, if you have a huge stock pile of Ivory Soap Flakes AND liquid starch here is the original recipe:
- 2 cups Ivory Soap Flakes
- 2/3 cup liquid starch
- 4 tbsp hot water
- glitter and 2 drops of blue food coloring
Unless you live in 1950 it’s going to be a lot of hassle to get your hands on at least two of the three ingredients, so, here is my DIY, modified recipe for Christmas tree flocking. Makes enough for a wreath and a bunch of pine cones with left overs:
- 1 bar plain Ivory Soap (grated) Get as close to one bar as you can without grating your fingertips
- 1/2 cupish heavy spray starch (sprayed from the can)
- 3 tbsp warm water from the tap (the hotter the better)
- glitter and/or blue food coloring
Step 1
Grate the soap. My mother (Granny) had magically seen the elusive Ivory Soap Flakes in person, so, I went to her house to consult. We gathered her 15 or so graters (They have a bit of a kitchen equipment obsession. Though as hobbies go this is a tasty one Patrick and I take advantage of) and tried them out. We finally decided on one size that made little curls of soap. You definitely want to err on the side of too big, if they are too fine then they just dissolve.
Already snow-like
Step 2
Spray your starch into a measuring device. I wasn’t very particular and I got tired of spraying it, so, I ended up with slightly more than 1/2 cup. DON’T turn the can upside down! The propellant will shoot out without any starch. Though, most people probably already knew not to do this. Sorry there isn’t a picture of me spraying starch. If you need help with this step… Please email Patrick, I want to read his response.
Step 3
The old recipe had you put the contents in a mixing bowl and add glitter and food coloring. I wouldn’t bother; neither of them made a difference. Just throw the starch and soap in a mixing bowl and start whipping it with electric beaters? Mixer? Whatever the hell you call the things you use to make cake batter with.
Glitter- not nearly as awesome as expected
Step 4
Add the warm water and whip on high till it really stiffens and foams up. It will look and have the consistency of whipped cream with lumps.
Step 5
Plop on branches and let dry overnight and/or if you want a lightly flocked look put some in your hands and just stroke the branches. Try not to giggle at “stroke”. The first time I did this (yes I tried this a couple of times before actually putting it on my wreath) I didn’t A) whip it enough and B) wasn’t sure what the hell it would look like when dry. Dig to the bottom of the bowl and get some of the chunks mixed in with the foam. Put more than you think you need because some of the foam disappears as it dries. However, it does a good job of mimicking thick, wet snow and clings very well to the branches.
Snowy Christmas Balls :)
Just a few notes
This recipe worked surprisingly well and as Patrick pointed out it was one of my only craft projects that made the kitchen cleaner than when I started. I was pretty dubious when I gooped it on the branches but I went online and looked at pictures of actual snow on wreaths and tried to mimic the layout. I just wish I given it a thicker coat. I also wanted the sparkle of ice crystals in the snow, but the glitter I mixed in didn’t show. I experimented and sprinkled glitter on the snow after I applied it and before it dried. Sprinkling glitter on the flocking worked much better.
It might be fun to tint the snow (retro pink?) but if you just want white then the blue food coloring didn’t make any difference. The only other issue is that up close it still smells like soap. For the wreath (hanging outdoors but under cover) it doesn’t matter, but I am going to try adding some evergreen essential oil before I do the tree. I want the house to smell like Christmas not soap.
I’m going to give the faux snow a thumbs up, and maybe after tinkering I’ll be able to give it two thumbs up. Anyone else have a fake snow/flocking recipe?
Edit: I ended up doing this recipe a couple more times to flock garland etc… The evergreen essential oil got rid of the soap smell and sprinkling crystal glitter over the top gave it the ice crystal sparkle. Finally, using hotter water doesn’t change the consistency at all but it gives you more working time. It starts to set as soon as it gets cool. This has been my favorite Christmas craft this year. Here’s another photo of the snow on the mantel garland. Since this craft was my favorite I submitted it to Centsational Girl where she is curating a number Christmas Crafts. Check it out.
Wow, that looks a lot better than the manufactured snow covered trees.
Thanks! I thought so too. Honestly, I was surprised how much it looked like snow when I was done. I would just suggest putting more on if you try it.
This started out so funny and funnier cause I know where I can get those flakes!! Article took me back to those grade school Christmas projects-oops told age bracket anyway this was great to read and turned out pretty nice,thanks for the laughs and recipe..
I’d love to know who has those flakes still hiding out in their house. :)
I love love this! It turned out so great! I have been looking everywhere for a flocked tree to buy and can not findone that I love. So I thought I would search how to do it myself and this is a great idea! One questions though, how does it store? Will you have to reapply every year?
Thanks,
Hi all, I was thinking since I live out west (west) in Hawaii and they charge enormous prices for flocking, if we even have it available to us… of doing a DIY flocking on my tree. I remember as a kid in Cali going to the train yards in Los Angeles and you could flock your own tree in the booth.. I also remember momma doing the Ivory Flakes and helping her… soap snow all over the place and then waiting for it to dry over night…
Hint… we used a lot of soap.. the more we put the better, it helped keep the dried needles from falling off..
Loved Ivory Flakes… mostly used to launder baby clothes..
Reading your responses brought back tons of memories….. thank you.
My mother and I used to do this all the time, so I was really surprised this year when I went to the store to look for Ivory Snow Flakes – and find out they no longer existed. I am going to try your recipe, although w/o the starch. We never used that. We just dumped the flakes in a bowl, added some water, and whipped up our concoction. I will take your advice though on the evergreen scent, because the smell of soap has lingered in my memory all of these years.
Thanks for posting!
Thank you for putting this up! My mom used to do this when I was young, she has passed on now and I’ve been looking for her recipe but no luck, so thank you!
I LOoooOoOooove this. I know I am a few years late on this post, but I just found it, and used it on my very first Christmas tree!. I couldn’t really figure out the best way to put the snow on the tree, so I just stuck my smallest whisk in the bowl, got some trapped, and just went to flicking it on there. It made a mess on my walls (good thing it’s soap, so it actually did me a favor I suppose), but turned out wonderful. I can’t wait to read the rest of your posts.
Thanks!!
Hey Loved your post! I know this first hand from back in the day. My father always whipped up the Ivory Snow detergent but I didn’t remember the starch. He probably did that step when I wasn’t looking or something. I used to think it was great fun to help. What did I know. You got to glop the stuff on the tree and ended up with all kind of prick marks up your arm. Now that was living! Those days you’d line up for any kind way to participate in things that were reserved for adults. It’s like the time when I tried making homemade ice cream with my kids. My mother’s recipe made enough custard for two batches and after a few cranks, I was abandoned to crank alone. I cranked for a half hour. My son asked, why couldn’t we just go to the store and buy some. He may have had something there. Your story was priceless. The faux snow, some blue giant Christmas light bulbs and vintage ornaments and I am there. Thanks for the reverie…oh and Merry Christmas!
Love this! Have had a good artificial tree for many years that just was getting a little flat and worn out. I flocked it with this recipe and it just brought the tree back to life! It has dimension again and is beautiful. Not sure how it will store for next year but is revived for this year anyhow. Note– the 7 ft tree took 20 bars of Ivory and 1/2 gallon of liquid starch, mixed in batches of 4 bars and 2 cups starch with the hot water at a time and working fast. It took more time and material than expected but am only into it about $15.00 anyway. Can’t beat that!
Wow, Thanks for the tutorial! I will try adding the evergreen scent in this year for Christmas Decorations. Will definitely add to my list!
Hi, I used the powered Ivory snow soap, I used your recipe here, added some fake snow to the mixture, and before it dried I sprinkled with glitter. The only thing I didn’t do was add the blue food coloring…(was afraid) I flocked a little 1 1/2 foot tree. It looks so cute. At JC Pennys right now, they are selling these little trees with ornaments for 5 bucks, so i wasn’t too worried about making a mistake. Hoping it stores well. Will have to let you know. Merry Christmas :-)
Oh so the powdered worked too? I would love to see pictures!
In grade school (40+) years ago we made up a batch of that (using flakes)and using cookie cutters as molds made ornaments out of them. I think we used a skewer to make a hole for hanging…I have always wanted make them again! THX
I never thought to make an object with them!? I’m totally going to have to try this. Thanks for the idea.
Thanks for sharing your recipe! It looks very pretty on the wreath. I may have to give this a try.
Joy recently posted…CHRISTMAS DECOR 2011 {LIVING ROOM}
If you try it I love to here how it goes. Let me know!
My Grandmother did it for as long as I could remember so I have been doing with my tree. I love to watch the tree take on a whole new look each year and listing to the oooo’s and ahhhs from my family and guest.
My grandparents made snow for their tree and I remember helping to put it on the tree. What fun and what memories! I like the soap smell with the evergreen scent. It takes me back to Mammow’s
Christmas!
I love hearing the memories/traditions brought back by crafts. Makes me want to research some more and recreate some of the older craft recipes! Thank you for sharing.
…a few drops (7-10) of the Yankee Candle refill…
~jackieo
maybe you can ‘whip’ up a soap crown! Ha!!
Brianna you are awesome – I’m off work for 2 days and will try to flock my pinecones.
Will advise.
~Jackie O
I would love to see pictures! brianna@realmountainvalues.com
Brianna – I’m posting here just so the next person will know…this easy craft makes for such a big impact! I added a couple of steps: after grating the soap, I placed the bowl outside for a half hour to help get rid of the soap smell. Followed your directions from that point as you’ve got them written, but it seemed a bit dry, so I added some extra water AS I was mixing for a consistency with which I felt comfortable. Also, while mixing, I scented my soap mix with a few (like 7-10) of Yankee Candle Sparking Snow (I used a refill pack for the home diffuser).
Best thing about this: it’s like no matter how it comes out, you can’t make a mistake! I’m sending pics to your email; I liked my pinecones SO much, I also flocked the Christmas tree! I’m mixing a second batch to flock some more stuff!!
Thanks so much for starting the original post. You made it sound easy; and it was!
Merry Christmas always!
Your pal, Jackie O
I’m so glad it turned out! They look so much better than my first few attempts.
First off- Congrats on being the Flocking Queen you have become- staying with this topic since last year and answering so many questions very helpful! Question- A few questions before I start- Is liquid stacrh the same thing people use to mix up themselves ‘Argo’ comes to mind? Also- If I use this on artificial greens and don’t like it (or want to change the effect’ or get it on my lights and want to remove it, how do I do it? Will just hot water do it?
Dee Dee Gee recently posted…Christmas Party: Green & Brown Tree Theme
The flocking queen… I must get a crown :)
Yes, it is my belief that the liquid startch is the kind you can mix up. We used to use that to starch hand crocheted angels and snowflakes my great-grandmother would make.
Secondly, it will come off with hot water BUT it really sticks, so you are looking at some elbow grease once it dries OR running it under a lot of hot water OR using your fingernail to chip it off. A lot will fall off if you try to remove it, but the residue and tiny pieces will still remain and have to be removed in the aforementioned manner.
Good luck!
I was wondering if other soaps which were scented would work.
Also, could the popularity of Ivory be just because it was the only soap that came in flakes?
Has anyone tried other soaps?
Well regular ivory soap is a little different than many soaps on the market. First it is a whipped soap so it is lighter and fluffier than others. Secondly the original type doesn’t contain as lotions and very much glycerin so it whips into a snow foam much easier.
Another soap might work but the more additives there are will weigh down the “snow” foam you are going for. Let me know if you find another variety that works well!
Be careful about leaving a bowl of this stuff out on the counter, unsuspecting teenage sons are apt to think its whipped cream. (yes, he really did) :)
Yuck! :) I would think the smell would have clued him in. LOL. Good reminder though for my two year old who is apt to think it is frosting.
Does this work with the Ivory Snow “powder” detergent? How long will it last on my tree?
I just ordered two boxes of the Powdered detergent, because I just seen a thing saying us the powdered….Ordered, and Then I found this… Amazon sells the flakes.
You need the flakes to give it a lumpy ‘snow’ texture. I think the powder might be to thin but if it works let me know. I’ll have to check out amazon for the flakes.
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This is FANTASTIC. I have scoured the interwebs looking for info and pictures of how this would look and yours is EXACTLY what i was looking for. I’m planning on Flocking/Snowing a tree and turning it into a frosty the snowman. I could just use a white artificial tree. only question i had was about application for a tree. should it all be done at once or can you do it in batches? Also, how much of the fragrance oil did you use?
Thank you SOOOO much, you may have just made my Christmas!!!!
I would suggest doing it in batches. As soon as the flocking starts to cool down it gets harder to apply. Also put a bit more on than you think you need as it shrinks some as it dries. You can easily add more, though, even days later.
Per bowl I just used 2-3 drops. A little goes a long way with pine scent. Or at least to me it does. The soap smell also dissipates as it dries so if you want to leave the oil out entirely you would be fine.
So glad I made your Christmas! I feel like Santa but without all the toys and elves. :)
Hey I just came across this tutorial (SO AWESOME!!!!) I am wondering how your tree and wreath stored? Do you have to re-flock it this year, or does it stay nice?
Glad you liked it! I used a live tree and fresh greenery so I didn’t bother to store it. I was actually wondering about that yesterday, because I was thinking about using some artificial garland I had in the basement and trying to flock it this year. If you try to store it let me know how it goes.
I do know at the end of the season the flocking was HARD as a rock so I think it might store okay if it wasn’t some place very damp or hot.
Cant wait to try. Do u add the essential oils to the mixture or put on after it dries?
I added them during the mix. However, I think you would be fine either way.
Brianna, here is a site for the ivory soap surprise balls. The kids love to make and use these. Happy New Year!
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2983672/crafts_for_kids_homemade_surprise_soap.html
Oh thanks for sharing! I can’t wait till McClain is old enough to do crafts. I’ll have to mark these to use in the future.
More than 40 years ago, I remember mom and the other ladies of the Church Rosary and Altar Society making table centerpiece “flocked” trees as their fundraiser at the church bazaar. They whipped up the Ivory Snow with food coloring (bright pink, blue, red) and nicely glopped it onto styrofoam shaped cone placed on a paperplate. They added miniature silver balls into “the snow” when it was slightly dried as the tree ornaments. They finished it off putting white batting around the bottom of the plate and spinkling glitter over the whole thing. At the time they were a hot seller. Unfortunately, they did not last from year to year despite the hopes. ;-)
That sounds awesome. I have got to think of a way to kind of modernize that idea for next year. Now that your describing them I have seen similar trees in older pictures, but it never occurred to me that they were made out of soap. Thanks for sharing.
Making artifical snow from Ivory Snow Flakes was a long-time family tradition when I was growing up. Every year we mixed the “snow” in large mixing bowls and then, when it was still scalding hot, we would don rubber gloves and scoop out as much as we could at a time and lay it onto the branches so that it formed a thick blanket of snow (not the sort of flocking you normally see.) We always did this at night, on real tree, and in the morning the snow would have hardened. Everyone who came to the house would gasp and wonder how (In Lousiana mind you) we got a tree covered with real snow into the house?! Lights went on before the snow (unplugged until everything was dry) and then the ornaments the next day.
Our recipe was to use Ivory Snow Flakes and boiling water, mixing them together (adding a little water as needed) with an electric hand mixer until it formed peaks (like you’re making a batch of whipped cream). Then we would add a little baking soda (I think it was just a tablespoon for a big bowl of snow) and mix in well. Next, while it is still very very hot and of the consistency of whipped cream, you would spread it thickly on the branches.
We did not use blue dye or glitter.
We tried to continue the tradition after the Ivory Snow company changed the chemical makeup of their product, but it never would come out the same and we had to give it up. So sad. Every year I long to make the Ivory Snow…
I’ll have to try the baking soda and see if that adds anything. I’m sure it doesn’t look exactly the same, but it does still harden up nicely with the regular ivory soap. Also, I think thicker would be much better when doing the application.
Love to hear the family tradition. It makes me want to try the same thing again next year on the tree, with my son.
I sure hope I can find your blog again next year. I don’t have time this year to make snow but I remember it from my childhood, when every household had Ivory Flakes. Our neighbors’ tree had “snow” on it, as well as bubble lights, and I was so envious. Finally bought a set of bubble lights for this year’s tree. Snow next year!
Well I will do my best NOT to loose our whole blog again. We’ve actually been at it well over a year, but I happened to loose everything when we migrates servers this past August. Yeah, major fail.
I bet the snow would look PERFECT with bubble lights! Just keep my email handy and if you can’t find us I’ll be happy to email you next year. brianna@realmountainvalues.com
Would the spray “snow” in a can work? I used it to make a wreath for my daughter and it dried overnight, beautifully.
It looked like the real thing and it was only $1.29. I have enough left to snow the whole yard. I found it in various places. Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart. Joann’s, etc. Give it a try next time…much easier.
P.S. I have done the grating thing before to make surprise soap balls, they have little toys inside. Believe it or not I used the grating disc on my food processor!
Well the fake snow I had tried was kind of puny… I was looking for the thick look, and I wanted to add an ice crystal appearance. Cost-wise I can’t complain about the ivory snow, but a can is nice and easy :).
I must hear more about the surprise soap balls? Do you have any pictures?
It should be mentioned in the article that the fake snow chemicals are very bad for your health, possibly carcinogenic. That’s why this recipe is awesome, not to mention cheap.
I meant the fake snow in the spray can has chemicals that are bad for you, sorry I didn’t clarify.
I just now looked at the top of the page when you said you would run into Asheville. We don’t live too far apart. I was actually thinking about coming to Asheville this weekend to go shopping but a friend from Wisconsin is going with me and she wants to go to Concord Mills.
I will be happy to. I bought the starch at Wal-Mart in the laundry section. I know they have it at our local grocery store (Ingles Supermarket) too. I had been keeping the starch to maybe wallpaper some fabric on a wall or something with. I’ll let you know if I try it. I have not started Christmas shopping at all yet…not bought 1 present yet. I know I am slacking. Maybe I can squeeze it in between shopping trips this weekend. :)
Ha! Seriously I am so lazy when it comes to crafting. I thought about driving the extra mile to Ingles, but Rite-aid was sooo much closer. Walmart may as well have been across the universe…
Shopping? Seriously? I haven’t even thought about it yet.
But my husband calls me and says he’s seen a sofa I might like, and sure enough I’ll jump in a car, in 20 degree weather, with a baby, after working all day and drive to Asheville.
Sadly, if I had this kind of initiative for DIY projects my house would already be renovated by now and my Christmas shopping done.
If you squeeze it in let me know otherwise happy shopping.
So have you tried it at all with the regular liquid starch? I have a bottle or two left from starching tablecloths for my daughters wedding. Thanks in advance.
No, I couldn’t find any easily. Sadly when I get ready to craft I’m a bit impatient, so, I just substituted.
I can tell you that the starch helps the snow to dry into a hard crust, instead of the softer nature of the soap. I’m pretty sure you could whip the snow up without starch, but it wouldn’t hold its form as well without the starch. Sooo…. this is my long winded way of saying, I’m sure the liquid would work. In fact it might work better!
If you try it out let me know and I can add the info or link to the tutorial.
I love it! That was a great tutorial. I had no idea you could make this stuff!
I didn’t either! The web is a wonderful tool for learning, you know, when you’re not sucked into looking at cute pictures of kittens or the latest shenanigans of Lindsay Lohan. Not that I would ever stoop to star gossip.
Anyway, glad you stopped by and glad I was useful! Please visit again.
Wow! This is such a cool idea. I’ll have to try it out myself.
If you do, let me know. I would love to see other projects.
What an amazing idea! I seem to remember a laundry soap from my childhood called “Ivory Snow”…but yes, that’s long gone now. (That made me sound old, but I’m only 30.) Thank you for experimenting with this and sharing your snow trick! I just might have to try it with my stash of Ivory bar soap from Costco. BTW, it’s my first time on your blog!
Cheryl Claudine (via Centsational Girl’s link party)
Well, thanks so much for visiting! If you try it out let me know I want to see how other projects turn out. Hope you come back around sometime soon.
Well if that isn’t the smartest idea!!! Your mantel looks beautiful! And you don’t have to worry about the ‘fake’ snow in your house, soap is so good!!! Love this, will remember this next time I see the fake stuff in the store . . . although I may add some to my tree this year!
xo
Kate
PS Thanks so much for linking to the party!
Thanks so much for hosting the party! It is nice because it doesn’t float around like the plastic stuff, and it looks so good. I’m totally adding it to my rotation of Christmas tricks. Glad you could find it useful too.
This is one of those projects that initially seems like so much work…until you see the result and it’s worth every minute! It looks so great!
Honestly, other than the grating it was easy peasy. I will admit the grating sucked. Of course for the tree and garland I grated 4 bars of soap, and I had already done the snow trials and 2 wreaths earlier. So perhaps that’s why I was over the grating.
Otherwise much easier than baking a cake.
Love this idea! And it looks very real from your pictures. Can’t wait to try it on our wreaths…hmmm, wonder if it would be okay on an outside wreath or would it melt away?
Brittany
http://www.prettyhandygirl.com
I used outside in a covered area. It held up just fine, however it would get a little soft on really rainy days… However, one of the good and bad attributes is that it does wash off. Not super fast mind your, but if it was in a downpour it would melt like the real stuff.
You are a brave woman. I was skeptical at first but it turned out lovely.
I felt brave when I put it on my wreath. I was not in the mood to tie another one of those damn things if the snow looked like crap. Must admit I was shocked myself on how nice the final effect was. Thanks for the complement.
This is very cool. I love the end result! *hoarding several tons of Ivory Soap Flakes in my fruit cellar* Muahahahaha!
I knew there was someone out there hoarding away! However you still gonna be S.O.L. on the liquid starch. :)
Your faux snow is awesome! I would never have thought that it would look so good!
Thanks! I was pretty shocked myself. When I read the recipe I wasn’t able to find a single picture of what it would look like when done (Probably because I could find the blog of the old lady hoarding the Ivory Soap Flakes) so it was a pleasant surprise. I think the next attempt will look better, with a thicker application.