Could you buy a few small sizes of the various brands to see which is best? I haven't used them in years so I can't be much help.
Joann

I have seen flakes in bulk at a few stores here. Check the grocery store bulk bins.

I don't have a bulk store in miles and miles....I don't even know of one.
And all the cheap ones only come in giant bags.
I may look at restaurant supply places....they ought to know what's in the bags....trouble is I don't need high quality! LOL!

I think they're all flakes, at least everything that I've ever seen is. "Buds" is just the name that Betty Crocker gives to them. They're flakes. Don't make me admit how I know.

Have you thought about using Panko instead? I think the flaked instant mashed potatoes might be more expensive than the granular kind. Bob's Red Mill makes potato flakes, and they aren't that cheap - not as cheap as Panko.

Lars

An artificial snow machine for parties is less than $200.00 to buy.

Or you may be able to rent one for a day from a party supply store.

You can make "snow" (not snow flakes) using disposable diapers soaked in water.

dcarch

IMO, neither the potato flakes or panko will look like snow. They are both flat with no glisten.

The large bags of fake snow go a very long ways. I'm still using a bag I bought at least ten years ago for our Christmas village. How much "snow" do you need?

FOAS, hey, don't be embarrassed. I use 100% certified organic potato flakes in bread/rolls frequently. Can't tell the difference and accomplishes the same goal - moistness.

/tricia

We need at least a bushel....the show runs 7 nights and the snow has to pile against the window and several people enter covered with it.
The fake snow I priced was very expensive....like $157 for a bag that would not have been enough. It's paper bits.

never thought about the sparkle factor....maybe I could add some of that sparkley snow you buy in a bag for Christmas display and mix it with....whatever we use.

The artificial snow from the snow machines evaporate...won't pile up near the windows nor hang on people's clothing when they come in, and they are noisy....would have to be located high in the fly, if we had a fly, so you wouldn't hear it.

Someone mentioned a certain kind of non fiberglass blown in insulation that I will also take a look at....
Panko would look right but cost too much. I wish they made white cornflakes.....
Thanks for the ideas....keep them coming.

Found this...

"Create "snow" on a Christmas tree or for the stage set of a play by combining 1-1/3 cups liquid starch with 4 cups of laundry soap flakes and several drops of blue food coloring. Mix well, and add glitter if desired for a sparkly effect. Apply the mix liberally anywhere you desire "snow" and allow to dry."

Add some of the glitter stuff.

/t

But....the snow has to build on the window between scenes.....then go back to nothing for the next night.

Are any of these more reasonably priced than what you've seen?

Here is a link that might be useful: fake snow

OK, now I know what you are trying to do, here is how you can do it cheaply:

1. Get rolls of toilet paper.
2. Totally soak the paper wet.
3. Oven dry toilet paper rolls totally.
4. Use your kitchen blender and make a stirrer so that the stirrer will not touch the blender blades ( I had posted this sometime ago).
5. Set the blender at low speed, tear off chunks of toilet paper, blend and keep stirring.

You will get very fluffy snow looking shredded toilet paper, lots and lots from one roll.

During performance, use a small electric fan, drop chunks of shredded toilet paper BEHIND the fan. You will see the paper drift in the air and fall like snow flakes.

dcarch

I had to go through the suggestions and all the while thinking of what a mess it would be if someone is a little sweaty or has some dampness on their clothes, spills a beverage or something and it becomes the instant mush.

I agree it has a huge mess potential.
Have you considered using shredded paper from a cross cut office shredder? Contact a local business and ask for a couple of bags. Add some glitter and I would think it would pile up on the window sills and be easier to clean up. Just a thought.........

What about plain old paper confetti? Do you have access to anyone's shredded documents?

E

Did a quick test.

Worked very well. With a little fan the paper drifts like snow.

dcarch

Toilet paper after blending
{{gwi:1545920}}

Yeah....the mess potential is huge....
The snow on ebay is that stuff that evaporated instantly ( no clean up...but can't come in on hats and clothes and won't make a blizzard)...
Any shredded documents I have seen were in strips....do they ever shred in little bits?

We plan on a closed plastic area outside the window...with a fan. Then remove the fan and pile it on the window.
Tonight someone suggested instant rice....but I think that would be more like sleet.

High security shredding makes small bits. Ask around. Maybe that will work.

E

I'd think that the potato flakes would become a HUGE dinner bell for unwanted critters?? Even with thorough vacuuming a few bits would be a hefty meal for a MOUSE... or 10!

DC, your TP looks great!

Lindac, what show are you doing?

What about soap flakes?

Here is a link that might be useful: Soap flakes.

I like the crinkle basket filler idea. You can mix white and iridescent together. Up close it is not going to resemble snow but I think it will look good from the audience perspective. And it won't make such a big mess.

Didn't know I could still buy soap flakes.....Ivory flakes were long the standard for fake snow. Thanks!

We're doing Agathy Christie's The Mouse Trap.

The problem with crinkle paper strips is it has to be seen falling and blowing and in the next act has to appear banked on the window....and all over everyone who enters.

Check this website, they have sparkly plastic snow and other types, some of it for pretty reasonable. Maybe they would also give a bulk discount, wouldn't hurt to ask.

Here is a link that might be useful: Artificial snow

The cheapest would be cross-cut shredded white paper. A little honey on clothing and windows would encourage stickiness, who knows how deep. anyway, if I were closer I would send you mine but it would be a mixture of some colores in it. Good luck, it sounds like you'll be having fun with it.

What is cross cut shredded white paper....and where do I find it?....and moreover....what will it cost. Hopefully a lot less than this stuff....which is why I am thinking about potatoes!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Faux snow

I think most every shredder sold today is a cross-cut shredder. $25 and up, depending on shredding size and how many sheets you can do at a time. Then there's the cost of paper which you should be able to get for under $5 a ream. Pour a tall drink, turn up the TV, kick back the recliner and shred away! Thirty bucks from now you'll know if it's good enough for your standards. If not, at least you're left with a safer way to dispose of your credit card bills.

Dcarch, that looks much like cotton. It'll make pretty snow for Christmas decoration too. Great idea :)

Thanks Bizzo and Ntt hou.

Actually I went further with the test. Because it occurred to me that combustible material (including confetti) atomized can be explosive, as it has happened to many destroyed grain elevators/silos.

I tried it with a blow torch going and shredded toilet paper blown in the air, and nothing happened.

However, paper is paper, it can be burned. You should always have a fire extinguisher around.

The video shows how much snow you can make with just half a roll of toilet paper, one minute in the blender and a small fan.

The shredded toilet paper can be vacuumed up and reused, (for snow, I mean, LOL)

dcarch

Here is a link that might be useful: Snow Job