This inexpensive DIY snow globe is fun and easy to create. Display it in your home or use it as a great holiday gift.
DIY Snow Globe
You have probably seen many DIY Snow Globes on the internet. I can't believe it took me this long to make one.
They are really easy and with a little supervision, something you can enjoy creating with kids.
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Supplies
You can use small jars from the house for this project. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find this plastic snow globe kit at Dollar Tree.
- small jars or snow globe kit from Dollar Tree
- small ornaments
- glitter
or fake snow - glycerin (optional)
- hot glue gun or super glue
- small piece of sandpaper
or 
(optional)
or super glue
How to Make the Snow Globe
Start by roughing up the surface of the snow globe base and the bottom of your ornament so that they will adhere well to each other.
Use hot glue or super glue to glue the ornaments to the base. Let set.
Next, take the globe top and add 2 teaspoons or more of glitter or fake snow.
Then fill the globe top with water. Some say to use distilled water and others say tap is okay. Leave a little bit of extra room for the ornaments, about 1/8 - 1/4 inch from the top seal.
Add a tiny bit of glycerin about 1/4 teaspoon. This helps the glitter stay suspended longer, however you could skip this step.
Then turn the base upside down and press or screw it into place.
Check for leaking. If it leaks check to make sure that the base is pressed in well all around. You may also need to adjust the water level.
The dollar store instructions suggest gluing the base into place and I tried that but found more leaking when I did that so I'll leave it up to you.
Finally, screw the exterior cover over the globe base.
Important Update:
After several months the metal on the bottle brush tree rusted and totally clouded the water. The solution is to find a bottle brush tree that is not made from metal. However I could not find any. Other ideas are to make it a waterless snow globe and build up the bottom with fake snow. Or, make sure that you choose miniature ornaments that are plastic only.
For a fun look, I painted a 3.5-inch clay pot black and set the snow globe inside it. I didn't glue it in place but I might. If I decide to give this one away, I would definitely glue the snow globe to the pot.
You can easily make several of these for a couple of bucks each. Pretty cute and easy for a dollar store craft.
P.S. You may also like this easy Rolled Beeswax Candles gift idea or these fun Test Tube Dried Flowers for stocking stuffers. You can find them and much more on my DIY Projects Page.
DIY Snow Globe
Equipment
- Glue gun and hot glue sticks
Materials
- small jars or snow globe kit from Dollar Tree
- small ornaments
- glitter or fake snow
- glycerin optional
- hot glue gun or super glue
- small piece of sandpaper
Instructions
- Rough up the surface of the snow globe base and the bottom of your ornament so that they will adhere well to each other.
- Use hot glue or super glue to glue the ornaments to the base. Let set.
- Add 2 teaspoons or more of glitter or fake snow to the globe.
- Fill the globe top with water. Some say to use distilled water and others say tap is okay. Leave a little bit of extra room for the ornaments, about 1/8 - 1/4 inch from the top seal.
- Add 1/4 teaspoon of glycerin to the water.
- Turn the base upsidedown and screw on to the globe.
- Check for leaking. If it leaks check to make sure that the base is pressed in well all around. You may also need to adjust the water level.
Kathy
What kind of Glycerin
You use
Patti Estep
Kathy, I used one for baking that I purchased from Amazon. There's a link above. But I don't know if it matters what type of glycerin.
Becky
I really like some of your craft ideas. Last year I made snow globes in Mason jars with decorations from dollar tree.
Patti Estep
Thanks Becky. I bet your mason jar snow globes were fabulous.
MrsSW
Those are really cute, Patti. 🙂
Sheila
Patti Estep
Thank you Sheila. ♥ They were really easy too.