Well… it really is about time that we a did a “How to make snowglobes” post, don’t you think? Every kids craft site worth its salt *needs* a snowglobe diy of sorts. A homemade snowglobe is a childhood must! And finally we have made some. The best thing about your snowglobe, is that you get the chance to “use up” some of those plastic figurines that you may have lying around from Kinder Surprises or party bags… and if you don’t you could “whip” up some FIMO and make your own (if you want more FIMO making ideas check out my friend’s great website! Including FIMO figurine snowglobes!). I have also seen some cool LEGO snowglobes knocking about, so if your children can part with a bit of old LEGO, they do look great too. We did a mixture of “plastic figurine” and FIMO snowglobe. But in essence it is totally your call – how easy or complicated you make it!
This article is now available on our GERMAN website – Schneekugel Basteln
Here are our froggy and our solar system globes:
UPDATE – a few years later we made these:
(see the How To Make a Snow Globe video below!)
DIY SNOW GLOBE MATERIALS
- Old jars – personally I think the smaller the better, as then you are not left with “lots of watery space above your figurine”,
- a plastic figurine or FIMO,
- glycerine (the secret ingredient),
- glitter (apparently PVC glitter is better and I got mine from Zing Zing Tree – it is gorgeous),
- water,
- glue (we used a hot glue gun, but superglue should work too).
- Fishing wire for the planets and a plastic ring we found to suspend them from.
Note: Glycerine is not strictly speaking necessary, but apparently it makes the glitter more floaty. Mmmh.
Note 2: Now here is the interesting bit.. (I think). Though we really enjoyed the PROCESS of making the Solar System Snowglobe – i.e. Red Ted loved helping make all the different planets and it really got him talking about planets and solar systems, the Froggy snowglobe was just so quick and easy, that if I were to recommend one over the other, I would always say “Froggy”! The Solar System one, was such a terrible fiddle and even now, the planets still get a little tangled up, that the end result is no where near as satisfying as the frog one……. but then Red Ted did love learning about planets (it helped that we also made a Paper Mache Solar System – so we were in total space mode). Tricky!!!
How to make your DIY Snow Globe
1) Decide on what you would like to put in your snowglobe. Red Ted “allowed” me to use a plastic frog that came out a Kinder Egg…. I decided the frog would look better “elevated”, so we made simple leaf for it to sit on. We have also had a great few FIMO weeks here in Red Ted HQ and Red Ted has become an expert in ball rolling so we decided on a Solar System! Of course it is not to scale. Before baking the FIMO we poked holes into the balls, so that we could later glue some fishing wire in.
2) Superglue in your fishing wire and tie your planets to your plastic ring – this could be anything – ours came out of a pickled chillies jar! But you could cut a disc out a plastic lid or maybe even use large button??? At this point, the craft actually looks pretty cool (we think).. suspended in the jar… well.. it’s fun, but not as pretty as the above!
3) Glue your solar system to the bottom of the jar (this was SOOOOO fiddly – and I used slow setting “hot glue” – if we made this again, I would suspend it from the LID of the jar. I couldn’t do it this time, as I made the fishing wires to short and all the planets would have been bunched up under the lid). The froggy on the other hand as a quick 2min job. Glue, place, stick… (see much easier)
4) Fill your jar with water, add a few drops of glycerine and then add glitter – maybe 1-2 teaspoons. Less is more! Believe me!!! We used white and blue glitter in the frog snowglobe and golden and star glitter in the solar system snowglobe.
5) Replace your lid. Screw just firmly. You may wish to glue it if you worry your kids will open it!
Tada:
What do you think? Fancy making a snowglobe yourself?
We also made a Snow Globe How To video (using a material called Sugru) take a look:
How to Make a Snow Globe:
Lovely snow domes, the frog looks so happy! We have made a snow dome – I have just linked it up.
I remember you posting on FB about planets, and I had no idea you were going to fit them into a jar. Amazing! So superglue would be your suggestion for the best glue for a snow globe? Any other type of glue?
@Ali – ooh I like your photo globes. So cute!!!!
@Rebekah – yep.. the fiddly fiddly sloar system!!! For the froggy globe the Hot Glue Gun was fine. For the solar system, I had a tube of “slow drying hot glue” (i.e. same stuff, but you don’t heat it) and that work a treat. As to superglue – I have seen others use it – I haven’t, so… I can only say “yes, I think it is fine”?
super glue is hard to work with when there are children around..
Oh my days. I cannot even imagine making the solar system one!
@Merry.. I am not sure I recommend it!!! It seemed like a good idea and was *almost* a total craft fail……. but if we are talking process from Red Ted’s perspective… then we had a good time!
Noooo, we’ve started! ! Planets are made, 5 year old won’t be dissuaded. I am now out of my depth and not convinced it’ll work!! She loves her planets so far though.
Oh dear.. could you just play with the planets instead? So sorry (i did warn you though!!)
She has taken them to school, showed everyone who’ll stop long enough to look at them. But no. They must be hung into a snow globe. Wish me luck!
These look great! That is a very relaxed looking happy frog! 🙂
Hi there!
I post for Crafters4Kids and I plan on featuring this fun idea today on our Facebook wall! We love looking at your ideas and you always have great pictures! https://www.facebook.com/Crafters4Kids
Have a great day! Susie @Crafters4Kids
Thank you – I saw! Very lovely and kind of you!!! 🙂
I love both of these. So lovely! I always like things that reuse in a creative way.
Wow – that solar system rocks, Maggy! I’m pinning it for sure.
Love these snow globes – we’re definitely going to have to have a go at one of these soon (I think we might pass on the solar system and go for the simpler version, although I have to say it does look amazing) Ellie
@Jen Thank you – the kids adore looking at them!
@Krissy – thank you for pinning!
@Ellie – go with easy!! I will next time 😉
I love the froggie! I used to collect frog knick knacks growing up and even had the mini underwater aquarium ones 🙂
I love snowglobes. Such a fun idea. I think the planets one is brilliant. I love the fimo models.
I love this idea! Will have to do this project with my son he will love it!
Maggie I love your solar system snow globe! Inspired 🙂
Thank you!
i love these! i never knew they were so easy to make! my little girl would love a fairy or princess one with lots of pink glitter 🙂 now i know what to do with all the jam jars i have been saving for ages! how much glycerine did you put in? x
Literally a few drops – no more than a tea spoon!
oooh they are great. I especially love the solar system! x
I so love this! Thanks for sharing AND for hosting! Wishing you a lovely Mother’s Day weekend!
Love the planet snow globe! Very cool!
Love this idea! I have wanted to try this for years and years.
My son is OBSESSED with anything space related. He would just love that solar system snow globe! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Do you think putting some thin wire from planet to planet would keep them from getting tangled?
I guess you could try that?! May be easier to assemble it all that way too!
Did anyone try another way to assemble it?! My daughter and I have just made our FIMO planets and now I’ve read the comments I’m worried we won’t be able to assemble it. We love our planets so far 🙂
I think this is so cool. I think it would be neat to have only glued the leaf for the frog and left him floating. This way you would have a challenge to try and get him sitting on the leaf. However you may need aless viscous fluid maybe just water. I had a globe once that had a tee and a large golf ball and you had to try and get the golf ball on the tee. Lots of fun and gives the kids something to do.
yes that would have been fun!
How did you make the planets? I guess I am confused but love the idea. My son would love to do this project.
I just saw this shared on Google+. It is really awesome.
I just saw it too on google+. I really loved the cool frog in there. What a cute craft! Really!
Just wondering if PVC glitter is like the glitter glue ?
Thanks
Hi Bev, it isn’t glitter glue, it just tells you what the glitter is made of, as you get different types.
What did you use to make the froggy leaf? Putty, or clay,etc??
I think it is mentioned in the post – FIMO – which is a polymer clay that you bake in the oven.
Thank you for sharing this project. My boys loved doing this in the Christmas school holidays so I have shared it on my blog in my post on Creative Boredom Busters for Tweens at http://www.blueradish.com.au/creative-winter-boredom-busters-for-tweens/ I love your frog!
Would it work to leave the planets loose in the jar?
It would be more like a sensory bottle then – but yes, should be fab!