Thursday, January 29, 2009

Snow on demand

A couple of days ago I mentioned a craft project Dale and I did together. As promised, here it is, a snowglobe in jar:

*Complete, simplified instructions at the end of this post*

A snow globe was one of the things we had on our list fun things to do before Christmas, but for one reason and then another it just didn't happen.

But Dale didn't forget, and asked fairly persistently if we could make our snowglobe. (As in, every other day for 6 weeks.) :)

As simple as the project itself was to do, gathering some of the supplies proved a little difficult. The most challenging was finding the centerpiece to go inside the baby food jar.

This little guy came from the seasonal aisle at wal-mart. He was the topper for a tube of Christmas candy.

To make him a little taller so stand above the rim of the lid and the ridges in the top (bottom after you flip it (of the glass jar) I added in a lego block for a little boost.

While the glue on your centerpiece dries, fill the jar about 1/3 full of glycerin. Should be in the pharmacy section at Walmart. Ours was with the first-aid stuff if I remember correctly.

The second time we went for it, that is. The first time we tried they were out. I guess everybody was making snowglobes for Christmas. :)
Anyway.... about 1/3 full of glycerin. Give or take.

Then add your glitter. I poured a little in the cap for Dale to put in himself.
We used just enough to barely cover the surface of the glycerin.

Fill the jar the rest of the way with water. Because I was doing this the lazy quick way, I didn't test it first to see how much water our little penguin would displace. I just guessed. We ended up with a little air bubble, but that's ok. ;)

Be sure and dry the rim of the jar.

Finally, squeeze a thin line of hot glue around the inside lip of the jar lid before quickly screwing it on.

Allow it to set for a few minutes (I love hot glue) and give 'im a shake!


Snowglobe in a jar:

Clean, empty baby food or other small jar
Plastic toy or decoration
Glycerin
Glitter
Water
Hot glue

Hot glue toy to inside of jar lid.

Fill jar approximately 1/3 full of glycerin.
Add a couple of pinches of glitter.
Fill jar almost to top, allowing for a little displacement by toy.
Dry top of jar well.

Squeeze a thin line of glue on inside lip of jar lid, and screw tightly onto jar.
Allow glue to dry before turning jar.

Ours was a little cloudy when we first turned it over, but once everything mixed it all cleared up and has remained that way!

If you're feeling particularly fancy you can paint the jar lid to match the toy or season. Obviously we weren't feeling fancy. :)

3 comments:

Jennifer said...

Super, super cute! You guys did a great job!

Michelle said...

Love it! I think that Emilee needs one of these...

Karen said...

Making snowglobes is one craft I always mean to do with our girls and have somehow still not done. Maybe I need to add it to our big "December Activity List" 2009 edition!