Our DIY Snow Globe Will Complete Your Holiday Décor

Create a wintry scene inside your home with this easy DIY project.

DIY jar snow globes

Dreaming of a white Christmas? Create your own winter wonderland this year by making a snow globe. This simple DIY is perfect for the season and its materials are easy to source: Almost any jar works, but a wide-mouth iteration is ideal as it gives you more room to position the details of your wintry vignette. Glycerin can found in your pharmacy's health and beauty aisle, while epoxy and glitter are available at any craft store.

The details inside your snow globe are just as important as the globe itself. Create a tiny polymer clay snowman by rolling three white balls in descending sizes, squeezing a few dots of glue, and stacking them. Then roll off even tinier details (a carrot nose, black button eyes, scarf, and top hat) to give your character personality.

Alternatively, you can use toy figurines like reindeer, skiers, carolers, or a jolly Santa. To create a longer-lasting globe, look for plastic or ceramic figurines, as metal ones are prone to rust. Round out your nostalgic wintry scene with synthetic evergreen tips.

What You'll Need

Materials

  • Synthetic evergreen tips
  • Oil-based enamel paint (optional)
  • Sandpaper
  • Glitter
  • Glycerin
  • Plastic or ceramic figurines
  • Glass jar
  • Clear-drying epoxy

Instructions

  1. Paint the Jar Lids:

    snow globe materials

    If the jar lids are not in seasonal colors already, paint them with oil-based enamel paint.

  2. Sand the Lid and Add Figurines:

    Sand the inside of the lid until the surface is rough. With clear-drying epoxy, adhere the figurines to the inside of the lid, and let the epoxy dry.

  3. Fill the Jar With Distilled Water and Glitter:

    Fill the jar almost to the top with distilled water; add a pinch of glitter and a dash of glycerin to keep the glitter from falling too quickly. Don't add too much, or the glitter will stick to the bottom of the jar when it's flipped.

  4. Screw on the Lid:

    Screw on the lid tightly, being careful not to dislodge the figurine. Turn the jar over and back again—and let it snow.

Originally appeared: MARTHA STEWART LIVING, DECEMBER/JANUARY 1998/1999

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