How to Make a Snow Globe

Building your own snow globe

If you are in need of a rainy-day activity for your kids, try making a snow globe. Not only is it a fun and fairly simple project, but it also will leave you with a unique snow globe that you could never find in a store.

What you need

Before you can begin to make a snow globe, you need to gather all the necessary materials. Here's what you will need:

A glass jar with a lid: While you can buy a globe at a craft store, a simple glass jar will suffice.

A centerpiece: This will be the focal point, and should be an item that won't rust.

Glitter: If you prefer the snow look, you could use some white pellets or fake snow, available at craft stores.

Glycerin: This isn't required, but will slow down the snowfall in your snow globe.  

Distilled water: This will be used to fill the snow globe.

Glue: Any glue will do, but a hot glue gun is best. It's primarily used to seal the lid and attach the ornament.

Getting started

Once you have gathered all the supplies you need for the snow globe, you should begin by thoroughly cleaning the glass jar and allowing it to dry completely. Next, set up a place to work. You might want to consider lining your work surface with newspaper to avoid causing any permanent damage.

Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to work. Anticipate spending about 20 to 30 minutes, unless you plan on making a more elaborate snow globe.

Instructions for making a snow globe

Follow these instructions to discover how simple it is to create your very own snow globe:

1. The first step is to create a scene in the snow globe by gluing the centerpiece to the jar's lid.

2. Allow the glue to dry completely.

3. Once the glue has dried, you should fill the jar with cold water. You want to leave room for movement, so only fill the jar about 95 percent full.

4. Add the glitter or snow.

5. Finally, seal the jar by lining the lid with glue and attaching to the jar.

6. After allowing the glue to set, which usually takes about 24 hours, you can give your snow globe a test shake.

7. For additional security, some people recommend gluing the outside of the lid as well.

The finished product

The finished product is your very own hand-crafted snow globe. This activity is fun and easy to do in the classroom or at home. Making snow globes is especially enjoyable during the holiday season when kids can give their finished snow globes to a friend or family member as a memorable gift.

More information on snow globes