| Have you ever played with a snowglobe? If so, | | | | Making Your Own Snowglobe |
| you know what fun it can be to shake one and | | | | In addition to being a fun collectible, snowglobes |
| watch the 'snow' float to the surface, try to | | | | are easy to make. They make great gifts, |
| catch floating rings on a tower, or otherwise | | | | especially during winter holidays. They can also be |
| enjoy the motion of the items inside. On a bad | | | | a fun craft project for kids. |
| day, shaking a snowglobe and watching the results | | | | To make a snowglobe, you'll need a few simple |
| can fascinate and calm you. Children love to play | | | | supplies. These include a glass jar with a lid, such |
| with them, too. | | | | as a baby food jar; glitter or crushed egg shells to |
| A snowglobe, also known as a snowdome or | | | | serve as 'snow'; small trinkets such as trees or |
| water dome, is basically some kind of dome or | | | | people to make the scene; and glue or aquarium |
| transparent sphere atop a flat-bottomed base. It | | | | sealant to connect items to the base of the jar. |
| is filled with glitter, plastic rings, or bits of white | | | | Start by gluing your people, animals, or other |
| 'snow', along with a small scene or landscape of | | | | items to the inside of the lid. Good size items can |
| some sort. A snowglobe is usually filled with water | | | | be found at craft or toy stores - just be sure to |
| mixed with a bit of antifreeze. This mixture helps | | | | keep them away from small children! Next, fill the |
| keep the glitter or other materials suspended a bit | | | | jar with water and antifreeze; mineral oil, or baby |
| longer, so they fall more naturally and slowly. | | | | oil. All three should help your snow float while not |
| Snowglobe History | | | | damaging the items in the globe. Make sure you |
| Nobody knows quite when snowglobes originated, | | | | add in glitter, confetti, plastic rings, egg shells or |
| though some think they started in France in the | | | | other floating items to the water or oil. Next, |
| 1800s, perhaps as an early paperweight. As they | | | | carefully attach the lid to the jar and seal it. You |
| became more readily available and spread through | | | | may want to add more glue or sealant to the |
| the world, snowdomes became popular collector's | | | | outside rim of the jar to make sure it stays |
| items. They are readily available in much of the | | | | tightly closed. You're done - and it really is that |
| world and are generally inexpensive, making them | | | | easy! |
| easy and fun to collect. In addition to the | | | | Whether you're wanting to give away homemade |
| commonly available plastic models, there are more | | | | gifts, work on a fun family project, or provide a |
| expensive glass varieties, often produced in limited | | | | fun activity for your child's next party, making a |
| quantities. More recently, large inflatable | | | | snowglobe is a good activity. They are fun, easy, |
| snowglobes became available as holiday decor. | | | | and inexpensive to make, and they will provide |
| Through forced air, the snow blows continuously | | | | years of fun and enjoyment for the recipient. |
| on wintry or Christmas themed scenes. | | | | |