Last week, the kids and I attempted to make snow globes.
We followed this tutorial and they sort of turned out.
But not as good as I hoped.
I couldn’t get the right proportion of glycerine/water/glitter and then the trees kept coming unglued from the bases.
So, actually, the diy was sort of a flop.
If I were to do it again, I would forgo the water, and do something simple like Melissa did:
Faux snow + faux tree + giant mason jar. So simple and so pretty.
Or I would just line up a bunch of bleached bottle brush trees like Bonnie did:
She even shows you how to bleach your own trees if your craft store only sells the green ones.
Or maybe I would spring for a real snow globe since I could literally shake and stare for a good 30 minutes. They’re mesmerizing, I tell ya.
{anthropologie}
{west elm – no longer available}
{potterybarn kids – they’re on sale!}
Sometimes its just worth it to buy the real thing, I suppose.
And that is the story of how I tried and failed at one of the easiest diy projects floating around the web. You win some, you lose some.
I made my own without water and they were pretty fool proof! http://www.eventsbyshelbirene.com/2011/12/diy-anthropologie-mason-jar-snow-globes.html
I wouldn’t feel badly — I’ve read around the web that everyone that tried out the version of the craft with water said that it was a disaster! I’m itching to try the non-water version, though it might be a “week after Christmas” craft, the way that things are going!
The snow globes look awesome! Well done!
I must try it!
Commercial architect Clearwater
Many thanks for your wonderful optimism. I adore the snow globes.
If you’d like to see, I just posted a picture of them on my FB page (Susan J Burke). Merry Christmas!
Enjoy reading your posts . . . consumed by the snow globe craze, I ventured forth. Had great success with up-cycled jars and a variety of fillings – trees, die cut deer, paper Santas and little cars – stuck into a slice of craft foam glued to the jar lid and Buffalo snow/glitter mix added. Glued on the lid and voila! Did experiment with bleaching trees but wasn’t fond of the color or the rusty look of the center wire. Dyed them pink – with food coloring I had on the shelf. They are pretty cute.
Ha! That’s so funny! I did this project a few years ago here and ran into some issues myself but ended up resolving them…
http://granddesignco.blogspot.com/2010/10/mason-jar-snow-globes.html
Definite trial and error. You never know until you try it. I unpacked my snow globes this year and this the epoxy, they’re still glued well!
I love your sequined pillows too, by the way.
Merry Christmas!
Your blog is FABULOUS! I’d say you’ve won there! :)
Too funny…we used the same tutorial last week, and also flopped. I used fake trees like yours, but they were green, and subsequently dyed the water green. Now our little deer friends look like they are covered in slimy moss. Next year…
I admire your pluck to even try it! I have been in that place where my end result did not turn out as I hoped. But really thank you for showing us that sometimes it’s just ok when things don’t turn out exactly as planned. The world will continue to spin!
We made these too because we saw the Anthropologie ones in the store! I wrote a post about our homemade Christmas decor a few days ago and included pictures of the ones we made! Yours are cuter! :) http://www.landofbinks.wordpress.com.
I’ve had a lot of DIY projects turn out like that! My son and I made a snow globe last year—it was just with a baby food jar and Christmas shaped erasers, but I used E-6000 glue and the haven’t come unglued at all. I also put a bead of hot glue around the lid of the jar. I saw a display of the mason jar terrarium style “snow globes” on a Lands End display the other day. My husband really liked them.
My daughter turned 5 a couple of weeks ago, and requested a “rainbow snow” birthday party. Our snow globes were a little disappointing, too. We kept adding glycerin and glitter to get the proportions right, and the epoxy stuck, but the green dye on the trees has tinted the water green! Luckily, the kids don’t seem to mind.
Try baby oil next time!
oops, i forgot i was going to share my link. http://www.itsgoodtobequeen.net/2012/12/a-post-about-christmas-trees.html
well that’s good to know. they sure do look pretty though. ;)
i did a simple version of vintage snow, bottle brush trees and fake snow sprayed on the jar.
next time i will not spray the fake snow…it got a little cloudy but i still like them. :)
I totally had that on the list of holiday fun this week… Thanks for sparing us a big disappointment :)
Bainbridge Island has a life-sized snow globe, perfect for photo ops. I think you live in the Seattle area, right? Take a ferry ride to the island for an afternoon, put your kids in the globe and snap away. It’s surreal! And really cute. Unfortunately, I have no photos to share, but I’m sure there is someone out there with pics.
So fun! My aunt & Uncle live on the island so we should go visit them while we’re at it …
you do win some and lose some. The good thing is you win MOST of the ones you try! At least you had a fun craft day out of the snow globes even if the product didnt turn out as wonderful as you hoped.
Thanks for sharing your experiences (again!) The 6yo here wanted to make globes before Christmas and your insight will guide me to redirect to another project…maybe go to Dollar Tree and buy one for each kiddo! Honestly, the DIY instructions do look “simple.”
That’s how it goes sometimes isn’t it?! It’s hard when a seemingly easy project just doesn’t work out. It’s still good family time in the end though. :) Merry Christmas!
PS – Thanks for showing the snow globe from Sundance. I’m ordering it for my mom right now.