Thursday, September 24, 2009

Make your own Snow Dome


I just LOVE babushka dolls at the moment - isnt she just so lovely?



When I was little I used to love the Christmas snow domes, and wanted my mother to leave them out all year long. Little "J" seems to have inhereited the same love for snowdomes that I have, so I went searching on how to make your own. I thought little handmade fimo characters would be terrific as the ornaments, or even some olf christmas decorations that you no longer hang.

I thought I would share this lovely craft with you all, as I am sure your children (and you!) would love to make some too:

Materials:
Clear Glass Jar with a tight lid (pickle, pimento, jelly, baby food)
Small Waterproof Ornaments,
Figures or Decorations
Distilled Water or Water that has been boiled and cooled
Clear Silicone Sealant (Aquarium Sealant) or Florist Clay
Egg Shells (not sure if the egg shells would discolour the water so that would be a trial) or Foil Confetti
Glitter (I might try sequins)
Glycerin or Mineral Oil
Optional: Plastic Lid to fit inside the jar’s lid,
Circle of Fabric, Ribbon or Lace

1. Choose a Clean Dry Glass Jar - A baby food jar is perfect for a small kids craft, pimento jars have a unique ball shape, and pickle jars are large enough to allow you to add several elements to your scene. Just fit your jar to your desired final effect. Remove any labels and food residue.

2. Plan your Snow Globe Scene - Search your sewing kit and home craft supplies for materials and inspiration. You can make people, animals, trees - you name it - from craft foam. Sewing findings are a great source of small decorations too. Also consider miniatures at the craft or hobby store. Remember to shop the day after a holiday for lots of discounted items!


3. Secure the Figures and Decorations inside the jar lid with silicone sealant or florist clay. In order to elevate the scene so it is in clear view, glue a plastic lid inside the jar lid or build up the area with a little extra florist clay. Be sure to leave the edges clear so you have room to screw on the lid. Set aside to dry.

4. Prepare Your "Snow" using the shell from a hardboiled egg. Separate the shell from the membrane, place in a sturdy ziploc bag, and crush with a rolling pin. Finer particles will fall more slowly in the snow globe and have a more pleasing effect. However, avoid crushing eggshell into a powder as it will simply float in the water instead of falling gently.
Depending upon your theme, you can change your "snow" to go along with it. Try themed confetti available at craft stores to add an interesting element to your creation. If you’re doing a Halloween or Thanksgiving scene, look for foil leaf confetti in fall colors. For Easter you can use foil flower confetti. For a sports theme, use glitter in your favorite team’s colors. The possibilities are endless and ensure that you are creating a one-of-a-kind snow globe!

5. Fill the Snow Globe - When you are pleased with your snow globe scene, fill the jar with distilled water, leaving a little space at the top to accommodate the figures. Add several drops of glycerin to keep the snow suspended and floating properly. Mineral oil or baby oil can also be used in place of the water and glycerin.

6. Add Snow and Glitter - When adding eggshells, make sure you have enough to cover the lid once it has settled to the bottom. Use silver glitter along with the egg shells to make shimmery snow - use one teaspoon of glitter for every inch of water. If you’re adventurous, experiment with different effects. Use a drop or two of colored lamp oil to create a swirling effect. Add food coloring to the water or use different colored glitters.
Close the jar tightly and shake your snow globe. Observe how the snow falls and the overall look. Tweak till you get the desired effect by adding a little more snow, glitter or confetti.

7. Seal the Dome - When you’re sure the figures and scenery are arranged to your satisfaction, and the snow to water ratio looks good, add a bead of silicone sealant around the threads of the lid and close tightly.

8. Add Final Touches - For a more decorative and finished look, cut a circle of pretty fabric a little larger than the jar lid. Secure to the lid with an elastic band. Hot glue a piece of ribbon or lace over the elastic band.
You'll be proud to display and enjoy your original winter crafts snow globe creation.
Have fun making snowdomes! If you make some, send me some pics! I would love to see what you make!

7 comments:

Erin Napier said...

These are adorable - I love snow globes too. I tried to make one when I was about 10 years old with a peanut butter jar, blue tack and some glitter ... doesn't sound quite as professional as your homemade ones, lol!

PixelatedMushroom said...

I love this :D

Berrylicious Buttons said...

They sound like fun dont they! Hope to see some great photos of some lovely handmade ones 8-)

Thea said...

What a great project! I have always loved snow globes too. Thanks for visiting my blog which lead me to discovering yours. I smiled when I read that you "love these little faces" above your followers. I always say the same thing to my husband about mine and he thinks I'm crazy... actually he thinks the whole blog community is a little zany but I love it.

Berrylicious Buttons said...

Thanks for dropping in for a peak Thea 8-)

Anonymous said...

hey, just wanted to let you know that those dolls are not called "babushka". They are actually called "matreshka" (pronounced something like "matryoshka").

Anonymous said...

I like the snowdomes.com "Make your own snowglobe" kits in glass and plastic.