Snow Globe Mason Jars

Gypsy Slow Down

Well. I had a very busy weekend. But there are way more gifts (wrapped!) under the tree than there were on Friday and I actually completed two Christmas projects I really wanted to do this year. And so it was a good weekend. I hope yours was too.

I saw these snow globes on Pinterest and thought they would be adorable to give as gifts for my kids at work, my nieces, Witt's co-workers and probably one of you reading this blog so pretend you didn't see. I wanted mine to be snow globes filled with liquid that you could shake and watch the glitter float around. There was no link on the pin and it looked like the one in the photo just had air and glitter in the mason jar. So I improvised and got to work. 

Really, how easy does this project look?

1. You super glue a plastic tree to a jar lid.

2. Fill the jar with distilled water

3. Add glitter, twist and viola! 

Well, I had a few complications but I'll share them with you so that your project will be easy peasy.

Gypsy Slow Down

Gypsy Slow Down

I found my jars at Hobby Lobby for 50% off but most grocery stores sell mason jars (though this time of year they may be more scarce). 

I had the hardest time finding figurines for the inside of the jar. I really wanted to branch out from trees but all I could find, after scouring ornaments, craft areas and four other stores, were these plastic trees from Wal-mart. They were a great deal so I bought them at $1 a piece and then went home where I promptly found out they wouldn't fit in my mason jar. 

It's a good idea to bring your mason jar with you when shopping for the trees or other figurines. Duh. So I chopped the trees in half with wire cutters and re-glued them with hot glue to the base. I then super-glued the stand to the inside of the jar lid where I let it dry for at least an hour.

I am going to buy little Disney figurines for the ones I will make for my nieces. I don't think I will tell you about the cute little ceramic figurines I bought at the dollar store and when they wouldn't fit into my jar I tried to chop off their feet to make them fit. Yeah. That didn't work so well.

Gypsy Slow Down

I wanted to find mineral water because I thought that would be the best liquid for the inside but all I could find was mineral oil (a little disclaimer: I am a terrible shopper. I actually despise shopping. So I'm sure I gave up after the first two stores). I bought the mineral oil and a jug of distilled water.  However, when I filled up the jar with water and added a few teaspoons of mineral oil, all the glitter clumped into a ball and did not float around beautifully since oil and water don't mix. I later researched and realized I could have used a few teaspoons of glycerin, like Martha Stewart does with her snow globes. So I had to wash them out and start again. I just used the distilled water and it worked fine. I may add glycerin before I give them as gifts.

I tied a ribbon around the vase, gave it a shake and they look great! I am so happy that they turned out so well. Some of the trees are crooked but it's a wire base so I will go back in and straighten them when I super glue the lids to the jars. Witt suggested that I do that and I ran out of super glue, but I think that's a good idea just to make sure you have them on good and tight.

Gypsy Slow Down

My other project this weekend was making Peppermint Vodka which I will share soon because it turned out so well. And because it's fun to add a little holiday cheer to your season.

Merry Christmas!


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