How to Make Snow Globes with Mineral Oil
Many people associate snow globes with kitschy souvenirs of a trip to the World's Fair or Waikiki beach. But a snow globe can be a way to preserve memories of a special time in someone's life. Instead of framing that picture from your Canadian vacation or consigning your old dog tags to a shadow box, you can display them in a snow globe you make yourself with a few simple ingredients. Personalized snow globes can be unique gifts and are a good craft to do with kids.
Things You'll Need
- Glass jar
- Items to go inside
- Photographs
- Acrylic frame for a photo key chain
- Florist's clay
- Glitter
- Mineral oil
- Aquarium sealant
Instructions
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1
Fill the lid of your jar with florist's clay. Leave enough space around the rim of the lid to allow you to screw the lid back onto your jar.
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2
Arrange the items you want to display in the lid. Plastic figurines, metal items and shells work well. Glue the items to the florist's clay with aquarium sealant.
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3
Seal photographs in acrylic frames, such as the frames used for key chains. Insert the photo in the frame, then apply a bead of aquarium sealant all the way around the frame. Let dry, then glue to the florist's clay with more sealant.
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4
Fill the jar 3/4 full with mineral oil.
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5
Stir in 1 to 2 teaspoons glitter. Use more glitter for a large jar, less for a small jar.
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6
Apply a bead of aquarium sealant around the rim of the jar. While the sealant is still wet, carefully screw the lid onto the jar.
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7
Invert the jar. Allow the glitter to settle around the tableau you've created inside the jar. Shake the jar to start the "snow" flying again.
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Tips & Warnings
Instead of florist's clay, you can use a small piece of Astroturf for grass, or Styrofoam for snow.
Choose wide glass jars such as baby food, jam or pickle jars.
