In this Instructable, I'm going to be showing you how to build two different quick and easy snow globes using simple materials available from a craft or dollar store.

The first uses a small solar powered LED hanging bulb which I found for $1 each. These have a screw off cap which allows you to put things into the globe part, perfect for a snow globe.

The second uses a plastic wine glass, the type sold in packs of four or six which have removable stems. I found these in a pack of four for $1. If you can't find any with removable stems, it should be fairly easy to cut the stem off of any plastic wine glass.

Lets have a look at how to build them.

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Supplies

The build these snow globes, you'll need:

Snowman Bulb

LED Hanging Bulb
Two white pompoms of different sizes, must be small enough to fit into bulb
A black pipe cleaner
An orange pipe cleaner or orange marker
Snow - foam balls, white glitter or desiccated coconut

Reindeer Wine Glass

Plastic wine glass with removable stem
Red card
White card
Two black pipe cleaners
A red pipe cleaner
A brown pompom
A small red pompom for the nose
A small black pompom for the top
Snow - foam balls, white glitter or desiccated coconut

In addition to these, you'll need a few tools and markers to build these:

Hot melt glue gun
Scissors
Pencil
Black Sharpie
Tweezers
A mug, larger than the wine glass rim

Step 1: Assemble the Snowman

Start off by making the snowman.

Cut a small bit of fluff from the orange pipe cleaner to use as a nose. You could also use an orange marker or small piece of orange card to make a nose.

Next cut two small pieces of black pipe cleaner for the arms. These should be a little shorter than the diameter of the larger white pompom.

Use your Sharpie to draw two black eyes onto the smaller white pompom.

Then glue the orange fluff onto the face below the two eyes.

Glue the smaller pompom onto the larger pompom as a head.

Finally, glue the two black pipe cleaners onto the larger pompom as two arms. Try to stick the metal part of the pipe cleaners into the pompom so that they're secure and held rigidly in place.

Check that your snowman's head is held in place well as you won't be able to fix it once it is inside the bulb.

Step 2: Assemble the Snowman Globe

Once you're happy with your snowman, it's time to put it into the globe.

Unscrew the cap of the globe and remove the short LED strip.

Put a dot of glue onto the bottom of the snowman and then quickly grab it with your tweezers and push it through the neck of the globe and stick it to the bottom of the bulb. You may need to hold it in place for a few seconds while the glue hardens.

Once the snowman is stuck in place, you can add the snow. Use a teaspoon and add about a single teaspoon of snow to the globe. You may need a bit more or a bit less depending on what type of snow you have. Small foam balls will work the best but if you can't find any then substitute for another course and dry white substance, I used desiccated dried coconut.

Step 3: Assemble Your Reindeer

To make your reindeer, start with a large brown pompom and a small red pompom for the nose.

Cut four small lengths of black pipe cleaner, about the same length as the diameter of your brown pompom.

Glue the red nose into the centre of the brown pompom.

Make up some eyes by marking the centre of two white punch outs or cut two small circles of white card for eyes. Mark them with a black Sharpie to make the pupils.

Glue the two eyes onto the brown pompom above the nose.

Fold two of the four black pipe cleaners along their centres, just past 90 degrees.

Glue them onto the ends of the other two pipe cleaners so that the three tips are all roughly in line.

Glue the two antlers onto the top of the brown pompom. Try to push the metal parts of the pipe cleaners into the pompom so that they're held rigid and secure.

You reindeer is now ready for the snow globe.

Step 4: Make the Wine Glass Snow Globe

Start off by cutting out a circle of red card slightly larger than the rim of your wine glass. Mark the circle with your mug as a template and then cut it out with your scissors.

Glue your reindeer into the centre of the red circle. Make sure that it is stuck down well as you won't be able to fix it if it comes loose inside the glass once the bottom is sealed.

Next add a teaspoon or two of fake snow into the inside of the wine glass. You can use the same foam balls, glitter or coconut which you used for the globe. Temporarily attached the wine glass stem to hold it upright while you're working through these steps, this makes it easier to hold upright.

Put glue around the rim of the wine glass and then quickly push your reindeer into the glass and press down around the edges of the red circle to glue it into place.

Flip the snow globe over and apply some glue around the outside to make a good seal. You can cover the seal up with a pipe cleaner for decoration, I used a black one. I then trimmed the excess red card around the black pipe cleaner for a neater finish.

Wrap a pipe cleaner or two around the sticking up portion of the wine glass stem and glue them into place.

Finish the globe off with a pompom on the top.

Step 5: Show Your Snow Globes Off

Your snow globes are now complete. They are really cheap and easy to make so make a few to decorate your home and Christmas tree for the holiday season.

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