Each of us at least once in his life saw on a store shelf such a toy as a glass ball with snow inside. However, many of them are more correctly called art objects due to masterful performance and beauty. Such a gift will be pleasant and memorable for both a child and an adult for any holiday.
What is it?
Usually a glass ball with snow inside is a sphere or hemisphere made of glass, placed on a special stand (simple or decorated, stuccoed or even, with and without signatures: it all depends on the purpose and price of the souvenir). Inside the ball are cute miniatures, studded with plastic snow flakes or sparkles. One has only to turn it over, and under the dome there will be a whole winter scene.
Types of Glass Balls
1. New Year. If you ask any foreigner what is the name of a glass ball with snow inside, he will immediately answer: Snow globe. This is perhaps the most popular souvenir that appears every year in Christmas shops around the world (they are especially common in Europe). Most often, Christmas glass balls with snow inside have some kind of Christmas figures, houses, fabulous winter characters. Shake it and you get a revived Christmas tale. Such a gift is especially good for children, but it will also help adults to tune in the right mood before the holiday.
2. Souvenir. They are usually sold in popular tourist destinations. Inside, under a glass dome is a miniature copy of an architectural monument or other symbol typical of this place. An excellent traditional gift for the memory of the trip for yourself or a souvenir to relatives.
3. Romantic. The figures inside such balls usually symbolize something related to love, family, children. They give such balloons for a wedding, anniversary, Valentine's day or just to please a loved one.
4. Collectible. Usually such glass balls with snow inside are large with elaborate figures or even whole stories. They will look great on the shelf both for inveterate collectors and simply for art lovers.
5. Baby. Sometimes they are not even a glass ball with snow inside, but a hemisphere made of plastic (to make it harder to break it). Inside are usually figurines of fairy-tale heroes or scenes from cartoons.
How to make?
A souvenir bought in a store can look great and please the eye. But if you want to really please a loved one or make something together with your children, it is best to make glass balls with snow inside with your own hands. Fortunately, it is very simple and not expensive in finance.
We collect materials. We will replace a glass ball with an ordinary jar. Large or small, round or cylindrical - there are no restrictions. The main thing is that it is perfectly clean and well closed with a suitable lid. You will need boiled or distilled water (it is better not to pour water directly from the tap, it may become cloudy over time), glycerin. We need a figure that will be inside our ball. You can take a toy from Kinder Surprise or create something yourself, everything depends on skill and desire. You will also need tinsel or sparkles or all together, hot-melt adhesive or Moment Crystal glue. You will need different little things for decoration: cardboard, shiny varnish, acrylic paints, beads, polymer clay, twigs and berries - all that will tell your imagination and possibilities.
We start manufacturing. We fix the selected figure well with glue or polymer clay on the lid of the can (do not use self-hardening clay, it will get wet in water). Decorate the bottom of the lid from the inside to your liking.
Fill the jar at the rate of 2/3 of water and 1/3 of glycerin (do not pour to the brim, otherwise the figure will displace excess water). If you add more glycerin, then the sparkles will fall down for a very long time, and if less, then immediately sink to the bottom. Pour spangles or finely chopped tinsel into this mixture. Shuffle and remove all that remains to swim at the very top.
Thread the cap on the thread with glue and tightly close the jar with it. Now the figure is inside. Wait a while for the glue to dry, turn over the resulting structure.
The toy is almost ready, it's time to start decorating it outside.
Stand
The resulting glass ball with snow inside can be supplemented with a beautiful stand. Its shape and appearance depend on the subject of a particular toy, but there are several proven options.
We glue the base from thick cardboard so that its diameter coincides with the lid of the can. We decorate it with colored paper, beautiful fabric, satin ribbons, beads, sparkles - everything that requires inspiration.
You can mold a stand made of polymer clay. To do this, again, we make the basis of cardboard, and on top of it we already make “stucco molding”. We paint with acrylics or shiny nail polish.
If there is no desire or sufficient skill, then simply paint the lid with golden or silver varnish. It will also be festive and beautiful.
Useful Tips
To make your toy pleasing to the eye for a long time, there are a few simple rules:
- Glue the figure to the lid very firmly with such glue that does not dissolve in water.
- The figure itself should not deteriorate when it is in the water for a long time. Ideal plastic or porcelain.
- Do not get too carried away by adding snow, otherwise miniatures inside will not be visible because of it.
- To make the ball with snow bright and festive, you can use colored tinsel and sparkles.
The main thing is not to limit the flight of your imagination when you decorate the toy. Let her give a festive mood every day!