Make a Homemade Snow Globe

Make a snow globe that doesn't cost a bundle.

Submitted by
Kayla Chong

Thought your days of buying baby food were over? Think again. Head out to the market to pick up some mashed peas and carrots for this cool homemade snow globe. Don't worry, you won't have to force-feed your kid from a spoon. Those days are definitely over ... at least with this kid!

Baby food jar:
You may have to buy a "Stage 3"-size food jar if your trinket is too tall to fit in the Stage 1 or 2 jars.
Light vegetable oil:
Save your fancy imported Italian olive oil for the endive salad.
Glitter:
Otherwise known as "Vegas Snow."
Trinket:
Something small and waterproof to put inside the snow globe, like a small glass animal figurine or even a plastic toy soldier from the dollar store.
Hot-glue gun and glue sticks:
Remember, kids and hot glue don't mix, so make sure you do the gluing!
Funnel:
Optional, but may save your dining room chair upholstery.
Hair dryer:
Remember that old thing from the days when you actually had time to primp?

Have your child help you rinse out the baby food jar and lid really well.
Remove the label from the jar. Scrubbing it off with hot water may do the trick. If not, blow-dry the label with your hair dryer to melt the adhesive, and then pull the label off.
Have your child select a trinket to be featured in the snow globe.
Then, while your kid watches, hot-glue the trinket to the inside of the jar lid.
Help your child fill the jar with vegetable oil. If your preschooler insists on doing the pouring herself, grab the paper towels and enlist the aid of a funnel. (Don't attempt this while wearing silk!)
Have your child pour enough glitter into the jar to make the scene really sparkle, but not so much that it doesn't flow nicely.
Screw the top on the jar, flip it over and you've got a Winter Wonderland, Gerber-style!
If you can pry it out of her hands, have your child wrap the snow globe and she's got herself a lovely handmade holiday gift for someone special.