There is a luxury to the winter months in cold climates. At my house, it is to cozy up next to a fire and watch the snow cascade across the woods. There is something about the falling snow that evokes a quiet stillness. This feeling always reminds me of the Robert Frost poem, Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening: “Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow.”

I relive that sparkling magic with my family and school children by making unique snow globes. These little windows of snowy winter worlds are easy to make and are a wonderful holiday gift or decoration for your home.

Here’s some snow globe history and trivia:
• Snow globes have many names: snow domes, snow scenes, water balls, blizzard-weights, water domes, snowstorms, snow scenes, snow shakers, shake ‘em up, and shakies.
• Early snow globes came from France during the early 1800s. One of the first snow globes is thought to be a little Eiffel Tower encased in a glass ball of water with snow falling
• Snow globes were brought to the United States from Germany in the 1920s. They were called glass waterglobes and were revered for their “artistic attractiveness and novel ornamentation.” The patent was granted, the concept was copied and snow globes were sold everywhere.
• Snow globes were an alternative to glass paperweights.
• Many people collect snow globes from antiques to Disney characters.

Here’s how to make a Snow Globe, adapted from a Martha Stewart column:

What you need:
A jar (baby food or olive jars work well).
Ceramic or plastic figurines. Small evergreen tips or flowers from craft shops can be used.
Glitter or fake snow.
Distilled water.
Glycerin (available in drug or health food stores).
Clear drying waterproof epoxy. Craft and hardware stores sell this type of glue.
Small piece of sandpaper.

What to do:
1. Sand the inside of the lid until the surface is rough.
2. Adhere the figurine to the inside of the lid with epoxy and let dry.
3. Fill the jar almost to the top with distilled water.
4. Add a pinch of glitter–not too much or the glitter will stick to the bottom of the jar when it is flipped.
5. Add a dash of glycerin.
6. Screw on the lid tightly, being careful not to dislodge the figurine.
7. Turn the jar over and back again. Let it snow!

Insulate yourself from the hustle and bustle of the holidays, and enjoy the snow fall in your own winter wonderland.