Make Your Own Snow Globe - let it snow glitter!

With all our snow last week outside we were inspired for an indoor snow craft...

Supplies:

•  A strong, waterproof glue to create the inside/base of your snow globe (we used E6000 and let it dry overnight)  
• A glass jar with a tight fitting lid
• Sparkles or glitter + spoon to stir
• Liquid Glycerin
• Hot glue and glue gun - or caulking would work to seal the globe and prevent leaking

DAY 1:  The first thing to do to make a snow globe is decide on what should go inside.  Play around with different figures, toys, ornaments, mini trees or whatever.  The ones that turned out to be my favourites were the least conventional.  You will want to create a bit of a raised base for any figurines you use so they will be visible inside the glass, You can use anything that is not water soluble - pebbles, glass marbles, etc.  Flip the lid over and glue items to the underside of the lid, checking as you glue that the lid will still screw onto the jar.  Definitely use your strongest glue to position the items.  You can also glue something directly to the inside of the clean, dry jar if you would like it a bit more suspended. (Below we did this with the little girl on the horse ornament to give more of an appearance of flying.) Allow the glue to dry overnight.

 

DAY 2: Next you want to mix water + glitter (not too much or the glitter clumps together) + a tablespoon of liquid glycerin. Stir together. 

Take your figurines and dunk them upside down and screw the lid on. Turn upside down and see how you like the results.  If there is any changes to make there is still time...when you are sure its good, seal it shut with hot glue. 

Here are some of ours. The best thing for me was using all those little toys that get underfoot. And honestly aren't these pirates a lot happier? Swimming in gold dust forevermore...and standing on a pile of treasure.

This guy feels like he is discovering a new planet...(I think this is my favourite)

Footnote: We used glass jars without any breaks, but the glycerin is slippery and I think plastic would work as well and not be as fragile. Let it snow glitter!

I Love Snow!

"We go up hill.
The snow is deep.
We can't go fast.
The hill is steep.

But then we get
up top at last.
Then down we come.
We come down fast!"
Snow by P.D.Eastman


E loved being outside regardless of temperature. He would come in warm-up a little and go out again as soon as anyone was willing to join him.

Ski-dooing

Here is a little Canadian for you "Ski-doo". Besides being a brand of snowmobile, Ski-doo can also be used as a verb - To Ski-doo, ski-dooing, etc. We had a lot of fun snowmobiling, pulling toboggans with it and zipping across the lake.

Here is my dad cruising around, which in winter becomes a regular form of transportation for him, not just for fun there are a lot of places on a ranch that a truck can't go as easily mid-winter.

Of course we all had some fun on the snowmobile too - Here's Luke and I...

My cute parents together...

My Sister Joanna and her Jon...

Boxing Day Bonfire

I could spin you a story about why and what is boxing day, but it really would be a story. I appreciate the extra holiday as more time with family. My mum's idea of a bonfire was a great way to celebrate the extra time and the winter weather. Winter nights can be beautiful.

Snow Forts

When you don't live in the snow for 8 months of the year it is great to visit. Even a -10 F is not a deterrent. A big snowdrift makes a great snow fort especially when you've got some muscle powering your shovel (Thanks Luke and uncle Jon).

Let it Snow

This kind of weather is unreal for us. Usually it snows 1 or 2 times a winter here, sometimes it melts before it hits the ground, often it doesn't last on the ground for more than an hour.

So we woke up to snow Sunday, December 14th, 7AM.

The boys were ecstatic! The morning went something like this:

boys - "It's snowing, it's snowing!!!"
me - just waking up still a little groggy, then suddenly snapping awake, "Snow?"
boys - "Look, look!!"
me - "ok hustle, get 2 pair of socks on each, put sweats over your pjs, I'll get the winter gear and snow pants..."
The race is on and I swear it is the fastest my boys have EVER got out the door!

Now you may be asking yourselves, what kind of mother in her right mind sends her kids out the door at 7AM, without breakfast, into the cold snow?

So the way I saw it: church was at 9AM, if we simply got on our Sunday best, combed our hair, and went to church...by the time we left church to come home
1. the snow would be all melted,
2. I would be the most evil villain of all time
3. The boys would forever hate going to church, since they had missed out on the snow fall of '08.
Honestly that's would would usually happen.

This time they had fun before church, so no loss there, and when we came out there was still snow and the next day and the next and the next, oh my! It really piled up.

It is magical, beautiful and an extra special Christmas, especially for this dislocated Canadian.

3D paper snowmen

I pre-glued the baking cups and let dry the night before, I recommend using plenty of glue so they'll stay stiff, the boys chose bits of fabric, buttons and paper to decorate.

Its Snowing Pancakes

We got these pancake molds a few years ago from our darling friends and they are fun holiday event, somehow a pancake is even more delicious when it is shaped like a snowflake.