DIY Snow Globe Ornaments

DIY Snow Globe Ornaments are an easy craft to make for the holidays using Hot Wheel cars, fake snow, tiny craft trees and a plastic ornament dome.

Christmas is just a couple weeks away and I am finishing up those last minute gifts, wrapping everything with care and placing it under the tree and doing a few Christmas inspired crafts with the kids to fill time and stay in the spirit. The kids and myself created these DIY Snow Globe Ornaments to give to the grandparents for our “homemade” gift. I am loving this craft because you can utilize a meaningful item inside.

My son was always obsessed with his little Hot Wheel cars when he was younger. He literally had hundreds and would create traffic jams on his bedroom floor almost daily with these little cars. He would bring however many he could stuff in his pocket when we went places and was one of those items he always loved receiving as a gift. So being able to gift one of my child’s favorite toys is very sentimental to him and also the person receiving.

DIY Snow Globe Ornaments

DIY Snow Globe Ornaments are pretty easy to make once all the materials are collected. The only thing I had to buy were the plastic ornaments and tiny craft trees. Everything else was found in my craft bins so you can always tweak the instructions below to work with what you already have. That is part of the beauty of crafting! Use your personal style and creativity to make it work.

What You Need

• Glue Gun and Glue stick
• Fake Snow
• White Felt
• Scissors
• Toy Cars (Hot Wheels or Matchbox will work)
• Twine
• Pen or pencil
• Cotton balls
• Mini craft trees
• 1/2 inch jingle bells
• 9/16 inch size ribbon
• Plastic Ornaments

What Ornament To Use

I found my plastic ornament domes at Meijer. Here are some similar ones here. If you cannot find these exact ones because they are harder to find online than I anticipated, I recommend doing an open front ornament bulb like you find here. The open front will look great! Those open front bulbs do come in many sizes so grab some on the smaller side that will fit those little toy cars. The cars are about 2 1/2 – 3 inches in length so keep that in mind. Another option are these plastic ornaments here. These are super easy to find and really affordable. You will probably only be able to fit the car with the tree tied on top with this option though. Any of those ornaments you pick will work and you will be able to make this project look fantastic!

Process 

• Start by gathering all the material you will need to complete the project.
• Double check the size of the cars you picked out to make sure they will fit into the ornament.
• Remove the wooden bottom from the craft tree and glue it onto the top of the car. Wrap some twine around the tree and car and create a little bow.
• Use the top of the ornament dome to trace a circle using the pen onto the felt. Cut out the circle making it just a pinch smaller than the outline you drew. This should fit perfectly on the bottom of the dome. Double check that the top closes and then repeat to create two felt circles. Secure each into place with just a dab of glue one on top of the other. This step is just building up that “snow” level and creating a white bottom.
• Take a cotton ball and pull on it to stretch into a circular shape. Secure it into place on top the felt with just a couple dabs of glue.

• Secure the car into place with some glue on the bottom of the tires, followed by a tree in the background. All the glue is just meant to secure everything in a certain position. You won’t be able to shake the ornament or put it upside down. This ornament just looks like a snow globe but doesn’t have the liquid or sturdiness of the real deal.
• Sprinkle some fake snow over top the car and close the lid.
• Cut 3 pieces of twine. Two will be tied into a bow with 2 bells weaved in. One twine will tied off securely to be able to hang the ornament.
• Glue a strip of ribbon on the bottom section.
• Hang on the tree or gift with love.

Tips & Tricks

Cars

Short cars work the best. Jeeps, Mini Coopers, Beetles to name a few. The long vintage type cars and trucks were just a pinch too long to fit into the plastic dome so make sure to double check before gluing everything into place. If you have a car that is just a hair too long, you can take a razor blade and remove the bumper or something little to give that needed space.

Decal

Personalize these ornaments with a decal. If you are fortunate enough to have a Circuit Cutting Machine, put it to use here. Create the name of your child in small cursive font and place onto the ornament somewhere to really personalize this.