How to make a snow globe

One of the secret ingredients to any snow globe is glycerin, a clear liquid typically made from vegetable oils, which is widely used to slow down the effect of shaken water and glitter, to the effect of falling snow. Simply give it a shake, and everyone will love to watch the snow swirl inside.

Liquid glycerin increases the viscosity of water, allowing the glitter to sink more slowly. But glycerin can be hard to find in stores… To make a snow globe without glycerin, simply use clear glue instead.

Liquid used inside the snow globe is comprised of light oil and a mixture of water and antifreeze. Components found in the mixture also include glycerin and glycol, which prevent the “snowflakes” from falling to the bottom of the globe too quickly after being shaken.

Add several drops of glycerin to keep your “snow” suspended, so it falls correctly. Another option is to fill your jar with mineral oil or baby oil instead of using the distilled water and glycerin. of silver glitter for every 2 inches of water will give your snow a glistening effect).

Substitute for Glycerin

If used as a sweetener, you can use a small amount of light corn syrup, depending on the recipe. If you are making fondant you can also substitute vegetable oil but it lacks the sweetness of glycerine.

Oils and Butters

If your skin is naturally dry and the dryness is exacerbated by glycerin, you may find that shea butter, jojoba oil, cocoa butter or avocado oil are effective substitutes.

Although you can make glycerin from vegetable oils or buy it at a store, it’s much cheaper and easier to make it from leftover animal fat from regular cooking. By rendering fat, adding lye to make it soap, and breaking the mixture with salt, you can make glycerin at home in a few hours.

The best substitute for vegetable glycerin — which is usually made from palm oil, coconut oil or, less often, soybean oil — is other types of glycerin. Both animal-based and synthetic glycerin can be used in the same amounts as vegetable glycerin in recipes and will have the same effect in the recipe.

Honeyquat (or Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey) is found in many natural care products. Its a conditioning agent made from honey with moisturizing properties better than glycerin. Its water soluble and is used to improve combability of the hair by reducing static.

Homemade Bubble Solution

Measure 6 cups of water into one container, then pour 1 cup of dish soap into the water and slowly stir it until the soap is mixed in. Try not to let foam or bubbles form while you stir. Measure 1 tablespoon of glycerin or 1/4 cup of corn syrup and add it to the container.

Glycerin has a density of about 1.2gm per cm3, while baby oil has density of 0.8. The less dense baby oil offers less resistance and I imagine will give quicker falling flakes of snow.

There’s one type of weather that big bubbles just don’t like, and it’s hot dry weather. It’s primarily super dry weather that’s bad for big bubbles, because it causes the water in the bubble to evaporate too quickly which causes your bubbles to pop.