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How To: Make a Miniature Tinsel Tree Snow Globe

by on Dec 10, 2012

A few weeks back I saw a really sweet tutorial for how to make a tinsel tree for a dollhouse. I couldn’t let the opportunity pass, so I decided to make one and put it under glass. Specifically a homemade waterless snow globe. Although there’s quite a few steps to this process, it really doesn’t take much time to make (maybe an hour). Now let’s get started.

Here’s a list of stuff you’ll need to make a miniature tinsel tree snow globe:

  • tinsel chenille stems (aka: pipe cleaners)
  • fine beading wire (I used 32 gauge, but you could use thread too)
  • glass beads (3mm or so)
  • a 3/4″ high wooden spool (optional)
  • white craft paint and brush
  • hot glue and gun
  • faux snow 
  • one 4″ terra cotta pot saucer
  • one 6″ clear replacement light fixture globe with 3 1/4″ opening (you can find these at your local big box store; mine was about $5)

We begin with the tinsel tree. I pretty much followed the instructions found at Puchicollective, HOWEVER, I made mine even smaller and included a bunch more branches. These are the lengths I cut my tinsel pipe cleaners:

  • 3 at 1/2″
  • 3 at 3/4″
  • 3 at 1″
  • 3 at 1 1/4″
  • 3 at 1 1/2″
  • 3 at 1 3/4″
  • 3 at 2″
  • 3 at 2 1/4″
  • 4 at 2 1/2″
  • 2 at 8″

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Like Puchi, I started with the two longest stems, twisting them together and down about 1/4″ inch (this step begins the formation of the trunk of the tree).

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Then I tucked the three 1/2″ lengths into the stems and twisted the trunk 1 and 1/2 complete revolutions. Then I tucked the 3/4″ set in between the long stems and so on. The 1 and 1/2 revs will make the trunk between each set of branches about 1/8″ to 1/4″ inches long. 

When you finish twisting in all your branches, glue the bottom trunk into a small spool, trimming off trunk excess. You could also bend out or spiral the two middle stems to create a ‘tree holder’. 

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Paint your saucer with your craft paint and let dry; then hot glue your spool (or holder) at the center of the terra cotta saucer.

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“Fluff out” your stems and add a small handfull of faux snow to the saucer.

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Now we’ll make some beaded garland for our tree. String your first bead onto the jewelry wire and twist the wire once or twice to fix the beads in place.

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Continue stringing beads and twisting once or twice every 1/2 inch or so. I made my garland about 7 inches long.

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String the garland carefully around your tree. 

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If you’re wondering how tall the mini tree is…it’s about this tall:

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Finally, slip the globe over the tree + snow, fitting the flange of the globe into the saucer. 

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