Snow Globes

[Jerryc41]

I saw someone on YouTube making snow globes, so I thought I'd give it a try. Naturally, I included ukuleles. The laser cut wooden ukes - Vita, Magic Fluke, and generic - were rather expensive. I sprayed them with clear spray to prevent the water from ruining them. Time will tell. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find tiny hula figures. Almost all little figures revolve around winter and Christmas.

A big problem was the "snow." Again, this is not cheap, but the four or five kinds I bought all float. I soaked them in water for five days, and then I used the stuff that sank. Unfortunately, I used too much snow. I'll know better the next time. It was the same with the glitter, only worse. Aside from using too much, it floats worse than the snow.

If you do this, use distilled water with a spoonful or two of glycerin to thicken the water a bit. There's lots of info online and on YouTube. I spent at least $75 on these two, but I have some leftover supplies. I wish they had better little things available to put inside the globes. I think I'm going to try cutting out ukes from plastic so the water won't ruin them.

You'll notice that the water seems to have a tint to it. That's a glitch in the photography. It's actually totally clear.

 

[frets alot]

Love them!

 

[Kimosabe]

Gives new meaning to Rosebud.

 

[Ziret]

I saw someone on YouTube making snow globes, so I thought I'd give it a try. Naturally, I included ukuleles. The laser cut wooden ukes - Vita, Magic Fluke, and generic - were rather expensive. I sprayed them with clear spray to prevent the water from ruining them. Time will tell. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find tiny hula figures. Almost all little figures revolve around winter and Christmas.

A big problem was the "snow." Again, this is not cheap, but the four or five kinds I bought all float. I soaked them in water for five days, and then I used the stuff that sank. Unfortunately, I used too much snow. I'll know better the next time. It was the same with the glitter, only worse. Aside from using too much, it floats worse than the snow.

If you do this, use distilled water with a spoonful or two of glycerin to thicken the water a bit. There's lots of info online and on YouTube. I spent at least $75 on these two, but I have some leftover supplies. I wish they had better little things available to put inside the globes. I think I'm going to try cutting out ukes from plastic so the water won't ruin them.

You'll notice that the water seems to have a tint to it. That's a glitch in the photography. It's actually totally clear.

View attachment 147197View attachment 147198

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I love them! Great crafting. You could try polymer clay for the tiny ukulele. I’m fairly certain the water won’t damage it, as it’s essentially a form of plastic.

 

[Arcy]

How cool!

3d printed figures might work well. I suspect there's a maker space near you with a printer.

--Rob

 

[HappyTurtle]

I like them all! What would a deconstructed uke look like? See the parts floating around

 

[ploverwing]

You could try polymer clay for the tiny ukulele.

Yes this would work perfectly. Polymer clay is completely inert to water once cured. I'm not sure about it before you cure it (probably same, it's plastic essentially).

 

[Arcy]

Gives new meaning to Rosebud.

Hard to burn!

 

[Voran]

Ooh, those are cool! I'd love to try this.

 

[Arcy]

A lego scene in a snow globe would be cool. I'm sure it's been done. Is there a lego ukulele part? (And again, 3D printable if not, though rather small)

(Is it obvious that I just got a new printer? )

 

[Arcy]

Is there a lego ukulele part?

Kind of?

Lego Trolls World Tour MiniFigure, POPPY w/Blue Ukulele 41251, 41252, 41256, New | eBay

New, pulled from a factory sealed set and in excellent unused condition.

www.ebay.com

 

[Jerryc41]

Kind of?

Lego Trolls World Tour MiniFigure, POPPY w/Blue Ukulele 41251, 41252, 41256, New | eBay

New, pulled from a factory sealed set and in excellent unused condition.

www.ebay.com

Thanks, but that's too weird, even for me.

 

[Jerryc41]

A lego scene in a snow globe would be cool. I'm sure it's been done. Is there a lego ukulele part? (And again, 3D printable if not, though rather small)

(Is it obvious that I just got a new printer? )

As much as I'd like to have a 3-D printer, I couldn't justify the cost based on making figures for snow globes.

 

[AZChris]

A lego scene in a snow globe would be cool. I'm sure it's been done. Is there a lego ukulele part? (And again, 3D printable if not, though rather small)

(Is it obvious that I just got a new printer? )

I'm just getting into 3d printing and had the same thought you did -- PLA would survive just fine in water. Thingiverse has a lego ukulele model and a bunch of others that could be scaled down.

 

[AZChris]

As much as I'd like to have a 3-D printer, I couldn't justify the cost based on making figures for snow globes.

Yeah...you'd have to find other uses to justify it although they are less than $200 nowadays. I've printed pickup covers, nuts, saddles, bridges, tuner knobs etc. for cigar box instruments. My current printing obsession is making shakers (like the commercial "egg" shakers) using the heads of a couple well known political figures. Your globes look fantastic and that was a brilliant idea.

 

[friesfret]

They're fantastic!

redactle​

 

[Jerryc41]

Yeah...you'd have to find other uses to justify it although they are less than $200 nowadays. I've printed pickup covers, nuts, saddles, bridges, tuner knobs etc. for cigar box instruments. My current printing obsession is making shakers (like the commercial "egg" shakers) using the heads of a couple well known political figures. Your globes look fantastic and that was a brilliant idea.

The one I want costs around $1,000. People on YouTube make things with it. I'm not going to get a printer, but if I did, I'd want it to be useful. From what I've seen online, people make little things that they sell.

 

[Jerryc41]

They're fantastic!

redactle​

Thanks. I saw a guy on YouTube who repairs them. He has over a thousand now. I don't want to be that guy.

 

[Kenn2018]

Maybe this will help you justify one Jerry. NPR had a story about designing a violin to be made on a 3-D printer for kids in schools who can't afford to rent or buy an instrument. After spending several years on the design and materials to use they developed a violin that sounds quite good. The biggest stumbling block was to develop a pattern on the inside of the instrument that mimicked the porosity of wood and it's affect on the sound as the body vibrates and resonates.

My reaction was, "Hmmmmm, ukuleles?"

 

[Arcy]

As much as I'd like to have a 3-D printer, I couldn't justify the cost based on making figures for snow globes

Check out your local libraries and makerspaces if you want to try it out without buying your own.

Most of what I print are utility things for around the house and shop - hooks, clamps, connectors, containers, etc. It's great for things that I want more customized than I can readily buy. Of course, I've also printed a few toys and trinkets, and I will eventually get around to printing a uke just because I can

NPR had a story about designing a violin to be made on a 3-D printer for kids in schools who can't afford to rent or buy an instrument.

Thanks for the pointer! I assume you're talking about Science Friday from a few weeks ago. Very fun segment

This 3D-Printed Violin Cost $7

The 3D-printed violins are affordable and still sound beautiful, making them great instruments for young learners.

www.sciencefriday.com