Start by taking the lid off your snow globe and carefully remove the gasket. You may notice that the instructions recommend hot gluing the gasket and lid together, I’ve never done this and never had them leak. However, you should use your best judgement here.

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Here's where the magic happens.  Add some mica powder to the liquid (about half a teaspoon).

I added a small scoop of yellow gold and pearl mica powder to the mix (I just wanted a combo of those colours, you don’t need two). Top up the water, secure the gasket, and put the lid back in place.

How does it work?
When you shake the snow globe, the mica particles are suspended in the liquid. Mica is very reflective, and the tiny suspended particles appear to change the colour of the liquid. The mixture swirls around around and looks truly mesmerizing. As the mica slowly settles out of the liquid, it appears to magically change back to the colour of your food colouring.​

If you want to keep it simple, glue a bit of ribbon around the white plastic lid of your snow globe. Set in onto a pillar candle holder, and you've got something pretty cool!

If you want to take to the next level, grab some craft supplies and really customize the base of your snow globe.
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You can really do whatever you want here! Check out Pinterest for some inspiration.

I secured the crystal ball to the candle, then I sculpted a collar around the base with air dry clay. I added little skulls at the corners. The build video for this project goes into more detail on that process. Check it out here!

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If you want to see a more detailed break down of the process, there's a full video tutorial on my YouTube Channel.

Step 2: Create a Thumb Pot
Roll the clay into a ball and use your finger or a tool to press down into the center, creating a small hollow. Shape the clay into a tiny pinch pot that's just slightly larger than your thumb. To smooth out any finger marks, gently tap the form with the back of a spoon.

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Step 3: Craft the Wings
Flatten another piece of clay to about 3 mm (¼”) thick. Cut out two mirrored trapezoid shapes to serve as wings. Impress the end of your knife into the wings to create a folded texture.

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Step 4: Add Details
Create a pair of ears. To ensure they are the same size, cut a ball of clay in half. Shape the tops of the halves into teardrops, then use the end of your knife to make indents in the ears. Additionally, prepare a few rough clay balls to use as scent diffusers later (these balls should fit loosely inside your thumb pot).

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Step 5: Allow Clay to Firm Up
If your clay is soft and squishy, it's best to let the pieces firm up a bit before assembling them. You want them damp, but firm. In my home this took about an hour, but you should adjust that time based on your climate.

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Step 6: Assemble the Bat
Use a toothpick to gently poke two holes on opposite sides of the thumb pot. Attach the wings above each hole by scratching the surfaces of the clay, wetting them, and then pressing the pieces together. The scratches will create a secure connection. Use the toothpick to smooth out the seams. Continue this process to join the ears.

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Step 7: Sculpt the Face
Create eyes and a nose by poking with a dull pencil and toothpick.

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Step 8: Let It Dry
Place your creation in a warm location and allow it to dry overnight or until no longer cool to the touch.

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Step 9: Paint and Hang
Once your air freshener is completely dry, paint it with acrylic craft paint. You can watch me paint mine here. You can opt to apply a clear coat for added protection. Thread some string through the toothpick holes and secure with knots. 

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Step 10: Add the Scent
Take one of the dry scent-diffuser balls from Step 4. Add a few drops of scented oil. You can change out the scent of your air freshener by swapping out the balls. Now you can hang your bat upside down in your car!

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Creating your very own creepy-cute mushroom jar is a dead-easy craft project that combines polymer clay sculpting and imaginative design. In this step-by-step tutorial, I'll guide you through the process of transforming a small glass vial from the dollar store into a mushroom. I put a face on my jar, transforming it into a creepy little dude. However, you could use the same technique to make a little mushroom fairy house. Whether you're a seasoned polymer clay artist or a beginner looking for a fun DIY project, this tutorial is for you.

​Materials You'll Need:
Small oven-safe glass jar with a twist-off lid
Aluminum foil
Polymer clay (I used Sculpey III)
Liquid polymer clay adhesive (optional, but really helpful!)
Acrylic paints (I used Folk Art brand matte acrylics)
Sculpting tools
Paintbrushes
Oven for baking

​Step 1: Flare the Base of the Jar and Cover in Polymer Clay

Start by covering the base of your small glass jar with aluminum foil. This will give a more organic shape to your mushroom stem. Next, roll out a thin layer of polymer clay. Gently wrap this clay sheet around the aluminum foil-covered base. Some polymer clay adhesive (formerly bake n’ bond) will help the clay stick to the jar. Smooth the clay using the back of a spoon. I’ve shown how I do this in the full tutorial video on my YouTube channel.
This forms the stem of your mushroom house.

​Step 2: Build the Cap of the Mushroom

For the mushroom's cap, use aluminium foil to bulk out a cap shape. I’m making an inky cap mushroom, which has a cap shaped like a blunted cone. Many mushrooms, such as the classic amanita, have more of a dome-shaped cap. Finding some reference images can help to achieve your desired shape. Roll or press out some polymer clay blobs and patchwork them over the aluminium foil. Smooth the clay and make sure it completely covers the cap top and bottom without obstructing the threads of the lid. Smooth the clay to eliminate any imperfections.
Carefully remove the lid from the jar, leaving the polymer clay cap intact. Bake the stem and cap in the oven following the manufacturer's instructions on your clay's packaging.

Step 3: Add Texture to the Cap

Once the clay has cooled, use polymer clay adhesive to add some texture to your caps. For my inky cap mushroom I added some ink blobs and frilly fibrous skirt layers. Some additional interest can be created by rolling small bumps of clay and squishing them into dots. Again, reference images of real mushrooms to help create realistic ridges and bumps to mimic the surface of a mushroom. This step adds detail and character to your creation.

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Step 4: Sculpt a Face on the Stem

To give your mushroom jar personality, use additional polymer clay to sculpt a face onto the stem of the jar. You can create an adorable, spooky, or whimsical face—let your imagination run wild. Attach the clay securely to the stem using adhesive or by blending in the edges to ensure it won't fall off during baking. I used some glass-head sewing pins to make the eyeballs. This is explained in more detail in the tutorial video on my YouTube channel.

​Step 5: Paint Your Mushroom Jar

With your sculpting complete, it's time to add colour. I base-coated everything in white. A detailed step-by-step of my painting process is broken down in the build video on my YouTube channel. Use craft acrylic paints to bring your mushroom to life. I like to build up the colour in layers to give depth and details. 
Allow the paint to dry completely.

Last year I participated for the first time in an annual art abandonment event called Game of Shrooms.  Game of Shrooms is an international event where artists make mushroom-themed works of art and hide them in public places for people to find.

I made a paper mache mushroom guy and summarized both the build and my experience as an artist participant in the video here.  Download the FREE template to make him here!

I received the angry comment below on a short video I posted on Instagram.  I used a portion of an old novel to make the tiny books I used in my apothecary walnut project.  The commenter was very upset I had ripped up a book and told me I was not a real artist. 

Nestled within the hollowed confines of a tiny walnut shell, a miniature world unfurls—an enchanting microcosm of an apothecary's realm. Within this compact sanctuary, every millimeter teems with an abundance of ancient knowledge and forgotten curiosities.

This is an easy beginner-friendly mini diorama that you can make for yourself or as a handmade gift for the witchy person in your life. You can make this cute miniature witch's kitchen using a DIY wire hinge and a perfectly split walnut (I show you how to do both here!)  You can make this beginner-friendly craft in a few short sittings.

I used some common craft supplies, an old book, and polymer clay to make this project. Air-dry paper clay would also work if you don't have access to polymer clay. You can paint paper clay when it's dry, or tint it with watercolours before you sculpt! 

The steps are summarized in the following photo tutorial, but you'll also find a full breakdown on my YouTube channel with 4 other walnut miniature projects you'll love! Click here for that!

There's not many things more relaxing than a calm walk through the woods. If you can't be in the forest, the second-best facsimile is inarguably a tiny forest in a walnut you can carry in your pocket. Stressed? Take out your forest walnut and get a little zen! Perhaps you'll even see my favourite cryptid - Bigfoot!

This is an easy beginner-friendly mini diorama that you can make for yourself or as a handmade gift for the cryptid fan in your life. You can make this cute miniature birch forest using a DIY wire hinge and a perfectly split walnut (I show you how to do both here!)  This is a beginner-friendly craft that you can make in a few short sittings broken up by paint and glue dry-time.

The whole project goes together with some toothpicks, preserved moss, and other common and easy-to-find craft supplies you can pick up from your local discount or dollar store.
The steps are summarized in the following photo tutorial, but you'll also find full breakdown on my YouTube channel with 4 other walnut miniature projects you'll love! 

Here's a walnut shell craft for the dragon fans! Baby dragons are some of the most enchanting and delightful creatures in all of fantasy. With their tiny wings, scaly bodies, and playful personalities, they capture our imaginations and steal our hearts. I like to imagine that this miniature dragon is just starting his life and building his hoard inside this walnut shell.

This is an easy beginner friendly sculpt that you can make for yourself or as a handmade gift for the fantasy genre fan in your life. You can make this cute fantasy baby dragon using a DIY wire hinge and a perfectly split walnut (I show you how to do both here!)  This is a beginner-friendly polymer clay craft that you can make with one colour of polymer clay in under an hour. The baby dragon's tiny hoard of a single gem and his  moss bedding are optional but also very affordable. I bought both from my local dollar/ discount store.