How to Make a Colour-Changing Crystal Ball: Magical DIY Halloween Decor (NO TECH!)

Watch the build video here!

It's October, which means it’s time to embrace all things spooky and supernatural! It’s too early to see Christmas decorations in stores right? Wrong! This is why us spooky people can actually appreciate the dollar store Christmas supplies. We can transform this too early holiday cheer into something truly enchanting for Halloween – a color-changing crystal ball snow globe. 

Let’s work together to make a mesmerizing, no-tech crystal ball that changes color with a flick of your hand.

Gather Your Supplies
To get started with this magical project, here's what you'll need:

• Dollar Store Snow Globe: The empty ones you can fill yourself.
• ​Pillar Candle Holder: You can also pick this up at the dollar store.
• Glycerin or Rubbing Alcohol: Both can be used to slow down the liquid movement inside the snow globe.
• Mica Powder or Loose Eyeshadow: Look for a light pearlescent or metallic shade. Avoid glitter.
• Food Coloring: Choose a color that contrasts with your mica powder.
• Additional Craft Supplies: Grab any other materials you want to use for decorating your crystal ball.

Inspiration
The idea for this project came from crafting color-changing potion bottles with my kids during the summer. It was a hit, and there are many tutorials on YouTube that will walk you through it.  I recommend checking out "Cooking and Craft Chick" on YouTube, who will walk you through crafting a wide variety of color-changing potions. We’re going to use the same no-tech magical technique to make our color-changing crystal ball.  

Step 1: Disassemble the Globe

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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Step 2: Prepare the Liquid

Set the globe into its lid and pour in room-temperature water. Add a single drop of food coloring. (Seriously! Just one drop!) The color you choose should contrast with the mica powder you plan to use. Stir gently to avoid scratching the plastic.

Add in  a bit of vegetable glycerin (about half a teaspoon) to slow down the liquid's settling and intensify the swirliness of the mica powder. If you can't find glycerin, 70% isopropyl alcohol from the dollar store's first aid section will also work. (Use 1-2 tablespoons of alcohol.)

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Step 3: Add Mica Powder

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.​

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Step 4: Cover the Snow Globe Base

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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Step 5: Add Artistic Touches

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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Step 6: Finishing Touches

I went with a really simple paint scheme so that the colour changing element could be the star of the show.

After everything dried, I gave the base a black spray paint finish. I highlighted the texture with a bit of a gray dry-brush for added depth. Now my DIY color-changing crystal ball snow globe is ready to bewitch my Halloween decor!

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I’m incorporating this piece into a display of my family’s collection of colour-changing potions for the Halloween season, but I’ll be putting this on my office desk year-round. When I need a little brain break I can give it a shake and gaze at the swirls. Make one yourself!  It’s a great kick-ass, cheap-ass project!

If you’d like a more detailed tutorial, please check out the build video of this project over on my YouTube channel!