- Ink Jet Shrink Plastic
- Clear Globe
- 4″ Wood Rounds
- Bottle Brush Trees
- Kosher salt or epsom salts
- Krazy glue and hot glue
- an ink jet printer
- glitter, spray paint, and acrylic paint (optional)
Once my trees were ready, it was time to prep the picture of my family to go into the globe. For this you will need a digital family photo that you will then print out on the inkjet shrink plastic. Be sure to change the opacity (transparency) of the picture to 70% because the colors will intensify when it shrinks. I printed out my family image at 6″ by 8″ so that when it shrunk it would be the perfect size.
In the photos above you can see the difference in the saturation and size of the photo before and after shrinking. Now that all your items are prepped it is time to paint and assemble your snow globe.
Begin by painting your raw wood round (this step is optional). Once the paint is dry, use the super glue to glue on the bottle brush trees to the wood base. I tried to also glue the shrinky dink photo to the wood base but it would not hold, so I ended up using hot glue to attach it.
Fun side note: While attempting to super glue the shrinky dink to the base, I actually ended up gluing it to my finger! I didn’t have any acetone in the house to remove it and it was time to go pick my daughter up from school (we have to actually get out of the car, no circle drive pick up for Kinder). So I had to go get her while having a 3″ family photo stuck to my finger. Fun times! So please be careful when working with the super glue. Ha!
Once everything is attached, sprinkle a 1/2″ layer of salt into the glass bowl, line the rim of the bowl with the super glue and flip your wood base over, line up on the bowl and press for 30 seconds to adhere. Then just flip the globe over and let the salt “snow” settle to the bottom.
And there you have it! Your very own personalized family portrait snow globe!
Pardon the distorted photos. Because of the round nature of the glass the photos of the interior tend to get distorted, but it is really clear and easy to see all the little details in person.
Now don’t you want to go out and make these for everyone you know? I know I sure do!

This is an adorable creative project. I am in love with bottle brush trees so this is right up my alley. I think this idea is fantastic! Just discovered you via justaddsunshineinc on Instagram. Looking forward to going through your blog. We are kindred spirits-as I love art prints and display walls with a fierceness and bright happy colors. (Annie-outside of Dallas, TX) I am annievee1977 on instagram. I make cards and do graphic design. I love art and color. We are kindred spirits-as I love art prints and display walls with a fierceness and bright happy colors too! (Annie-outside of Dallas, TX)
Thank you! I am obsessed with bottle brush trees too. I will be sure to check you out on insta!
love it, love it, love it!!
omg. this is the cutest thing I've ever seen. Consider it done. Thank you!!!
This is so cute love it
Do you add glycerin to the water?
There isn't any water in this. It is a faux snowglobe.
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Do you have to use a printer for photos? I have photos printed out and no printer:( is it possible for me to use the photos I printed out on the shrinky dinks or no?
No, unfortunately. You need to print the photos on the ink jet shrink paper.
[…] Snow globe idea via akailochiclife […]
This is great. Do you have to painstakingly cut out the picture once printed out?
Unfortunately yes, but it shouldn’t take you too long to do!
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Hi there, I just got into shrink dinks with my granddaughter and loved it so much. Your snow globe is fantastic I did not know all the possibilities of this craft.t. Thanks for sharing your creativty. Marie and Nadia
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Do u have to use salt or could u use white glitter
You can defintely use glitter!
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[…] Family Portrait Snow Globe. This is a super cute idea to give to your family. https://akailochiclife.com/2015/12/craft-it-family-portrait-snow-globe.html […]
Does the shrink dink become thicker or is it just a small, flat version of the photo? Is there a reason I can’t just cut out a smaller photo to include? I it’s a little hard to tell from the photos. Thank you!!
The shrink plastic does become thicker and more like a key chain charm when shrunk, but you could cut a small photo on thick cardstock to use instead.
so fun! always have amazing DIY’s.