Every year, parents pull out all the stops for their elves’ big finale, but this idea truly takes the cake. One incredibly creative mom, Laina Marie Haber, turned her living room into a full-on life-size snow globe as part of her elf antics, and it absolutely blew up in the Elfing Around groups.
With her permission to share, and a huge credit to her Facebook page The Extraordinary Elf, here is the full rundown on how she made it, what materials she used, and the tips she shared with other parents. If you’re searching for the ultimate elf idea that delivers pure Christmas magic, this is it.
From the moment you see the giant globe sitting in her living room next to the Christmas tree, it looks like something straight from a holiday movie. Kids were able to climb inside, toss about the faux snow, and experience a magical snowy scene right in the warmth of their own home. It’s bold, extra, unforgettable, and parents in the comment sections all agreed they’d love to try it themselves.
Materials Used to Create the Life Size DIY Snow Globe
Here is everything Laina used, exactly as she shared:
- Water walking ball – 6.5ft
- Baby pool
- Fake snowballs
- Bean bag filler
- Mylar balloons
- Leaf blower to inflate
She also shared extra notes across a few comment sections and follow-up posts, so we’ve combined all the details here into one clear guide.
DIY Instructions: How She Built the Giant Snow Globe
Laina explained that she blew up the water walking ball halfway first. Once the globe was partially inflated, she climbed in and added all the “snow,” balloons, and filler. After adding everything, she continued inflating the ball the rest of the way.
A key detail she mentioned is that once you have everything inside, you must close the water walking ball securely around the leaf blower or inflator so the fake snow doesn’t explode back out. Those tiny styrofoam pieces will absolutely try to escape, so sealing the opening quickly is essential.
Yes, there is a zipper in the back so kids can get in and out safely. And yes, adults can fit inside too, which people were very excited about in the comments.
Laina originally set this up as a grand elf finale, but you don’t need an elf in your home to enjoy the idea. A life-size snow globe makes an unforgettable Christmas surprise all on its own, whether you’re setting up a magical play space for the kids or using it as a unique backdrop for holiday photos. It’s one of those ideas that can work beautifully with or without the elf tradition.
Important Safety Notes
One commenter pointed out a safety notice that comes with most water walking balls. They are designed to be used for short bursts of time. Kids should only stay inside for up to 15 minutes, because the air inside is limited.
Always supervise closely, make sure the zipper is fully secured, and never leave children unattended inside the ball.
This is a magical idea, but supervision is absolutely non-negotiable.
Common Questions Parents Asked
Many moms wanted to know how messy the clean-up was. After all, bean bag filler and faux snowballs can travel everywhere.
Laina didn’t shy away from saying it takes effort, but she also showed the spirit behind this entire project. Sometimes, to make a little Christmas magic, we moms are willing to go the extra mile. The results made it more than worth it for her family.
Other questions included whether the snow sticks to everything and whether an adult can fit inside. Her answers were clear: yes, snow can cling a bit, and yes, grown-ups can absolutely get in.
How to Make Your Own Life Size Elf Snow Globe
If you want to recreate this elf finale in your home, here’s the simple step-by-step version inspired by Laina’s shared instructions:
- Set up a baby pool where your globe will sit. This acts as the base and catches some of the loose filler.
- Place the deflated 6.5ft water walking ball into the pool.
- Inflate the ball halfway using a leaf blower or inflator.
- Climb inside and add your snow items including bean bag filler, faux snowballs, and Mylar balloons.
- Quickly secure the zipper around your inflator so the snow doesn’t fly out.
- Finish inflating the globe fully until it’s standing upright and round.
- Once it’s sealed, kids can climb in for their 15 minutes of magic while you supervise.
- When you’re done, unzip, let the air out, and vacuum the snow as needed. A broom may also help gather larger pieces into piles.
And there you have it. A magical, giant, glowing snow globe right in your living room.
This is the kind of elf idea that reminds everyone why we do this whole elf tradition in the first place. Yes, it’s extra. Yes, it takes effort. Yes, clean-up is real. But it is also jaw-dropping, unforgettable, imaginative, and filled with pure joy. Parents in the comments said everything from they’d love to try it next year to adults wanting their own turn inside. It became an instant favourite in all the groups where it was shared.
Huge credit and gratitude to Laina Marie Haber and her page The Extraordinary Elf for not only creating this, but for kindly sharing all the details so other families can try it too.
More Featured Christmas Crafts
We love it when talented people allow us to share their creative ideas, and it’s always exciting to highlight projects that spark imagination and bring families together.
Here are some more of our favourite featured Christmas crafts to check out next.
- DIY Gingerbread House Costume Tutorial
- DIY Delivery Worker Snack Station: Easy Hot Chocolate Treat Stand for Christmas
More Elf Ideas
- 80 Simple Elf Ideas For Toddlers
- Naughty Elf That Will Make the Whole Family Laugh
- Elf Treasure Hunt With Mini Ducks
- Paper Plate Elf Craft
- Free Printable Elf Coloring Jigsaw Puzzle for Kids
More Snow Globe Ideas
If this giant DIY version has you feeling inspired, there are plenty of other ways to bring the snow globe theme into your Christmas celebrations. From simple jars filled with faux snow to printable crafts and small sensory play setups, you can create that wintry enclosed world on any scale that fits your home.
- Paper Plate Snow Globe Craft
- How to Make Your Own Adorable Snow Globe Photos – It’s a Must-Try iPhone Hack!
- Cute And Cozy Snowglobe Coloring Pages
- Free Printable Snowglobe Counting Worksheets
If you decide to try this snow globe idea at home, we would love to see how it turns out for your family. Share this blog post with other parents who might be looking for an unforgettable elf finale or a magical Christmas surprise.
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
1 thought on “DIY Life Size Snow Globe Elf Finale Idea”