Can You Add Water to a Jim Shore Snow Globe? A Cost Controller’s 5‑Step Checklist for Proper Care

If you own a Jim Shore snow globe — or are responsible for sourcing corporate gifts that include them — at some point you’ll face the question: Can you add water to a snow globe? The short answer is yes, but only if you do it right. Wrong technique can ruin the globe, waste your money, and — because these are often given as branded gifts — damage your company’s image.

I’ve managed procurement for a mid‑sized company for six years, handling everything from holiday figurines to custom promotional items. When our team decided to use Jim Shore Disney Traditions Christmas globes as client gifts, I quickly learned that proper maintenance is a total‑cost‑of‑ownership issue. A $60 snow globe that clouds up because someone added tap water is a $60 loss — plus the shipping cost of a replacement and the hit to your brand perception.

This checklist is for anyone who needs to refresh a snow globe correctly and economically. It covers exactly what to do, what to avoid, and why each step matters. There are 5 steps, plus a section on common mistakes that (surprise, surprise) I made myself.

Step 1: Confirm the Globe Actually Needs Water

Before you touch the globe, check whether it’s low on water. Signs include:

• Visible air bubbles larger than a pea inside the globe
• “Glitter” or “snow” settling much faster than when new
• Condensation inside that doesn’t clear after a few hours (this can also indicate a seal leak)

If the globe appears full and the snow swirls normally, leave it alone. I’ve seen people unnecessarily open a perfectly good globe (ugh, wasted effort).

One more thing (I should add): if the globe is a high‑end piece — like a Jim Shore Twelve Days of Christmas figurine snow globe — check the manufacturer’s label. Some limited editions come with a non‑refillable sealed base. Attempting to open them voids any warranty and can shatter the base. My advice: if it’s sealed, don’t force it.

Step 2: Gather the Right Materials

Here’s where the cost‑savings mindset kicks in. The “cheap” way — using tap water and superglue — will end up costing you more. Get these items:

• Distilled water (not tap, not bottled mineral water)
• A small syringe (without needle) or a pipette — available at any pharmacy for about $1.50
• Glycerin (optional, about $3 at a craft store) — slows down the snow falling and reduces cloudiness
• Silicone-based adhesive (like clear aquarium sealant or a high‑quality epoxy) — do not use regular craft glue
• Soft microfiber cloth — for cleaning the base and removing dust

Total investment: roughly $5–8. Compare that to the $50+ it costs to replace a clouded globe. (I wish I had tracked how much we spent on replacements before we started doing maintenance correctly — my sense is it was at least $200 per year.)

Step 3: Safely Open the Base

Most Jim Shore snow globes have a removable base plate, sometimes covered by a felt pad or a thin cork layer. Carefully peel back the felt (use a plastic spudger, not a metal knife). Underneath you’ll see either a rubber stopper or a screw cap.

• Rubber stopper: Gently rock it side‑to‑side with your fingers or pliers wrapped in tape to avoid scratching. Pull straight out.
• Screw cap: Turn counter‑clockwise. Some are designed to be one‑time only and may crack if forced. In that case, you’re better off not proceeding — replacing the cap is tricky.

Crucial detail: do not remove the stopper while the globe is upside‑down. Water will spill everywhere. Keep the globe upright, and tilt it slightly to access the opening. (Should mention: work over a shallow bowl or a towel in case of drips.)

Step 4: Add Water (the Right Amount)

Now the actual adding. Use the syringe to draw distilled water from a clean container. Insert the tip into the opening and slowly inject water until the globe is about 90–95% full. Leave a small air bubble — roughly the size of a dime — at the top. Why? That air bubble is needed so the snow has room to tumble when you shake the globe. If you fill it completely, the snow won’t fall properly.

If you want a slower, more luxurious snow effect, add a few drops of glycerin (maybe 5–10 drops per globe, but I’d have to check exact ratios). Stir gently with a clean skewer or let it dissolve on its own.

While filling, inspect the liquid for cloudiness. If the old water was cloudy, you may need to flush the globe with distilled water first, then refill. That’s an extra step — personally, I skip it unless the cloudiness is obvious, because flushing increases the chance of accidentally damaging the interior paint. (Not that I ever damaged one… okay, once I did.)

Step 5: Reseal Properly

This is where most people make a mistake that costs them later. After inserting the stopper or screw cap, apply a thin bead of silicone sealant around the seam. Let it cure for at least 24 hours — not 2 hours, not overnight if you're in a hurry. The curing time is critical; handling the globe too soon can break the seal and cause leakage (and then you have a sticky mess on your hands and a ruined base).

Once the sealant is dry, press the felt pad back into place. Use a small dot of double‑sided tape if the adhesive from the original pad has worn out.

I built a simple tracking spreadsheet after forgetting which globe was sealed when (seriously, I did). Now I tape a sticky note with the date to the base before putting it back on the shelf. Overkill? Maybe. But after spending $1,200 on a set of Jim Shore Nativity globes, I wanted to make sure each one was tracked.

Common Mistakes (and the Real Cost of Skipping Steps)

• Using tap water — minerals cause cloudiness within weeks. I saved 50¢ by using tap once. Ended up buying a $45 replacement. Net loss: $44.50 plus client disappointment.
• Overfilling the globe — no air space means the snow won’t swirl, making the gift look broken. The “budget” approach of filling to the brim looks smart until you test it. Then you have to reopen and start over.
• Skipping the cure time — I’ve done this. A client’s globe arrived with a wet base. The felt pad came loose, and the metal base began to rust. That $60 gift turned into a $120 headache (replacement + express shipping).
• Using superglue — superglue becomes brittle over time and cracks when the glass expands in heat. Use silicone-based sealant.

One pattern I’ve noticed: most budget overruns in our holiday gift program came from post‑production damage, not the initial purchase. Adding proper care instructions to your procurement checklist can cut those losses by maybe 15–20%. I don’t have hard data on industry‑wide rates, but based on our 6 years of orders, my sense is that improper maintenance accounts for about 10–12% of replacement requests.

Final Thought: Quality Perception = Brand Perception

When a client receives a Jim Shore snow globe that’s perfectly clear, with snow floating gracefully after a shake, they associate that quality with your company. The $5 you invest in proper care translates to a better first impression — and better impression means better retention. I’ve seen our client feedback scores improve after we started including a small care card with every gift globe. That investment paid for itself within one quarter.

So yes, you can add water to a Jim Shore snow globe. Do it right, and your collectibles will stay beautiful for years — and your budget will thank you.