Please note: if you're looking to make a 'suspended' snowglobe tumbler or a 'lava' snowglobe tumbler, this post is not for you. This is specifically for regular snowglobe tumbler making.
Ratios are NOT complicated. They just sound it…
I PROMISE, working in ratios is sooo much simpler than it seems. It's literally just a term used to help you decide how much of each ingredient you need to use when making up your snowglobe tumbler solution, so that whether you prefer a fast flow, slow flow or anywhere in between, you will always achieve the same solution mixture, no matter how much you're making.
Put it simply, what IS a ratio?
A ratio between two or more quantities is a way of measuring their sizes compared to each other - this is taken directly from Wikipedia, honestly the most complex part of ratios is explaining what they are 😂🫠
Ratios are measured in 'parts.' So for example, a 2:1:1 ratio means 2 'parts' of the first thing, 1 'part' of the second thing, and 1'part' of the third thing.
How do I use ratios to make my snowglobe tumbler solution?
Right, let's take the standard, most-commonly-used snowglobe tumbler solution mixture as an example: distilled water, vegetable glycerin and clear glue.
Depending on the speed of the glitter flow you like, you will need to switch up the quantities of each of these in order to achieve that flow. I'm going to share with you my solution ratios for a fast flow, a medium-slow flow and a very slow flow - you're welcome ;)
You will see the difference in the ratios for each solution. If you stick to the same ratio, you will always achieve the same solution flow.
| Flow Speed | Ratio (in order - Distilled Water:Clear Glue:Vegetable Glycerin) |
| Fast Flow | 3:1:0.5 |
| Medium-Slow Flow | 2:1:1 |
| Very Slow Flow | 2:2:1 |
Side note: if you're looking to make a 'suspended' snowglobe tumbler or a 'lava' snowglobe tumbler, you can disregard this post because those types of tumblers require completely different solution ingredients and quantities. 
Snowglobe tumbler solutions available in my Snowglobe Tumbler Starter Kits
HERE'S THE KEY TAKEAWAY:
All you have to do, is decide what volume '1 part' will be. It could be 1ml, 100ml or even 1000000ml. It is entirely down to you and how much you want to make overall.
Example: If you're working with the medium-slow flow, 2:1:1 ratio of 2 parts distilled water, 1 part vegetable glycerin and 1 part clear glue, then here's what this could look like depending on the volume you assign to '1 part.'
| 1Part Measurement | 2:1:1 Measurements | Total Solution Made |
| 1ml | 2ml:1ml:1ml | 4ml |
| 50ml | 100ml:50ml:50ml | 200ml |
| 100ml | 200ml:100ml:100ml | 400ml |
| 500ml | 1000ml:500ml:500ml | 2000ml (2 litres) |
But how will I know how much solution I need to make? I can't work out what 1 part is if I don't know the exact mls I need in total?
Correct. The only way to know the exact mls you need in total for one snowglobe tumbler is pure and simply TRIAL & ERROR. I know from experience that a 24oz Starbucks-style snowglobe tumbler needs approximately 180-200mls of solution in total. But that came with experimenting; making too much and not making enough several times.
If you only need to make enough solution for one snowglobe tumbler at a time, I would suggest starting small (for example, make 1 part around 50mls) so that you are likely to have enough in total to make the snowglobe, but not so much that you're left with some that goes to waste.
Equally, if you make a lot of snowglobe tumblers and you would like to have several bottles of solution made up at once, then make your 1 part larger (for example 200mls), so that your total solution made is much larger, and then you can just store the solution in bottles until you need them - in my experience snowglobe solutions last pretty much forever, I'm no scientist but I've never known a mixed snowglobe solution to 'go off.'
Why do we need to work in ratios, why can't you just tell me how many mls are needed of each ingredient??
Snowglobe solution measurements aren't a set-in-stone, one-size-fits-all science. I have been asked many times, how many milileters are needed of each ingredient for a 16oz or a 24oz tumbler. But there are multiple reasons why there isn't one straight answer to this, for example:
- Some snowglobe tumbler blanks have wider walls between the inner and outer cups than others, which will naturally mean that the gap between them will need differing amounts of liquid to fill it. Some will need more, some will need less.
- A traditional 16oz snowglobe tumbler blank is the tapered, 'Starbucks' style shape of tumbler. However, there are many other shapes of snowglobe tumbler blanks: libbey cans (tend to have much wider walls), straight/skinny tumblers (usually narrower walls), mason jar shapes etc. Again, this will mean different volumes of solution will be needed for each type.
- The wider the walls, the easier it is for any liquid to move through the gap. So, as an example, a slow-flow solution may need to be tweaked for use in a libbey style snowglobe tumbler compared to a tapered style snowglobe because it is likely to move at a different speed through each one. Only you can be the decider of whether you're happy with the way the solution/glitter mix flows through your snowglobe tumbler.
It really is just trial and error.
To sum up...
Ratios only feel complicated if you don't use them. Once you get to grips with the maths - calculators are awesome inventions ;) - you'll find swapping and changing your solutions and experimenting with different flow speeds EASY PEASY. Don't let the numbers and symbols confuse you. If you have any questions after reading this, leave them in the comments, DM me on any of my social platforms (@thelittleislaglitterco on all platforms), or email me here. You've got this!
