Make vs. buy

Make it...

Time spent crafting: 30 mins
I purchased all of my supplies (glitter, superglue and a ten-piece plastic dinosaur set) in one fell swoop at Duane Reade (5423 Second Ave at 54th St, Sunset Park, Brooklyn; 718-439-4879). Putting them together (in washed-out condiment jars) is a cinch: Superglue a dino to the inside of the jar’s lid, and then fill with water and glitter once the glue’s dry.

Cost of materials: $10.89

Frustration level: T. rex and glitter? For me, this was a dream project. No frustration here.

Yields: 10 SNOW GLOBES (If you have 10 condiment jars kicking around, that is)

Buy it...

Time spent shopping: A little under 2 hrs
Hell hath no fury like the after-work crowd at a Target (139 Flatbush Ave between Atlantic Ave and Fourth Ave, Fort Greene, Brooklyn; 718-290-1109, target.com). It took me a while to locate this precious holiday tchotchke, and once found, I spent 30 minutes in three separate checkout lines that didn’t budge before spying an express lane. Plus, it took me an hour to travel round-trip.

Cost: $20

Frustration level: On a scale of one to six, I’d say a 4. The mass confusion, crying babies and pushy customers made me feel like I was standing on a breadline in Communist Russia.

Yields: 1 SNOW GLOBE

—Erin Wylie