This is an update of an old blog post, the focus of which I still love; making Snow Globes! It was originally coupled with a blog post including a vintage cookie, the ‘Christmas Nugget’, which we’ve taken the liberty of renaming a few times. Making Snow Globes is a fun and easy holiday craft I hope you’ll love doing yourself!
My favorite holiday craft by a long shot has been making snow globes. Who does not love a snow globe? An enchanting, whimsical world where snow can be conjured with a little shake?
When my tots were little it was a very sleep deprived time. I spent most of my days in a joyful fog of an existence, sustaining maybe 5 broken up hours of sleep a night…..for years it seemed. I recall rocking one to sleep for a nap and having the TV on, blankly circling through inane daytime TV programs. I landed on a cheery holiday crafting channel and was sucked in by the host’s overly effervescent personae and a disturbingly overdone holiday sweater she was wearing. I became a bit fixated.
Some time into the viewing I realized they were making homemade snow globes. I had been staring at the sweater, intently trying to figure out how many Christmas scenes in miniature were actually donning her torso (the 12 days of Christmas, all the reindeer with neatly stitched names overhead; the Eiffel Tower, Sphinx, Tower of Pisa, and all the other famous international architectural icons with actively flashing mini holiday lights), and I had missed most of the instruction.
Fortunately, they are not hard to make so I was able to fill in the blanks. I desperately scribbled down key words and notes, all the while trying not to wake the sleeping child in my lap. It was about 5 years and two cross country moves later that the notes surfaced and the time was right to give it a go. It is a simple, fun, whimsical craft which we’ve now had for about 6 years and they look like the day we made them.
I’m sharing the Supplies and Instructions in my standard recipe template so it can be easily printed!

DIY How to Make Holiday Snow Globes
Ingredients
- Homemade Snow Globes
- Jars with metal lids (I used baby food jars; choose jars to fit your snow globe ‘scene’ items)
- Resin or plastic items to fit inside the snow globe
- Spray paint for metal lids
- Epoxy
- Fine grain sand paper
- Glycerin (inexpensive and available by asking at a Pharmacy)
- Distilled Water
- Glitter or plastic confetti
Instructions
- Ensure the jars and lids are clean. Spray paint the outside of the metal lids in any color you choose. Set aside to dry fully before starting the snow globe.
- Using the fine grade sandpaper, lightly sand the spot where the resin/plastic item will be glued to the inside of the painted jar lid. This helps the epoxy to adhere best. Wipe away any dust from the sanding.
- Prepare the epoxy per package instructions. Coat the bottom of the resin/plastic item with prepared epoxy and place onto sanded spot on inside of jar lid. Press to firmly adhere. Allow to dry fully per the time instructed on the epoxy instructions.
- Once lid has dried, fill the jar with distilled water (do not over fill or water will spill out when lid with the item is installed).
- Add a few drops of glycerin into the jar (amount depending on jar size); add the desired amount of glitter, screw on lid and shake to test the effect. Glycerin causes the glitter to float and not immediately settle. Too little glycerin will not suspend the glitter to float and too much will cause the glitter to form clumps.
- Once you have the desired effect, dry the threaded area on the outside of the top of the jar and the inside threaded area of the lid so they close snugly. Seal and enjoy!
From the original blog post:
Lisa Joy Thompson says
I love making snow globes with my kids! It’s really fun to see how each snow globe reflects my kids’ interests at the age they made them. We have army snow globes, princess snow globes, high heel snow globes and all kinds of super hero snow globes!
Toni Dash says
How fun Lisa! In looking at these it made me want to make some more!
Raijean S says
I’m going to do this with the boychild, he is going to love this. Thanks for the idea
Meagan Ivie says
My niece made one of these snow globes for my son and he absolutely loves it. What a fun and festive craft idea!
MJ L says
These are so cute! My kids would love to help make these and give them as gifts!
Liz Mays says
Oh this is so clever! I’d love to make some fun snow globes to put out on display.
Pam says
I think snow globes are so cute! This is a really fun craft.
Travel Blogger says
These are so cute and easy to make. I need to make some with my nieces. They would love this.
Chrystal | Nevermore Lane says
These are such a cute , creative and budget friendly decoration and gift idea. I have so many extra jars. I really should start doing some more creative things with them.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
That’s so much fun! I’ve never thought of making my own snow globes before. I think the kids and I are going to have fun with this.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
That is a really cute idea. You could literally make them with anything inside, too, which is so cool.