That empty jar in your recycling bin is one shake away from a tiny winter wonderland, and these diy snow globes prove it. A snow globe is just a clear container, a little scene glued to the lid or base, and something that falls like snow: glitter in water with glycerin to slow it down, or fluffy faux snow if you’d rather skip the water completely. You’ll find a waterless snow globe a toddler can shake without a puddle, mason jar snow globes with slow drifting glitter, a photo snow globe starring your kids, and a Dollar Tree snow globe that started life as a gumball machine (really). There are ornaments, a giant one that actually blows snow and one with a dinosaur in a wine glass. Use waterproof glue on anything going in water, because floating trees are funny exactly once. Perfect for teacher gifts, mantels, kids craft afternoons and anyone who still shakes every snow globe they pass.
1. DIY Recycled Snow Globe
That clear plastic drink bottle in your recycling bin is about to get a promotion. A 3 1/2 inch wood disk becomes the base, a tiny tree and a snowman get hot glued down, and Tacky Glue plus styrofoam pellets make a snowy floor. The bottle goes on top, ribbon hides the seams and a wood ball turns the cap into a finial. It takes under 15 minutes, which makes it a great pick for a craft club or a kids group (and nobody has to know it used to hold soda).
Get the full tutorial at Tried & True Creative.
2. DIY Snow Globe Gift Card Holder
A gift card on its own is a little sad. Tuck it inside a waterless snow globe and suddenly it’s the best present under the tree. Old jam, pickle and sauce jars do the job, so the jar itself is free. A glittered plastic lid lifts a red toy car carrying a bottle brush tree, mini styrofoam balls make the snow and a velvet ribbon and bow dress up the lid. Small jar? Use a cardboard gift card so it bends to fit. Perfect for teachers, neighbors and anyone who’s hard to shop for.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
3. DIY Fun Novelty Snow Globes
Not a red and green person? These are your snow globes. A pineapple, a pink frosted donut, a pretzel, a cactus and a hot dog get sculpted from oven bake clay, baked at 275 degrees for about 12 minutes and epoxied into empty snow globes. Glycerin and glitter go in with the water, so the snow drifts down slowly. They’re silly in the best way (a hot dog in a snow globe, honestly) and they’re cute enough to leave out all year. Great for a holiday party craft table too.
Get the full tutorial at Aww Sam.
4. DIY Fishbowl Snow Globe
Go big or go home, right? A clear fishbowl set on a round wood stand turns into a snow globe display you can see from across the room. Salt or fake snow goes in the bottom, then glittered trees, ornaments and jingle bells get arranged until the scene looks right (hot glue keeps them upright). Battery LED string lights wrap the scene, with the switch tucked out of sight. No water, no shaking, just a glowing centerpiece. Pick a bowl with a wide mouth so your hands actually fit inside.
Get the full tutorial at Craftionary.
5. DIY Anthropologie Mason Jar Snow Globes
Love the pricey store version? Make it for a fraction of the cost. A flocked bottle brush tree gets glued to the inside of a mason jar lid, the jar fills with water and glitter, and the whole thing flips over. The big lesson here is the glue: hot glue isn’t waterproof, so a tree attached with it may end up floating. White drying Gorilla Glue holds, as long as you clamp it (chip clips work) and let it dry at least 60 minutes. Mind the water level, since the tree pushes some out.
Get the full tutorial at Simple Craves & Olive Oil.
6. Illuminated Snow Scene in a Jar
This one glows, and that’s the whole charm. A mason jar holds a little snowy scene with a bottle brush tree and a penguin in a knit hat, and a warm light shines down from the lid so the jar lights up like a tiny lantern. A satin bow ties around the rim. Set it on a mantel or a nightstand and it doubles as a night light (way cuter than the plug in kind). The tutorial on the post walks through how the light gets in the lid.
Get the full tutorial at Bitz & Giggles.
7. DIY Frozen Olaf Snow Globe
Got a Frozen fan at your house? Then this one is basically mandatory. An Olaf figurine and two miniature trees get hot glued to the base of a plastic snow globe from the craft store, then buffalo snow and iridescent glitter go in the globe and the base twists back on. It’s waterless, so a toddler shake won’t end in a puddle. If yours will get shaken a lot, use E6000 instead of hot glue. A strip of blue glitter tape around the base is the finishing touch.
Get the full tutorial at A Pumpkin And A Princess.
8. Succulent Snow Globe
For the plant lover who has everything (including too many real succulents). Artificial succulents get glued into a slice of wine cork, the cork gets glued to the lid of a round spice jar, and the jar fills with water, glycerin and white glitter. Pick glitter that’s small but not superfine, because it clumps a little with the glycerin and looks more like real snow. Keep glue off the lid’s seal, and a bead of clear silicone keeps the water in. Everything has to fit through that small opening, so trim stems first.
Get the full tutorial at Garden Therapy.
9. DIY Snow Globe Jars
Those big glass canisters on your kitchen counter are ready for winter. Fill the bottoms with fluffy faux snow, tuck in bottle brush trees and little toy cars (the red and turquoise ones are so cute), and close the lids. Group several sizes together on a counter or a scale and you’ve got a whole snowy village in jars. No water, no glue required for the look in the photo, and when January comes, the canisters go right back to holding flour.
Get the full tutorial at Liz Marie Blog.
10. DIY Dollar Tree Snow Globe
Yes, that’s a gumball machine. The little plastic ones from Dollar Tree come apart easily, and the red base gets painted white with chalk paint. Here’s the trick: sprinkle iridescent glitter on while the paint is still wet or it won’t stick (fair warning, it’s messy). Put it back together minus the top, pour in fake snow and fill the globe with mini glass ornaments. A ribbon bow with greenery and a berry glued on top finishes it. It’s quick, cheap and a whole lot cuter than a buck should buy.
Get the full tutorial at Re-Fabbed.
11. Thrifted Glass Cloche Turned Vintage Snow Globe
Keep an eye out for glass dome cheese platters at the thrift store, because they make gorgeous snow globes. This one started as a $5 Goodwill find. The wood base gets two coats of white chalk paint, then a spray of craft adhesive so the snowflakes stick instead of spilling all over the table (smart). Four inch bottle brush trees and a little red toy truck go on top, and the dome closes it all in. Vintage look, thrift store price and done well before the December rush.
Get the full tutorial at Little House of Four.
12. Make a Waterless Snow Globe
Real snow globes and little kids are a risky combo, so here’s the fix. A clear plastic cup becomes the dome and a circle cut from cardboard or a thick paper plate becomes the base. Cotton balls make the snow, mini ornaments or figurines (dinosaurs count) get glued on, and mini styrofoam balls go in the cup. Let the base dry about 30 minutes, glue the cup on, weigh it down with a mug and leave it overnight. Glue a loop on top and it’s an ornament.
Get the full tutorial at The Pragmatic Parent.
13. Dinosaur Snow Globe
Upside down wine glass plus thrifted dinosaurs equals the most delightful snow globe on this list. The tutorial is in Swedish, but the photos make it easy to follow. Figurines get superglued to an upside down coaster or small saucer, the snow is a mix of glitter, beads, sugar and coconut flakes, and a thin line of glue around the glass rim seals it all in. Use less snow than you think, because too much buries your little guys. The flat glass foot even holds a candle.
Get the full tutorial at Alicia Sivert.
14. Halloween Snow Globe
Who says snow globes are only for winter? This one swaps the snowflakes for orange and black glitter and puts a spooky little scene (complete with a Keep Out sign) in a shatterproof water globe. Distilled water, a resin or plastic figure and clear E6000 are the core, and the glycerin is the real tip: a few drops did nothing, so it took 1 tablespoon in a quart jar and 2 teaspoons in the globe. Avoid metal pieces, which rust. Make one for October, then do it again in Christmas glitter.
Get the full tutorial at The DIY Village.
15. Make a Homemade Snow Globe
Picture your kid inside a snow globe, arms up, catching snowflakes. That’s what this one does, with a cutout photo standing next to an evergreen sprig in a big jar of water and sparkly glitter. It’s the kind of gift grandparents set on a windowsill and never move again (and shake every single time they walk by). The full how to lives on the post, so check it for the materials and the way the photo holds up underwater before you start.
Get the full tutorial at Our Best Bites.
16. Light Bulb Snow Globe
This is the experimental one, and the maker says so up front. Getting the metal end off a light bulb took several broken bulbs before glow stick fluid loosened the glue, so go slow and wear protection. A wine bottle cap then fits the opening. A little clay scene gets baked, glued inside the cap with super glue, and the bulb fills with glitter and boiled, cooled water. Leave room at the top or it overflows. Hot glue inside and outside the cap stops leaks. Thin glass, so display it carefully.
Get the full tutorial at Magical Daydream.
17. DIY Waterless Deer Snow Globes
Little deer in jars, tied with jute twine. Could anything be sweeter? Cork tile circles cut about 1 cm smaller than the lid raise each figurine so it actually shows, then deer or pine cones get hot glued down and snipped white pom poms make fluffy snow. Let the glue dry overnight before the glitter goes in, or the glitter sticks to it. Tip the jar to check the amount (adding is easier than removing). A twine bow just above the lid finishes the rustic look, and they’re even better grouped together.
Get the full tutorial at Little Hiccups.
18. Mini Snow Globe DIY
Want high impact on a small table? This little guy cost just over $5 in Dollar Tree goodies. A glass candle holder gets glued to the bottom of a round glass container to make a pedestal, then a layer of fake snow, a mini tree and tiny people go inside. No fake snow? Salt or sand works. Battery LED lights (2 AA, no cords) tucked around the base make the whole thing glow. It leaves room for dinner plates and you can still see across the table.
Get the full tutorial at Refresh Restyle.
19. DIY Gift Card Snow Globes
Teacher gifts, solved. Wide mouth jars hold a gift card (they measure about 3.5 inches, so check the jar opening first) along with a little Christmas scene from Dollar Tree or the Target Dollar Spot. Think a red car with a tree on top, a nutcracker, a tiny bike and plenty of fake snow. Hot glue keeps the card and the lighter trees from tipping, but leave the ornaments loose so the recipient can hang them on their tree later. It’s a gift card that feels like a real present.
Get the full tutorial at Hip2Save.
20. Lego Snow Globes
Got a LEGO kid? Their favorite minifigure deserves a snow globe. LEGO trees and figures get hot glued inside a jelly jar lid (keep them away from the edge so the lid still closes), then the jar fills with distilled water, glycerin or a little dish soap, and glitter or tiny round LEGO pieces. It doubles as a science lesson on why things float and how water gets displaced. Use waterproof glue if you can, or you may end up with a floating minifigure. Hot glue the lid shut for little hands.
Get the full tutorial at Lemon Lime Adventures.
21. Oversized Christmas Snow Globe
This one actually snows, and it’s huge. A glass bowl sits upside down on a spray painted bucket, with the scene glued to a sheet of aluminum mesh so the snow can’t fall through. A fan inside the bucket blows air up through the screen and sends the snow flying. The tricky part is finding a fan strong enough (a table fan wasn’t, but one borrowed from an inflatable yard decoration was). Pro tip from the post: don’t hot glue on a flat surface, or the screen glues itself to your table.
Get the full tutorial at At Charlotte's House.
22. Custom Snow Globe of Your House
Just moved? Know someone who did? This is the gift. Print a photo of the house at about 3 by 3 inches (no photo? Google street view works), mount it on cardstock and cut it out, leaving a 1/4 inch strip at the bottom. Notch and fold that strip into a flap so the house stands up. Glue it into a waterless snow globe with mini bottle brush trees, faux snow and snowflake stickers. Tie a ribbon around the base and it’s ready for a neighbor, a realtor closing or a family keepsake.
Get the full tutorial at Average But Inspired.
23. Lighted Snowman Snow Globe
Hello, round little snowman face! A cheap plastic snow globe gets a light coat of Mod Podge inside and about a teaspoon of white glitter, then gets shaken to coat it all over. A Cricut cuts the snowman’s face from black and orange adhesive vinyl, a felt top hat gets hot glued on top and buffalo plaid ribbon becomes the scarf. A battery tea light inside makes him glow. No Cricut? Hand cut vinyl works for a face this simple. A fun one for a Christmas craft night with friends.
Get the full tutorial at Create Craft Love.
24. Cloche-Style Snow Globe Ornaments
Tiny scenes for your tree, and the best tip is about the ornament itself. Flat base ornaments (cloche style or traditional globe) are a million times easier to fill than the round ones that pop apart. Glue the main pieces down first, then add cotton rounds and fake snow. Hunt for mini things like dollhouse items, tiny cars, mini tree ornaments and even cheap jewelry parts. Skip the water, though, since ornaments aren’t watertight. Lots of pretty snow around the base still looks wintry and wonderful.
Get the full tutorial at Lovely Etc.
25. Waterless Jar Snow Globes
Save your mayo and jelly jars, because they’re about to be snow globes. Snowmen, bottle brush trees and miniature presents get hot glued inside the lid, artificial snow goes about 2 inches up the side of the jar, and small foam balls go on top. Screw the lid on, flip it and give it a gentle shake. Since there’s no water, a delicate vintage figurine or a handed down ornament is safe in here. Leftover foam balls? Kids love turning them into floam.
Get the full tutorial at Crafts by Amanda.
26. Mason Jar Snow Globes
Want the snow to drift down slowly? Clear glue is the secret. A figure gets hot glued to the center of a mason jar lid (hot glue doesn’t dissolve in water), away from the edges so the lid still screws on. The jar fills halfway with distilled water, which keeps out floaties, then a squirt of clear glue thickens it. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of glitter, top it off and close it up. More glue means slower snow, so play with it. Grandkids can do this one almost all by themselves.
Get the full tutorial at Welcome to Nana's.
27. Winter Wonderland Snow Globe Forest
One snow globe is nice. A whole forest of them is a moment. Mason jars in three sizes get matched with bottle brush trees in three sizes (small tree, small jar), and a couple of fawns join in. Hot glue holds everything to the lids, and a small rock under a tree or fawn gives it extra height. The tip worth stealing: use the stuffing style faux snow from the mini Christmas village aisle, which is much less messy than the grainy kind. Fairy lights behind the group make it glow.
Get the full tutorial at A Pretty Life In The Suburbs.
28. Salt Shaker Snow Globe Ornaments
A glass salt shaker plus a school photo equals an ornament grandma will fight you for. Trace the shaker onto your child’s photo and cut it out slightly large, then curl it and slip it inside so it pops into place (no glue needed). Add a pinch of fake snow, about 1/2 inch deep, and put the lid back on. Six inches of copper craft wire around the neck forms the hanging loop, and red and white twine plus a tiny pine cone bow finish it off.
Get the full tutorial at The Soccer Mom Blog.
29. Engraved Cricut Snow Globe Ornaments
Got a Cricut Maker sitting there? Put it to work engraving. A snow globe design gets engraved onto spray painted aluminum flashing, and a photo printed on glossy sticker paper or printable vinyl fills the globe. Everything sits on one canvas in Design Space, so you can size the ornament up or down without matching measurements by hand (the post sizes it at 5 inches tall). Jeweler’s shears cut it out and a hole punch makes room for the hanger. There’s a video version too if you’d rather watch.
Get the full tutorial at Well Crafted Studio.
30. Photo Snow Globe Ornament
An embroidery hoop, a photo and a pinch of glitter make the sweetest tree ornament. The photo prints on printable fabric, gets backed with fusible interfacing and sits behind a circle of clear vinyl glued into the 4 inch hoop. Before the fabric closes up, small white glitter pours into the gap so it shakes like snow (so clever). Felt covers the back, silver ric rac goes around the edge, and a little red bow sits up top. Grandparents, consider your stockings stuffed.
Get the full tutorial at Swoodson Says.
31. Red Truck Snow Globe
The little red truck carrying a Christmas tree is having a moment, and it looks so good in snow. Cotton balls get hot glued to the inside of a wide mouth mason jar lid, piled higher on one side for a snowy backdrop. The truck ornament and mini trees sit on top, glued very securely (hold it upside down to test). Faux snow goes in the jar, the lid screws on and it all flips over. Wide mouth jars are about 3 inches, so keep pieces under 2 inches. It takes about 30 minutes.
Get the full tutorial at My Turn for Us.
32. Camping Snow Globe Ornament
For the family that would rather be camping, even in December. A clear glass terrarium ornament holds a tiny red trailer ornament, little trees and a campfire made from a mini battery light with its outer cover removed and twigs glued around it. Poly fil pellets or salt make the snow. If the ornament’s lip is too low to hold the snow in, a line of hot glue along the opening fixes it. Bakers twine makes the hanging loop. Pair it with a gift card and it’s a whole present.
Get the full tutorial at Homemade Heather.
33. Personalized Photo Snow Globe
Your kid, in an elf costume, in a snow globe. Need we say more? Size a full body photo to about 2.75 inches tall, print it (a drugstore print costs about 40 cents) and cut it out with scissors and a craft knife, leaving a tail at the bottom. Fold the tail and stick it to the globe base with foam tape alongside 3 or 4 bottle brush trees. Add faux snow or Epsom salt, flip the lid into the globe, and wrap a striped ribbon around the plain base. Instant keepsake.
Get the full tutorial at Oh So Lovely Blog.
34. Watercolor Snow Globe Ornament
Kid art, but make it shake. A child draws and colors a snow globe template on cardstock (name and year on the base, please), then about 1 teaspoon of poly pellets goes in the center. Half of a 3 inch clear plastic ornament gets hot glued over the globe, and here’s the key: let the glue cool completely before moving it, or the pellets stick. Cut it out, add the other half for a double sided version, then a ribbon. Swap a 3 inch photo circle in for the drawing if you like.
Get the full tutorial at Crafting Cheerfully.
