Baby Food Jar Snow Globes Tutorial

baby food jar snow globes

Have a bunch of baby food jars hanging around? Here’s a great upcycle for all those cute little jars! Turn them into mini snow globes with a few household items. Baby Food Jar Snow Globes are easy to create and make a fantastic gift idea!

This is Part 3 in the #JustAddMichaels promotion! Check out Part 1 {announcement} and Part 2 {Dream Christmas tree reveal}.

Baby Food Jar Snow Globes

diy snow globes

My baby girl is just starting to eat solids, so I have a bunch of baby food jars hanging out. So I turned a bunch of them into mini snow globes and they turned out so stinkin cute!! I’m seriously in love with them! Oh, and I might just be handing these out to neighbors and friends. They make such a cute little Christmas gift!

I love it when I find a way to reuse and make it beautiful!

How to Make Snow Globes Tutorial

how to make snow globes

Supplies:

  • empty baby food jars {Stage 2 size is the cutest, in my opinion, but all sizes work just fine!}
  • mini fake trees
  • Goo Gone
  • Glycerin {I found it at the Walmart pharmacy}
  • Glass & Bead glue OR Epoxy
  • Glitter {colored chunkier glitter works best. Don’t use clear or fine glitter}
  • Gold spray paint
  • distilled water
  1. Remove the labels off the jars and clean off the glue with Goo Gone.
  2. Spray paint the lids gold {or desired color}.
  3. Put a little glue on both the inside of the lid and the bottom of the fake tree. Allow to dry for 1-2 minutes and then press the tree onto the lid. Allow to dry for 24 hours. diy snow globes

glitter globes

4. Add about 1 teaspoon of glitter into each jar.

5. Fill with distilled water and add 5 drops of Glycerin. {5 drops seemed to work the best.} Screw the lid {with the tree} onto the top and you’ve got yourself the cutest mini snow globe ever!

And that is how you make Baby Food Jar Snow Globes!

Mini Snow Globes

baby food jar snow globe

What could you do with this tiny snow globes?

mini snow globes

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Michaels. I received free product{s} featured in this post. All opinions are 100% mine!

Check out my Gold Ombre Christmas Tree! It turned out gorgeous! {and yes, I can’t believe I already have my tree up this year! haha}

Follow on Pinterest for craft ideas from around the web!

Linda
Hi! I'm Linda, the craft addict behind Craftaholics Anonymous®, a craft blog. Crafting is cheaper than therapy, right? When I'm not DIYing something, I can be found taxiing around our 4 crazy kids or working out. Or shoe shopping... because you can never have too many shoes! Happy crafting! ♥
Linda
Linda

Latest posts by Linda (see all)

Join the Conversation

Comments

  1. 1
    Deb

    I’ve been saving baby food jars the past few months looking for something unique and new to do with them. Absolutely love this idea and it’s something I can do with my two kiddos also.

    1. 1.1
      Chantel

      These are super cute! I am thinking of doing these for a Frozen birthday party…have you ever had an issue with them leaking? Should I also put something to seal the lid?
      Thanks,
      C

      1. No I haven’t had any issues with them leaking, but if you’re making them for kids, it probably would be a good idea to seal or put tape around the lid so they don’t twist them off. Good luck with your party!

  2. 2
    julie

    how fun and where did you get those tiny trees from. thanks for sharing.

      1. Eb

        I tried doing it and my trees that i got at michaels turned the water green

  3. 3

    Really cute-we made some “dry” ones last year, but my kids would go ga-ga over real ones like this!

  4. 4
    Stephane in AK

    I’ve always wanted to do this but one thing has always brought me up short: Do you think the wire will rust or the wood will deteriorate in the water? Or is that what the glycerin is supposed to prevent?

    Thank you,
    Stephane

    1. 4.1
      CarolynFerreira

      The trees do rust. The rust will actually change the color of the trees.

  5. 5
    melissa goodrow

    Hi I thought those were adorable &I don’t have kids so I picked up some baby food at Walmart and some little people to so I have outher things to put in my snow globs.I have 2 ready to go can’t wait to see them finished. Thanxs for the idea , love it

    1. 5.1

      I love that you bought baby food just for the jars! I do stuff like that too! Thanks for stopping by, Melissa! Enjoy your snow globes :)

    2. 5.2
      Liz Johnson

      What a waste… There are plenty of people with loads of unused empty jars that are willing to share to keep them out of the trash. Ask on Freecycle or Facebook Yard Sale Groups.

  6. 7
    Sharon

    I was wondering if you had any ideas about turning baby food jars into little snowman faces. For example, what could I make the nose out of? the eyes? mouth? Would I paint the glass white with glass paint? etc. Any ideas would be helpful. I’m interested in helping my grade 3 students do something special for their moms and dads for Christmas.
    Sharon

  7. Pingback: Craftaholics Anonymous® | DIY Deer Pillow

  8. 8
    taria

    Where did you get your little trees? I can’t find them that small.

      1. Deborah

        Can also be found at Wal-Mart in the Christmas Shop (Garden Center) where the Village and Houses are found.

  9. 9

    I did this craft, but the water turned green from the trees! And I used the same trees from Michaels….

      1. Linda

        I did use distilled water…

        1. really? that’s crazy. Mine are still clear. I’m so sorry about that! Not sure why that would happen :(

  10. 10
    Karrot

    Hi!! I was wondering if u could use baby oil and distilled water instead?
    <3

  11. 11
    Christine

    Love your site and the snow globe idea!

  12. 12

    Very cute idea! Been wanting to make one, maybe now I will since you listed all of the ingredients! Btw – what does glycerin exactly doing here? I saw tutorials without it. Just wondered. Thank you!

    1. 12.1

      The glycerin helps suspend the glitter in the water so that it doesn’t fall as quickly :)

  13. 13
    Allison

    Hi there! I went to michaels and they weren’t sure what those were and I didn’t see them in the wood supply area. Any ideas??

    1. 13.1

      Hi Allison,
      I found them at Michaels in the Christmas section that has wood supplies, christmas felt, and christmas foam supplies. Maybe the employee didn’t know where they were? They’re called bottle brush trees, I think. If your Michaels doesn’t carry them, Hobby Lobby or Joanns should have them.

      1. Deborah

        And also Wal-Mart but only at this time of year in the the Christmas Shop (Garden Center).

  14. 14
    Aimee

    Hi! I gathered everything u needed (so I thought) and realized I didn’t get bead glue… Will another type of glue work? A glue gun perhaps?

  15. 15

    Love the idea. I like how to explain everything and with such beautiful photos.

  16. 16
    Cassidy

    Does it have to be distilled water? And if so why…what if I just use tap water?

    1. 16.1

      Your water will turn black if you don’t use distilled water :) Distilled water is heated and so it does not have the bacteria in it to grow algae and other fun stuff.

  17. 17
    Anna

    I did this craft with baby oil and it did not work at all! I haven’t tried glycerin. The oil and glitter clumped together so their was a glittery round glob sitting on top of the decoration! We ended up just using water and the glitter fell faster but at least it wasn’t clumping.

    1. 17.1
      Anna

      And by their I meant there. :) I would correct me if I were you!

  18. 18

    Just checking … Did the trees in the snow globes ever rust…. Girl Scout craft tomorrow

  19. 19
    Johanna S

    I’ve searched for these for years.. i am in my late 30s and I remember making something like.this when I was in kindergarten. . Such a nostalgic feeling.. Thank you

  20. 20
    Elizabeth

    What size baby trees did you use? I have been to Michael’s 4 (!) times to get trees and they have been sold out every time, so I am going to order them online. I just want to make sure I get the correct size. I initially thought you used 1″, but now am thinking that is too small. Help would be appreciated!

  21. 21

    what can I do to seal the lids? there’s some leaking as the lids don’t fit exactly back onto the jars.
    thanks — our GS troop made these today and the girls loved them!

    1. 21.1

      That’s awesome your girl scouts made them! If they’re not sealing, you can try putting a ring of glue around the top and putting the lid on and allowing to dry for 4-6 hours.

  22. Pingback: Craftaholics Anonymous® | Free Christmas Stocking Pattern and Tutorial

  23. 22
    Lolly

    My water turned green too : /

    1. 22.1

      Did you use distilled water?

      1. Lolly

        Yes I did. The only thing I can think of is that I used 2 packages of trees (from different manufactures) and maybe one package turned the water more green.

        My glitter clumped when I used Glycerin. I used distilled water and a very small amount of normal glitter and it floated nicely.

        I even glued put my sons classmates names to the base of the tree (which I propped up on wine corks) with little plastic letters: follow lollyoarnold on Instagram. They turned out cute.

  24. 23
    tia

    did your glitter clump at all? I’ve been reading about how the glycerin makes it really clumpy.

    1. 23.1

      No, my glitter didn’t clump.

  25. 24
    raffa

    Hello, i have a question where did you buy mini christmas tree?

  26. 25
    Brittany

    Hi, I LOVE this idea for my Christmas gift craft for this year. I’m thinking about using something other than little trees in mine. Any ideas of where I could find tiny snowmen or santas? Thanks!!!!

    1. 25.1

      Try Amazon or your local craft stores. They seem to have their Christmas supplies already out! :)

  27. 26
    Karen

    Have you had problems with the trees turning the water green?

    1. 26.1

      If you use distilled water, it won’t turn green.

      1. CarolynFerreira

        The water does turn green with distiiled water. It’s the green dye coming off the tree’s. I would use white trees

  28. 27
    Ingrid

    Where did you find your mini trees

    1. 27.1

      Michaels or Joanns, not sure which

  29. 28
    Carly

    These turned out so cute! Thank you for the great idea. Just a couple notes … 1. I rinsed the trees before gluing them to the lids (no green water). 2. A teaspoon of glitter seemed like a TON (I used about half that). Thank you again, can’t wait to give these as gifts this Christmas!

  30. 29
    marce

    Hi, I made these with deer figurines and trees and the dye in the trees stained everything (the brown akin of the deer, the white snow on the base of the trees) any idea how to fix it? I tried alcohol and nothing. Thanks!

    1. 29.1

      Maybe try sealing the figurines with a clear sealer?

  31. 30
    Samantha

    What type of trees? Plastic or fuzzy?

  32. 31
    Samantha

    What type of tree? Plastic or fuzzy?

    1. 31.1

      plastic

  33. 32
    Carol

    Hi Linda

    How do I keep the glitter from staying at the top? I used fine glitter is that the reason.

    1. 32.1

      Yes, you chunkier glitter for to make it sink/float around more.

  34. 33
    Lucinda

    we have been making these for years in my preschool class. I buy the small ornaments that come 4 to a sheet…snowmen,cupcakes,penguins ect… I pull the small ring off the top and you now have something to glue on your lids and you have choices for kids. I buy these after Christmas so they are very inexpensive. You just need to make sure they aren’t to wide to fit in the jar mouth.

    1. 33.1

      Thanks for the tips!

  35. 34
    Lizabeth Osterholt

    You can small plastic flowers, plastic people, plastic toys, ect.
    Seal the on by putting a bead of the epoxy on the threads of the bottle before you screw lid on.
    Don’t turn it over for 24 he’s.

    1. 34.1
      Lizabeth Osterholt

      That’s supposed to be 24 hrs.

  36. 35
    lynn

    Hi! Where did you buy your glitter from? michaels? is there a certain size of chunkiness you recommend?

    1. 35.1

      I think it was Michaels. Just make sure its not the fine/dust like glitter and you should be fine. The chunkier it is, the more you’ll see it fall in the water.

      1. Christi Goodall

        What type of glue do you use? Is it elmers, hot glue or a special kind of glue?

        1. hot glue

  37. 36
    dh

    does it really have to be done with distilled water!! or just normal water will do

    1. 36.1

      There is bacteria in regular water and over time, it will turn green. Highly recommend using distilled water :)

    2. 36.2
      Lisa

      Hey DH,
      No, I have done this project a few times for some friends, and have found that normal water works just fine. The issue is that the trees are usually not waterproof and aren’t designed to be placed in water, so the paint used on the product comes right off when submerged. I usually just coat whatever object I am using in a clear varnish spray (Matte finish has worked best for me) so the color is protected. Hope this helps!