DIY Snow Globes – 12 Best Things to Use as Water Globe

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Few crafts capture the magic of winter quite like a DIY snow globe. Whether you’re making a keepsake with the kids, a thoughtful handmade gift, or charming holiday decor, snow globes are easy to personalize and surprisingly simple to create at home.

We’re sharing the 12 things you can use to DIY water globe ideas, from classic water globes to waterless globes, and from repurposed mason jar globes to mess-free versions kids can craft in minutes. Ready to shake up your creativity? Let’s dive in!

Types of DIY Snow Globes:

In general, DIY Snow Globes can be categorized based on the container, theme, and water usage. For instance:

Containers:

Mason Jars
Empty glass jars
Clear plastic water globes
Fish bowls

Theme and Materials:

Classic miniatures (holiday figurines, Christmas tree, winter resin minis, festive decorations)
Nature Finds (dried flowers, pinecones, shells, nuts, leaves, branches, pebbles)
Novelty (unique items, animals, toy figurines, mini food)
Seasonal (objects, elements, and colors inspired by seasons)
Personalized (add photos, notes, mini clay art, ribbons)

Water usage:

Water-filled snow globes: Use water, glycerin or oils, and glitter.
Waterless snow globes: Feature snow effect using faux snow, glitter or cotton balls.

Make Your Own Christmas Snow Globe with these simple instructions. You will need:

Materials to Make Snow Globe:

Empty Glass or Plastic Water Globe – (Substitute with empty glass jars, mason jars, or baby food jars)
Distilled water
Baby oil or glycerin (makes the snow fall slowly)
Artificial snow
Glitter – biodegradable, fine or Holographic glitter
Waterproof figurines or mini trees
Waterproof Adhesive or hot glue gun for attaching accessories to the base
Optional: Themed stickers, ribbon, food coloring (alcohol inks), or beads.

Tip: Make sure your figurines are waterproof and non-metallic to avoid rust.

Best DIY Snow Globe Ideas

1. Classic Mason Jar Snow Globe

Use a small winter figurine or tree and glue it to the inside of the lid.
Fill the jar with water, a few drops of glycerin, and glitter.
Screw the lid on tightly, flip it upside down, and give it a shake!

Best For: Elegant gifts and shelf decor.

snow-globes-snow-domes-snow-man-reindeer-tree-white-mason-jars

Mason Jar Water Globes

Trees in Mason Jar Snow Globe

Cover the lid with fabric and twine for a presentable gift.

2. Photo Snow Globe

Print and laminate a small photo of your family or pet. Cut to shape.
Glue it to the inside of the lid with a backdrop like a mini tree.
Add snow and glitter, then seal the jar.

Best For: Personal keepsakes and memory jars.

3. Mini Bottle Cap Snow Globe Ornaments

Use small plastic ornaments or bottle caps.
Create a tiny winter scene using buttons, pom-poms, or beads.
Fill with glitter and seal using clear plastic tops or transparent film.

Best For: Tree decorations and stocking stuffers.

Cute Water Globe in a Bottle

These crystal snow globes are amazing, made with clear ornaments and jar lids. Fill them up with glitter or faux snow.

Waterless Snow Ornaments

Hanging Snow Globe Ornament

4. No-Water Snow Globe for Kids

Fill a clear plastic jar or dome with cotton balls, paper cutouts, or foam snowflakes.
Add a figure and seal the jar—no water or glycerin required.

Best For: Safe, mess-free classroom or party crafts.

Water less Mason Jar Snow Globes

Spray paint figurines to make modern glass domes.

Stick a vinyl stick and spray paint a mason jar to make a featured view snow globe.

Image courtesy: The 36th Avenue

5. Upside-Down Wine Glass Snow Globe

Flip a wine glass and turn the base into a miniature winter dome.
Use a small wreath or candle holder on top and decorate the base with faux snow and miniatures.

Best For: Table centerpieces and elegant holiday setups.

Stemware Snow Globe

6. Fishbowl Snow Globe

Make a festive winter wonderland in a snow globe.

Best for: Festive Table Centerpiece

Fishbowl snow globe

7. Glass Dome Snow Globes

Make your decorative arrangement in repurposed cloche.
Use polystyrene balls to give snow effect. They stick to the glass naturally.
Use string lights or LED lighting for festive effects.

Best for: Decorative arrangement and festive corners.

8. Recycle Baby Food Jar Snow Globe

A fun project to make mini water globes.

9. Spice Jar Snow Globe

Use bamboo airtight jars to make magical Snowglobes lighted village scenery for your mantel with LED lights.

10. Glass Cake Stand

Use a repurposed cake stand to make a no-water snow globe display.

DIY-Winter-Wonderland-Cloche-cute-and-easy-winter-craft

Image courtesy: Simply Designing

11. Fairy Garden Snow Globe

Make a non-dying enchanted forest in a mason jar to bring charm to your decor.

12. Display Clay Miniatures in Snow Globes

Make your own beautiful mini clay art and display them in no-water repurposed jars.

FAQs

Which materials should not be placed in a snow globe?

1. Water-filled snow globes: Avoid using natural materials such as wood, metal, paper, fabric, or any organic material that will degrade in water, causing a mess. Select water-resistant props and decorations such as plastics or ceramics due to their inherent properties to withstand water corrosion for a long time.

2. Waterless snow globes: Choose light weight artificial snow to create the desired effect. Use strong adhesive so the figurines stay intact when shaking.

What can we use instead of glycerin in a DIY snow globe?

The purpose of glycerin is to create a thick, viscous liquid for a slow snowfall effect.

One can also substitute glycerin with corn syrup, baby oil, or any vegetable oil.
We can also use hand sanitizer, as they contain glycerin for thickening water.
Another suitable substitute for glycerin is Elmer’s clear glue in a 2:1 ratio with water and glue for creating a suitable liquid for suspended design.

Mistakes to avoid while crafting a snow globe

Secure the design properly
Avoid overfilling
Avoid using tap water: Tap water contains dissolved salts and minerals that may lead to cloudiness and disappearance of color with time. Always choose distilled water for a clearer and hassle-free experience.
Avoid excessive glycerin: Glycerin is used to thicken water causing viscosity and a realistic snow effect in water. Putting excessive glycerin in water can cause clumping at the bottom.
Inadequate drying and sealing time: Make sure to allocate sufficient drying time for the glue before adding water to avoid detaching of the accessories in a water-filled snow globe.
Excessive glitter: Adding too much glitter might cause clumping and would not produce the desired swirling effect in the snow globe.