DIY Mini Snow Globe Favor Jars for a Winter Kids' Party

Snow globes are the one winter favor children never leave behind on the table. This version is small enough for little hands, uses jars you already have, and is built so the sealing — the only part that goes wrong — is done by a grown-up in about ten seconds per jar. Set it up as a station and it keeps a table of eight busy for a happy half hour.

What you'll need

• Small glass jars with tight lids — 4 oz baby food jars or spice jars, one per child, labels soaked off
• A small plastic figurine or mini bottle-brush tree per jar (they must fit through the jar mouth with room to spare)
• Waterproof glue or a hot glue gun (grown-ups only)
• Distilled water — tap water clouds over time
• Glycerin from the pharmacy, which makes the glitter fall slowly
• Fine white or iridescent glitter, plus a spoon
• A small funnel and a pitcher for pouring
• Ribbon and a name tag for each lid
• A stack of paper towels — there will be drips

Step 1: Glue the figurines the night before

Glue each figurine or tree to the inside of a lid and let it cure overnight. Hot glue sets fast, but waterproof glue holds better once submerged. This is the only step with a wait, so it happens before the party.

Step 2: Set the station

Each seat gets an open jar, a lid with its figurine already attached, a small cup of glitter with a tiny spoon, and a name tag. The pitcher of water and the glycerin stay at the grown-up end of the table.

Step 3: Let the kids add the snow

Children spoon glitter into their empty jar — one to two small spoonfuls is plenty; more than that and the globe goes cloudy. This is the part they love, so let it take as long as it takes.

Step 4: Grown-up pours and seals

Fill each jar almost to the top with distilled water through the funnel, add a teaspoon of glycerin, then screw the lid (figurine down) on tight. Wipe the rim first so it seals. For extra security, run a thin bead of hot glue around the lid seam.

Step 5: Flip, shake, and tag

Turn the jar over so the figurine stands in the snow, tie the ribbon and name tag around the lid, and give it a shake. Send them home standing lid-down in a paper cup so nothing tips in the car.

Our styling note

Snow globes look best on a white table with a mirror or silver tray under the finished jars, which doubles the sparkle. Keep the rest of the table quiet — white or pale blue chairs, a faux-fur runner, a few bottle-brush trees down the center — and the row of little globes becomes the centerpiece by the end of the party.

Pair it with the DIY hot cocoa bar for a full winter party, and see our Après-Ski winter party for the look.