Want a winter craft that’s both easy and adorable? This snowman in a jar is like a tiny winter wonderland you can keep on a shelf — complete with pet snowman, cozy scarf, and a sparkly snowbank. It’s the kind of craft that brings so much joy, but is totally doable using simple supplies.
Both kids and adults will love making their own mini snowman and giving it a one-of-a-kind look. This mason jar craft is an easy seasonal activity for classrooms or at home, and the finished snowman habitat looks adorable displayed on a shelf, desk, or windowsill. So let’s get started!
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How to Make a Snowman in a Jar
Materials:
- Styrofoam ball(s)
- White glue
- Fake snow
- Twigs
- Snowman parts (nose and hat)
- Safety eyes
- Green satin ribbon (or other colour)
- Large mason jar (32 ounce)
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Cut the snowball pieces
- To make your snowman you’ll need 3 Styrofoam balls for the body, and 1 larger one for the base.(If you can find 3 different sizes for the snowman, that’s even better, but we made it work with 2 different sizes.)
- Cut a tiny sliver off the bottom of the head, using a craft knife.
- Then cut small pieces off the top and bottom of both body pieces.
- Cut the large ball in half. Then cut a flat section about 1/2 inch tall. This will be the snowman’s base, to help him stay standing.
Step 3: Build the snowman and add snow
- Add hot glue to one of the body pieces, on one of the cut sections.
- Place the ball onto the center of the base.
- Glue on the second body piece, and then attach the head.
- Add a generous amount of white glue to the snowman.
- Use a paintbrush to spread out the glue evenly.
- Sprinkle the snowman with fake snow. Allow to dry.
Step 4: Decorate the snowman
- Cut 2 twigs, each about 3 inches long, for the snowman’s arms.
- To connect all of the pieces you’ll first want to use a toothpick to create a clean hole in the Styrofoam.Go piece by piece so you don’t lose where you made the hole. Here we’re making a hole for one of the arm pieces.
- Stick the twig into the hole you made, at an angle, so it points upwards. Then repeat on the opposite side.
- For the snowman’s nose we’re using a carrot shaped piece that came in a snowman kit.
- Then for the snowman’s eyes and buttons we’re using the front parts of safety eyes.
- Use the same toothpick trick to make holes and then attach the nose to the center of the face. Add the eyes above the nose, and the buttons in a row on the body sections.
- We’re also using a hat from a snowman kit. Add hot glue around the bottom of the brim.
- Then set the hat on top of the snowman’s head. Make it nice and straight, or place it at a cute angle.
- For the snowman’s scarf, cut a piece of ribbon about 6 inches long. You’ll cut it shorter later, but this makes it easier to wrap around the snowman.
- Wrap the ribbon around the snowman’s neck and then add a small dot of hot glue
- Connect the other piece of the scarf into the glue and then cut it to whatever length you’d like.
Step 5: Place the snowman in his jar
- For the snowman’s habitat we’re using a 32 ounce mason jar.
- Slowly lower the snowman into the jar. You’ll need to be careful with the arms and bend them in a little as you do so.
- Mix about 2/3 cup Epsom salts with around 1/3 cup fake snow. It doesn’t have to be exact — just make it roughly 2 parts salt and 1 part snow.(You can also just use the fake snow, but the Epsom salts add a nice icy touch.)
- Spoon or pour the snow mixture into the jar. You can use a paintbrush to dust off the snowman’s hat if it gets too covered in snow.
- Then close the lid and your snowman in a jar is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- Cover the Styrofoam base: You can also glue fake snow around the bottom so no plain foam ever peeks through.
- No Styrofoam balls? No problem! You can make the snowman’s “snowballs” using air-dry clay or polymer clay instead.
- Size does matter: Aim for a snowman that’s under 5 inches tall (including the base) so it sits nicely inside the jar. With arms, keep it under 3 inches wide, or it can bump the sides and be tricky to place.
What type of glue should I use to make my snowman in a jar?
Hot glue works really well because it holds the pieces together immediately. We also used white school glue to attach the “snow” to the Styrofoam balls.
In place of hot glue, tacky glue also works, but it needs more drying time. If you go this route, insert toothpicks between the Styrofoam balls to help hold everything steady while the glue dries.
What can I use as fake snow in the jar?
We used a mix of Epsom salt and iridescent faux snow for a sparkly “fresh snow” look. You can also use Epsom salt on its own — and if the jar stays sealed, it keeps that icy, crystal look.
If you don’t have those, here are some other fun options:
- Shredded paper or white Easter grass
- Baking soda (for a fine “powder snow” look)
- Cotton balls pulled into wisps
- Poly-fil stuffing
- Yarn or felt scraps (snipped small)
What can I use to decorate my snowman in a jar?
If you don’t have the snowman parts we used, you can totally DIY them! Here are some fun ideas…
Hat:
- use black cardstock or craft foam to make your own
- sculpt one from polymer clay
Nose:
- use an orange pipe cleaner
- orange pom pom (trim it to more of a triangle shape, if you’d like)
- sculpt a little carrot shape from polymer clay
Eyes & Buttons:
- use a one-hole punch to make circles from black craft foam
- glue on beads
- use real buttons
- cut from black felt
Scarf:
- twist a pipe cleaner around
- cut a scrap of fabric or felt
- use macrame cord or twine
- make a simple crochet chain with yarn
There’s something so satisfying about sealing up this tiny winter scene and knowing it’ll stay just like that — neat, cheerful, and ready whenever you need a little seasonal mood boost. It’s a craft that’s fun and calming while you’re making it, and it gives your space a cozy feeling afterward.
If you want to style this pet snowman as part of your seasonal decor, try setting the jar on a tray with a couple of books, a small pine sprig, and a soft string of fairy lights. It turns the simple craft into a winter vignette that feels festive without being a complicated decorating project.
Here’s even more snowman craft ideas:
Ping Pong Ball Snowman Tealights
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72 cute and fun crafts that kids and parents alike can enjoy. All with as little mess as possible!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
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