Keep Fall Around a Little Longer
There’s something magical about a crisp fall walk with little ones: crunchy leaves on the ground, pockets full of treasures, and that golden autumn light. This DIY autumn snow globe turns all of those little treasures into a keepsake you can shake again and again.
It starts outdoors, comes together at the kitchen table, and ends with a swirling mini fall scene your kids made with their own hands. It’s part nature walk, part fine motor practice, and all cozy.
What You’ll Need
- Mason jar with lid
- Mini leaf hole punchers
- Fall leaves (gathered on your walk!)
- A small twig for your “tree”
- Hot glue gun
- Distilled water
- Vegetable glycerin
- Glitter (optional)
How to Make It
- Go on a fall walk. Gather a pile of colorful leaves together. Let the kids pick their favorites!
- Punch out mini leaves. Use the mini leaf punchers to make a bunch of tiny leaf shapes. Little hands get great fine motor practice here.
- Find the perfect twig. Head back out and choose a small twig to be your miniature tree.
- Glue the tree in place. Hot glue the twig to the inside of your mason jar lid. (Grown-ups, this step is yours.)
- Fill the jar. Fill your mason jar ¾ of the way with distilled water, then fill the rest of the way with vegetable glycerin.
- Add the leaves. Drop in your mini leaf cutouts, plus a sprinkle of glitter if you’d like!
- Seal and shake. Screw the lid on tight, flip it over, and give it a shake.
Tips for the Best Snow Globe
- Why glycerin? It thickens the water so your leaves drift slowly instead of sinking straight to the bottom. Want an even slower swirl? Add a little more.
- Let the glue cool fully before screwing the lid on, so your twig stays put.
- Seal it for little hands. Run a bead of hot glue around the inside of the lid threads before closing if your kids will be shaking it a lot.
And just like that, you have the perfect autumn snow globe to keep fall around a little longer 🤎
