You know that fake snow you can buy in a can? This is the better version — the one your kids make themselves. We mixed up a batch of blue-tinted baking soda "snow," spooned it into clear ornaments with glitter and tiny dried flowers, and ended up with little winter wonderlands we could hang on the tree.
My youngest was in charge of the glitter, which is a job she takes extremely seriously. My oldest arranged the dried flowers like a tiny florist. And the best part? The whole project cost me almost nothing because the baking soda and cornstarch were already sitting in my pantry, doing nothing, living their best boring lives.
Why You'll Love Making These
Clear fillable ornaments are basically tiny display cases, and kids love filling them like they're packing a treasure chest. There's no cutting, no hot glue, no waiting overnight — just mix, spoon, shake, and hang. The entire thing takes about twenty minutes, which is exactly the attention span I was working with that day.
They also look far fancier than they are. Blue mica snow, iridescent glitter, little white hearts and dried daisies sealed inside glass — people will assume you bought these at some artisan market.
Materials You'll Need
- 2 cups baking soda
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1 1/4 cups water
- Blue mica powder, acrylic paint, or food coloring
- Fine glitter (silver, blue, or iridescent)
- Small dried flowers or faux floral pieces
- Small heart-shaped cutouts (optional)
- Clear fillable ornaments
- Ribbon or string for hanging
- A bowl and spoon for mixing
- A small funnel or rolled paper cone (makes filling so much easier)
Step-by-Step Directions
- Mix the baking soda, cornstarch, and water in a bowl until you get a smooth, thick paste — like a wintery cake batter.
- Tint the mixture with blue mica powder, a drop of acrylic paint, or food coloring. A little goes a long way — aim for a soft icy blue.
- Pop the top off a clear fillable ornament. This is the fun part: use the funnel to spoon in your blue "snow" mixture until the ornament is about one-third full.
- Add a pinch of glitter, a few dried flowers, and a heart cutout or two. Layer them in — they peek through the glass beautifully.
- Add a little more snow mixture on top so everything sits nestled in, like a tiny scene frozen in winter.
- Snap the cap back on and thread ribbon through the loop.
- Let the ornaments sit undisturbed for a day so the mixture sets up inside. Then hang them and prepare for compliments.
The Learning Behind This Craft
Mixing the snow is a sneaky chemistry moment — the cornstarch thickens the water into a paste, which is a suspension kids can feel change under their spoons. And layering the fillings is pure design thinking: my kids rearranged their flowers three times to get them "just right," which is composition, whether they know it or not.
Tips If Things Go Sideways
Mixture too runny? Add more baking soda a spoonful at a time. Too thick to pour? A splash more water.
Flowers floating weirdly? That's fine — tuck them against the glass with a toothpick through the opening before you close it up.
Mixture leaking out of the cap? Let it set for a full 24 hours before hanging, and wipe the rim clean before snapping the top on.
Fun Variations to Try
- Go pink and gold instead of blue and silver for a totally different vibe.
- Add a sprinkle of cinnamon to the mixture for ornaments that smell like the holidays.
- Make a "night sky" version with dark blue tint and silver star cutouts.
- Fill one as a gift with a tiny rolled-up note tucked inside.
FAQs
Will the mixture dry out and crack inside?
It sets into a soft solid that holds its shape. Keep the ornaments indoors and they'll look good for seasons.
Can I use regular glitter?
Yes, but fine glitter looks best — the chunky stuff can clog the funnel. Iridescent glitter is the prettiest option if you can find it.
What if I don't have mica powder?
Blue food coloring or a drop of acrylic paint works just as well for tinting the snow.
Do the dried flowers get moldy inside?
Use fully dried flowers (not fresh ones) and make sure your mixture is thick, not watery. Ours have lasted two holiday seasons so far.
What ages is this good for?
This is a great all-ages craft. Toddlers can spoon and sprinkle with help; older kids can handle the whole thing start to finish.
