DIY Snowman Craft from Thrift Store Dishes (Craft or Crap Challenge)

Is this thrift store flip “Craft” or “Crap”? Watch me transform old glass dishes and a vintage toothpick holder into a glowing crystal snowman for this fun DIY challenge!

Quick Answer: How do you make a snowman out of glass dishes?

You can create a “crystal” snowman in 3 steps:

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Stack: Glue 3 glass candle holders or bowls of varying sizes together (largest on bottom, smallest on top).
Hat: Glue a glass votive holder or vintage “glass top hat” to the very top.
Light: Place a battery-operated tealight inside the bottom glass piece to make the snowman glow.

Easy Snowman Craft Video

Here is another craft challenge. I’m teaming up with Mona from Craft Klatch. We are doing our craft challenge called “Craft or Crap.” You decide!

Welcome to another round of the Craft or Crap Challenge! I’m teaming up with my friend Mona from Craft Klatch to see who can turn thrift store finds into the best holiday decor.

Here are the rules for this challenge:

The craft must have a Christmas theme.
It must include a candle holder.
It must use something made of glass.

For my project, I went to the thrift store and found a treasure trove of clear glass candle holders and—best of all—a set of vintage glass top hats (which I later learned are actually toothpick holders!).

So, is this upcycled project a hit or a miss? You decide!

Materials Needed

I went to the thrift store and found a bunch of candle holders.

Glass Candle Holders: I used 3 different shapes/sizes for the body.
The “Hat”: I used a vintage glass top hat (Fenton glass toothpick holder), but you can use a simple glass votive holder flipped upside down.
Adhesive: E6000 Glue is essential for glass-on-glass bonding.
Lighting: Battery-operated tealights (White LED or Color-Changing).Cleaner: Rubbing alcohol to prep the glass.

How to Make a Glass Snowman

Step 1: Choose Your Glass (Thrift vs. Dollar Store)

Before you start gluing, you need to pick your glass. You can go two routes:

The “Uniform” Look: Buy 3 identical bowls from the Dollar Tree.
The “Scrappy” Look: Hunt for thrift store candle holders in different shapes and sizes.

mix and match options at thrift store for candle holders to make snowman crafts

other options for candle holders that you could use. You could go to the Dollar Store and get three of these same size candle holders or glass bowls.

My Strategy: I laid out all my glass pieces to see which ones stacked best. I ended up with enough pieces to make 5 different snowmen!

Tip: Try stacking them upside down or right-side up to see which shape looks more like a snowman body.

Step 2: Assemble the Body

I'm working with this little candle holder that I found at the thrift store. I'm placing some E6000 glue on the top where the opening is located.

I'm going to take a different sized candle holder and place it on top of the first candle holder.

Once you have your stack picked out, it’s time to glue.

Clean: Wipe all rims with rubbing alcohol.
Glue: Apply E6000 to the rim of the bottom piece.
Stack: Place the middle piece on top. Repeat for the head.

Here are three more candle holders. These candle holders are exactly the same.

I'm going to add some E6000 generously to the top of it. Again, the opening is on the top.

Note: You can see in the photos how I used different shapes. Some are curvy, and some are straight pillars.

Step 3: Choose & Attach the Hat

thrift store candle holder to use in a snowman craft

The hat is what gives the snowman his personality! I found these vintage glass top hats (actually toothpick holders!), but you have options.

Hat Ideas:

Vintage Glass: Look for unique shapes like I did.
Votive Holders: Flip a simple votive cup upside down.
Coasters: Glue a coaster to a votive to make a brim.
The Stocking Cap: I made a stocking cap out of a sock.

step of craft project with adhesive being placed on glass snowman hat

[Mention your Old Dishes lid idea here](Insert Gallery #3 Here: Hat Options + Gluing the Hat on the Snowman) (Note: Definitely add that Stocking Hat photo to this gallery if you can! It completes the “Options” set.)

How to Attach: Just like the body, apply a ring of E6000 to the top of the snowman’s head and press the hat firmly in place.

Step 4: Let it Cure

This is the hardest part—waiting! E6000 needs at least 24 hours to fully cure.

Don’t Touch: If you move them too soon, they will slide apart.
Tape Trick: If your glass is slippery, use a piece of blue painter’s tape to hold the stack straight while it dries.

Step 5: The Reveal (Light Them Up!)

battery operated tealight candle for snowman craft

battery operated white LED tealight candle for snowman craft

Now for the magic. Since we used clear glass, these snowmen light up beautifully!

set of three glass candle holder snowmen

set of three glass candle holder snowmen with color changing light, white LED light and battery operated tealight

Battery Tealights: Place one under the bottom dish.
Color Changing Lights: These are my favorite—they make the cut glass sparkle in pinks, blues, and greens.

How to Accessorize Your Glass Snowman

Want to dress him up? Here are a few easy ways to add personality:

The Face: Glue on black buttons, beads, or pom poms for “coal” eyes. Use a small orange felt triangle or polymer clay for a carrot nose.
The Scarf: Tie a scrap of plaid ribbon, yarn, or a strip of felt around the neck to hide the glue seam.
The Arms: Glue brown pipe cleaners or small twigs to the sides of the middle glass piece.
The “Melting” Look: For a fun preschool craft, have kids glue cotton balls onto black paper to make a “melting snowman” art piece to go with your glass decor.
Mini Ornaments: If you find vintage glass salt and pepper shakers, glue them together to make tiny snowman ornaments for your tree!

Frequently Asked Questions

What glue is best for glass-on-glass?

For this project, I highly recommend E6000. It is a strong, industrial-strength adhesive that dries clear and is waterproof. Hot glue will pop off the smooth glass surface too easily, especially if the snowman gets cold or bumped

Where did you find the glass top hats?

I found mine at a thrift store! After some research, I learned they are actually vintage Fenton Glass Toothpick Holders. If you can’t find those, a simple glass votive holder or a shot glass turned upside down works perfectly as a hat

How long does it take to dry?

E6000 starts to get tacky in about 2 minutes, sets in 10 minutes, but takes a full 24 to 72 hours to cure completely. I recommend letting your snowman sit undisturbed for at least 24 hours before moving him.

Can I use plastic bowls?

Yes! Dollar Tree sells clear plastic bowls that look like cut glass. If you use plastic, you can use a strong plastic bonding glue or even hot glue (since plastic is porous enough for it to grab), but E6000 still works best for longevity.

Easy Snowman Craft Video

The “Craft or Crap” Verdict?

Now it’s your turn to judge. Did I pass the challenge?

Mona’s Project: Be sure to hop on over to Mona from Craft Klatch’s project to see what she created! You get to decide: is it craft or crap? We want to know what you think of both!

[Click here to see Mona’s Dollar Tree Snowman]

Join the Fun: We hope you will participate in our Craft or Crap Challenge! If you do, we’d love to see your projects.

Share it on Instagram with the hashtag #craftorcrap and tag @craftklatch or @chascrazycreations.
Join and share it in our [Craft or Crap Facebook Group].

More Glass Snowman Options

I let the piece dry completely and LOVE him.

Materials needed:floral bud vase bowl,1 plug in light bulb,1 glove or mitten,sharpie markers

If you want to try different styles, check out these variations I’ve made:

Glass Candle Holder Snowman: The original version of this project. [Glass Candle Holder Snowman]
Frosted Snowman: Use frosted glass spray paint and add a face! See the tutorial: [Easy Snowman – Great Kids Craft Too!]
Glitter Snowman: Coat the inside with floor cleaner and glitter for a sparkly look. See the tutorial: [How To Make A Snowman Craft]
Old Dishes Guide: Want more ideas for mismatched china? Check out my guide on [What To Do with Old Dishes].

DIY Glass Snowman

Is this thrift store flip "Craft" or "Crap"? Watch me transform old glass dishes and a vintage toothpick holder into a glowing crystal snowman for this fun DIY challenge!

Active Time15

Curing Time1

Total Time1 15

Keyword: DIY snowman

Yield: 1 snowman

Cost: $3-10

Equipment

Rubbing Alcohol Cleaning
Paper Towels
Blue Painter's Tape (to hold glass in place)

Materials

3 Glass Candle Holders or Bowls Small, Medium, Large
1 Glass Votive Coaster, or Toothpick Holder (for the hat)
E6000 Adhesive
Battery-Operated Tealight
Optional: Buttons Ribbon, or Twigs for decor

Instructions

Prep: Clean all glass surfaces with rubbing alcohol to remove dust and oils.
Base: Apply a generous ring of E6000 glue to the top rim of the largest candle holder.
Body: Place the medium candle holder on top of the base. Repeat this step to add the smallest candle holder (the head) on top.
Hat: Apply glue to the rim of your “hat” piece (votive or toothpick holder) and center it on the snowman’s head.
Secure: If the glass is slippery, use strips of blue painter’s tape to hold the stack straight.
Cure: Let the snowman sit undisturbed for 24 hours.
Light: Place a battery-operated tealight under the base to light him up!

More Fun Snowman Craft Ideas

This charming snowman is a great way to repurpose toilet paper rolls, and it can be easily stored flat for next year's Christmas decor.

I made several candles as snowmen. I painted faces on all of them. They ranged from left to right a small jar candle, a large jar candle, a tall skinny candle, and an LED candle. I had some fabric so I cut out little pieces to add scarves to the candles and made a hat for the large candle, as well as a little coaster for the small candle.

Watch me tackle the Craft or Crap Challenge by transforming thrift store dishes into a charming snowman craft! Perfect for your holiday decor, see if this upcycled project is a hit or miss.

Want to see more craft or crap challenges?

And I hope this inspires you for repurposing and upcycling of your own for a fun winter craft.

15 Comments

Carol Kalar says:

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What a wonderful project to make! I’m in the process of making a Christmas Tree out of glass bowls & plates. Thank you for sharing this snowman project. I am going to find votive cups etc to make a snowman or two!! Thanks again.

1. Chas says:
  
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  So glad you liked it Carol, and I would love to see pictures of yours when they’re done.
  
  1. Carol Kalar says:
    
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    How can I post pictures of the Christmas tree & the Snowman that I made? I tried to past a copy of them in this reply but it would not work. I made the tree out of various dishes, the base of the tree is a candle holder, the top is the cover to a candy dish. The Snowman is 3 different candle holders, I decided to put Mod Podge on it then I sprinkled Epson salt on it, I think I’m going to go over it again so that it is covered more, the top hat is an ornament that I got at At Home Store. I’m pretty pleased with both items. Thank you for your inspiration. Carol Kalar
    
    1. Chas says:
      
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      Hi Carol, I can’t wait to see your pictures. You can email them to me at [email protected]
      
Kim says:

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How did you get the light inside? Thought you glued everything together.

1. Chas says:
  
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  The first candle holder was upside down allowing me to place a light inside.
  
Jan says:

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The hats appear to be made one of the many products made by Fenton. They made vases, candy bowls, lamps… some hand painted and more ornate than others. My mom had a milk glass Fenton hat. It just sat on a shelf next to a glass shoe.

1. Chas says:
  
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  Thank you for sharing
  
Karen says:

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Your hat was a toothpick holder.

1. Chas says:
  
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  Thank you for sharing
  
2. Doc's Mom says:
  
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  I remember my grandmother (passed in 1983 at 87) using one of these hats also using it for a toothpick holder. Hers was red graduating into orange. Lovely!
  
  1. Chas says:
    
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    Thank you so much and thanks for sharing!
    
SUSAN says:

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They are all great. I espically love the ones with the top hats. The color changing lights are my favorite.

1. Chas says:
  
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  Thank you so much for sharing!
  
Mona says:

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I absolutely LOVE the snowman, Chas! I have never seen one of those amazing hats! Definitely a CRAFT!

DIY Snowman Craft from Thrift Store Dishes (Craft or Crap Challenge)

Quick Answer: How do you make a snowman out of glass dishes?