DIY Minion In A Jar Sand Art Craft For Kids

One thing about me…if my kids find something they love, I’m probably going to make every version of it I can think of. 😂 Years ago, that meant our house was overflowing with Minion crafts. We made treats, decorations, games, and this little Minion Mason Jar Craft quickly became one of our favorites. It sat on the kitchen windowsill for years and always made us smile.

When the newest Despicable Me movie came out, I decided it was time to give this old project a fresh update. Instead of tracing foam pieces like I did the first time around, I created a free printable Minion goggles template that makes this craft so much easier. I also swapped the colored sand for homemade colored rice. It’s less messy, inexpensive, and I actually like the finished look even better.

Of course, it wasn’t perfect on the first try! We actually made several batches before getting the colors just right. Our first yellow looked orange, and our first blue was much darker than we expected. After a little trial and error, we finally found a combination that produces bright Minion colors every time—and now you don’t have to waste supplies trying to figure it out yourself.

I honestly think this updated version is even easier than the original, and if you’re making these for a classroom, birthday party, or a group of kids, I think you’re going to love how much time the printable saves.

Why You’ll Love This Minion Mason Jar Craft

• Includes a free printable Minion goggles template
• Simple enough for elementary-aged kids
• Great for birthday parties and classrooms
• Uses inexpensive supplies
• Makes adorable bedroom decorations
• Easy to customize with one or two eyes
• Less messy than colored sand
• Great rainy-day activity

Download the Free Printable Minion Goggles

Skip tracing foam pieces by hand!

Simply print the free Minion goggle template, cut out the pieces, and glue them directly onto your mason jars. The printable includes both one-eyed and two-eyed goggles plus matching straps, making this version much faster than the original craft.

Grab the Minion Goggle Printable Here

Supplies You’ll Need

For the jars

• ½-pint mason jars with lids – purchase plastic mason jars to make this craft extra kid-friendly
• uncooked white rice
• large googly eyes (assorted sizes)
• glue stick
• black Sharpie
• black cord or yarn
• clear tape

For coloring the rice

• 2 cups uncooked white rice
• gallon-size zip-top bags
• parchment paper
• baking sheet
• white vinegar
• blue liquid food coloring
• Wilton Lemon Yellow Gel food coloring – this brand had the light yellow we were going after.

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How to Make Colored Rice for a Minion Mason Jar Craft

Making your own colored rice is surprisingly easy and only takes a few minutes.

Blue Rice

Mix together:

• 1 cup uncooked white rice
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon blue liquid food coloring

Seal the bag and shake until every grain is evenly coated.

Spread it onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and allow it to dry completely in the sun or overnight.

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Yellow Rice

For the yellow, we experimented quite a bit before finding the perfect color.

Instead of regular yellow liquid food coloring, we had much better luck using Wilton Lemon Yellow Gel. Simply dip a toothpick into the gel coloring and use only a small amount to coat the tip.

Mix with:

• 1 cup rice
• 1 teaspoon vinegar
• toothpick amount of Wilton Lemon Yellow Gel

The result is a much brighter Minion yellow.

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Melissa’s Rice Tips

• A little food coloring goes a long way.
• More vinegar creates brighter colors.
• Food coloring will stain hands and clothing while wet.
• Make extra blue rice—you’ll have plenty left for future sensory bins and crafts.

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How to Make a Minion Mason Jar Craft

Step 1

Color your rice using the instructions above and allow it to dry completely.

Quick Tip: If you want a lighter shade of rice, use less food coloring. To deepen the color, add more.

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Step 2

Print and cut out the free Minion goggles and straps.

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Step 3

Fill the bottom of each mason jar with blue rice to create the overalls.

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Step 4

Add yellow rice until the jar is full.

Quick Tip: The tighter you pack the rice, the less chance there is of the two colors mixing as the jar moves and tilts.

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Step 5

Seal the jar by screwing the metal lid back on

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Step 6

Glue the printable strap and goggles onto the jar.

Glue the googly eyes over the goggles.

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Step 7

If you are adding hair pieces, Tape or glue small pieces of black cord to the lid for Minion hair.

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Step 8

Draw a simple smile (or silly expression) with a black Sharpie.

You’re finished!

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Easy Ways to Customize Your Minions

Every Minion has its own personality!

Try making:

• one-eyed Minions
• two-eyed Minions
• smiling faces
• surprised faces
• crazy hair
• party favors with name tags
• classroom keepsakes

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Tips for Making the Best Minion Mason Jar Craft

• Let the rice dry completely before filling the jars.
• Use large googly eyes for the cutest look.
• Fill the blue rice first.
• Don’t overfill the jars so the lid closes easily.
• A glue stick works perfectly for attaching the printable.
• Keep extra colored rice for future crafts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use sand instead of rice?

Yes! This craft originally used colored sand, but we now prefer rice because it’s less messy, easier to color, and inexpensive.

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What size mason jars work best?

Half-pint mason jars are the perfect size for little hands and create adorable finished Minions.

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Can preschoolers make this?

Absolutely! Use plastic mason jars to make the craft. Adults can pre-cut the printable goggles, and younger children can enjoy filling the jars and decorating the faces.

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Can I make these for a Minion birthday party?

Yes! They’re wonderful party activities and double as take-home favors. Purchase plastic mason jars to make these extra kid-friendly.

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Do I have to use the printable goggles?

No. You can still trace and cut foam goggles by hand, but the printable makes the craft much quicker and easier.

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More Minion & Printable Crafts You’ll Love

• Ocean Cup Octopus Craft
• Nature Spotter Printable
• Camping Printables – like this lantern handprint printable craft
• Printable Activities for Kids
• Birthday Party Crafts – like these Olaf treat bags, DIY party poppers, or these Smurf toilet paper tube crafts
• Summer Crafts
• Sensory Bin Ideas

Thanks for stopping in!

~Melissa – KidFriendlyThingsToDo.com