Image by @ggoodiesshop from TeckWrap Craft Instagram Page
Who doesn’t like glitter? Working with glitter can be very fun, easy, and exciting. Though, it can take you days to finish making a single glitter tumbler. So, you need to bring a lot of patience to the table for this crafting project.
Design ideas are limitless for glitter tumblers. You can easily play around with colors and glitters. There are a lot of materials and tools that you will need for this crafting project. If you are excited, it is time to make some magic!
Why Use a Stainless Steel Tumbler as a DIY Glitter Tumbler?
Having a glittery and personalized tumbler can encourage hydration for yourself, your kids, your family members, and your friends. Kids, for instance, are notably more excited to drink water using their personalized glitter tumblers.
Stainless steel tumblers are easy to handle. You can easily spray paint all over it and it won’t absorb a lot of moisture. You can easily apply Mod Podge and epoxy to them. You can also apply a vinyl decal for a more personalized touch.
Easy and Complete Glitter Tumbler Tutorial
If this is your first time making glitter tumblers, here are the materials you will be needing:
Stainless steel tumbler
Spray paint
Painters tape
Fine glitter
Mod Podge
Silicone brushes
Clearcoat spray
Epoxy A and B
Disposable rubber gloves
Mixing cup
Two small measuring cups (ml)
Popsicle stick or stirrer
Adhesive vinyl
Cup turner machine
Sandpaper (180-220)
Plate or tray for catching drips
Step 1: Sealing the Tumbler
Rolls of adhesive painters tape
Image by MediaPhoto.org from Wikimedia Commons
Seal the entire top and entire bottom of the tumbler with painter's tape before starting to paint. You need to cover the top part of the tumbler to protect it because this is where you will be drinking from.
You have to be certain that the tape is sealed down properly to avoid the paint from penetrating the areas. Also, you may stuff the insides of your tumbler with paper towels. This helps prevent the paint from getting inside your tumbler.
It is recommended to spray paint your tumbler first before putting on glitter. A painted tumbler will make the glitter pop more. This helps you use less glitter. If there are spaces that don’t have glitter, it won’t be noticeable.
There are so many color options you can choose from for your tumbler. The matte spray paint finish will look good on your tumbler and will allow the glitter to outshine. Though, if you like to use a glossy finish that is up to you.
In choosing your paint color, it is best that you choose a color that matches the glitter you are going to use. It is preferable to paint your tumbler outdoors. The spray paint may dry up quickly when done outside.
When spray painting a tumbler, use a light hand to avoid having an uneven paint job or a tumbler with a lot of visible drips. If in case you get uneven paint or drips, don’t worry. After applying a coat of glitter and coats of epoxy resin, the uneven paint and drips may no longer be noticeable.
You can add glitter by using Mod Podge, spray adhesive, and Epoxy. It would make your work more efficient if can put your tumbler on a spinner or turner. Before you begin, you will need a printer paper, folded in the middle that will serve as a catcher for excess glitter. The middle fold will make it easier for you to return the excess glitter to its container.
Apply a thick and even layer of Mod Podge all over the tumbler. You have to be quick when adding the glitters. You don’t want the Mod Podge to dry out. It will be difficult for you to add the glitters if that happens.
When pouring the glitter, make sure that you get to pour it over all parts of the tumbler while the tumbler is rotating. Pour glitters as evenly as possible over the tumbler. If you find pouring glitter over your tumbler a bit awkward, you have the option to mix your glitter with epoxy for easier brush application.
When choosing glitters, it is advisable to use high-quality brands that are colored through and not just colored on the surface. Remember, you will be sanding your tumbler, so using high-quality glitters will help in the retention of the glitters’ shine after being sanded.
If in case, you ended up with a really bad and uneven glitter layer, you can let the tumbler dry overnight or at least for several hours before reapplying Mod Podge and glitter.
Step 4: Sealing With Coat Spray
If you are satisfied with the coat of glitter you have applied, you can now seal it using a coat spray. You may use the Krylon Clear Coat Spray. With just two coats of clear coat spray, you can even out your glitter.
The coat spray helps to hold all the glitter pieces together before you apply epoxy for the next step. Wait for the coat spray to completely dry before applying the epoxy.
Step 5: Re-Taping the Tumbler
Once the epoxy resin has completely dried and set, you can now remove the painter's tape at the top and bottom of the tumbler. Don’t set aside your painter's tape just yet. You need to replace the new painter's tape on the top and bottom of the epoxy tumbler.
When placing the new set of painter's tape, position them slightly away from the glitter. The small space between the painter's tape and the glitter will make room for the epoxy which will finally seal the glitter in place.
Choose an epoxy brand that is from a reputable manufacturer. Since the tumbler will be used often, the epoxy to use should be food-safe and approved by the FDA. The epoxy should come in both A and B parts. When working with epoxy, it is best if you wear gloves and work in a well-ventilated space.
Application instructions are available when you purchase epoxy. The general rule is to mix equal parts of A and B to activate the mixture. For instance, you will need to mix 5ml of epoxy A with 5ml of epoxy B for a 20 oz tumbler. If you are seeing bubbles while mixing, stir slowly.
The first step is you need to pour part A, the thicker mixture into two small empty plastic cups. Then, mix it with part B, the thinner mixture. Slowly stir the mixture together with a popsicle stick to avoid bubbles. Stir until the mixture looks clear.
Setting and Applying the Epoxy Tumbler Turner
Before you get all excited about making glitter tumblers, you first need to prepare your work area. Your workspace needs to be spacious and comfortable for you to work on. It should also be well-ventilated and close to an electrical outlet.
Most tumbler turners are adjustable to accommodate different tumbler sizes. Your tumbler turner needs to be set accurately for it to spin at the correct angle, and not off-center to avoid epoxy drips or uneven glitter application. If you don’t have a tumbler spinner, you may insert your hand inside the tumbler and physically turn the tumbler around.
While the epoxy tumbler turner is spinning slowly, you can begin to apply the epoxy using a silicone brush. Keep applying epoxy and smoothen it out until the tumbler is completely covered.
Let the tumbler spin for another 5-10 minutes. Within this time frame, carefully remove both top and bottom tapes while still wearing your gloves. Let it spin for another 6-8 hours.
You may still find the tumbler sticky even after allowing it to spin for 6-8 hours. Slowly, remove it from the spinner and let it dry for several hours until it is no longer sticky to touch. Once the tumbler is no longer sticky, you can start to sand it.
Sanding your tumbler may be a bit scary. You may ask yourself: “Why in the world would I want to turn my shiny and glittery tumbler into something so dull and full of scratches?” You will need 180-220 grit sandpaper. Sanding your tumbler will even out and smoothen your tumbler.
To wipe down the tumbler, you can use a cotton ball soaked with rubbing alcohol or a damp towel. After this step, you can add a vinyl design to your tumbler for added “wow” effect. You can check out Teckwrap Craft’s wide collection of adhesive vinyl to create your desired design.
Your tumbler looks fantastic! Is it ready for use? Not yet. There is still one more step before you can finally use your glitter tumbler, and that is sealing the vinyl with epoxy. For this final step, you need to redo what you have previously done.
You will need to tape the top and bottom parts of the tumbler with painter's tape. Attach the tumbler once again to the spinner and apply a mixture of epoxy. Let it spin for another 6-8 hours. This will definitely seal the vinyl on the tumbler.
You may remove the tumbler from the spinner. Leave the tumbler for several hours more for the epoxy to completely cure. Doing this step will transform your tumbler into a smooth and glittery cup permanently.
You now have your ready-to-use glitter tumbler! Hand washing your epoxy tumblers is recommended. Do not wash it with a dishwasher.
When working on your own glitter tumblers, a turner or spinner is essential. It would definitely be easier and more efficient if you have an electric cup or tumbler spinner for your crafting project. However, if a cup spinner is not available and this is your first DIY glitter tumbler project, you can try making your own manual hand cup turner.
You would need the following materials:
Carton box
Stamping punch
Long rod
Paint rollers
Paper towel or bubble wrap
Wax paper or paper plate
Make two round holes on two sides of the carton with the aid of a stamping punch. Attach paint rollers on both ends of a long rod. To secure the tumbler, you can wrap the paint roller with a paper towel or bubble wrap for a snug fit.
To balance the rod, you can put another stainless steel tumbler on the other end. Don’t forget to place a sheet of print paper, wax paper, or paper plate underneath your tumbler. This will collect all the excess glitter, Mod Podge, or epoxy that may fall off.
If you are using a manual cup turner, you need to be time conscious. You need to constantly turn your tumbler to avoid drips. When the drips are no longer frequent, you may rotate your cup every 3-5 minutes.
It can be very tiring to manually turn your tumbler every now and then. To make it a bit easier, you may turn your tumbler into phases or parts. Apply the Mod Podge only on a particular part of the tumbler. Then, pour your glitter evenly over this area.
You may then apply another layer of Mod Podge over another part of the tumbler and pour glitter there. Keep doing this until your tumbler is fully covered with glitter.
As soon as the epoxy has dried off for roughly 45 minutes, you may remove the painter's tape that covers the top and bottom parts of the tumbler. It is better if you can set an alarm for this. You wouldn’t want to struggle to remove the painter's tape from the tumbler.
Glitter is wonderful! However, it can be very messy to work with if you don’t know how to properly contain it. Whether you are a child using glitter for a school project, a first-timer crafter, or a professional, you need to practice and observe glitter containment.
Here are the basic guidelines in glitter containment:
Work in an area that is easy to clean.
Place your materials and tools on a hard and sturdy table. Avoid carpeted rooms or working outside.
Place newspapers or pieces of paper on top of your working table.
Seal your tumbler completely so that glitters don’t shed off from your tumbler.
Managing glitter can be quite challenging. No matter how many issues you may face, glitter will always look great in any crafting project! Aside from the containment recommendations above, you have the option to use glitter paint. It may not give you the same effect as poured-over glitter, but cleaning up is a lot easier and more manageable.
You have an option to mix glitter with epoxy and apply it directly to your tumbler. However, you will not be able to reuse the excess glitter. It is also possible that the glitter mixed with epoxy may not completely adhere to the tumbler or sparkle enough.
If in case you forgot to tape your tumbler and some epoxy or glitter managed to move into the inside of the tumbler, you can still do something to remove it. You may use acetone to remove displaced epoxy or glitter. Nail polish remover works well with stainless steel. You can apply a small amount of nail polish remover on a paper towel over the area with excess glitter.
Avoid the dishwasher at all costs. You may find it very convenient to load all used utensils inside the dishwasher. But, heat and abrasive water can damage your stainless steel tumbler. Hand wash your tumbler instead.
Don’t forget to use a cup spinner. Working on glitter tumblers requires that the tumbler is constantly spinning. If you don’t have an electric spinner, you may make a DIY manual hand spinner. Constant spinning makes the glitter tumbler smooth and glossy.
Don’t apply vinyl decals when the glitter is not sanded. Vinyl will not stick to rough surfaces. You may also experience picking up some glitter during transfers. It is best to smoothen out the tumbler before applying a vinyl decal.
Don’t hold back on using glitter. This is a glitter tumbler, so go wild and pour as much glitter as you can! Enjoy this fun process and you surely won’t regret how it’s going to turn out.
Tips on What You Can Do
Let your glitter tumbler dry out longer. Making a glitter tumbler is a long process. You need to be patient is drying out your tumbler. When you are in cooler climates, it is safe to let your tumbler dry out longer before moving to the next step.
Spray painting is helpful. Spray painting your tumbler is not necessary. However, tumblers that are painted will turn out looking better. You won’t be using so much glitter if the tumbler is painted.
No, glitter tumblers are not dishwasher safe. Stainless steel tumblers or insulated tumblers in themselves are not to be washed using dishwashers. They have a special inside coating that keeps cold beverages cool and hot beverages warm. It is best to wash them by hand.
Can You Glitter Acrylic Tumblers?
Yes, it is possible to glitter acrylic tumblers.
How Do You Get a Straight Line at the Top When Removing Painters Tape?
This can be a very tricky step and would require a lot of practice. To achieve a straight line, you can try pulling the tape upwards but slightly pulling towards the glitter part of the tumbler. Avoid pulling the tape all the way up for the epoxy may spread in that direction.
Can You Make Glitter Tumblers Without Epoxy?
Yes, it is possible to make glitter tumblers without epoxy. If epoxy is not available, you may use Mod Podge to seal the glitter and vinyl. It also holds up well. The notable difference between using Mod Podge and epoxy is that Mod Podge's end product is not as smooth as compared to epoxy.
Can Spray Adhesive Be Used Instead of Mod Podge?
If you don’t have enough time on your hands, you may use spray adhesive instead of Mod Podge if you want your project to dry quickly. The glitter sticks better and looks good.
What if You Don’t Have a Cup Turner?
If you don’t have a cup turner and you want to make glitter cups or tumblers, you will surely have a challenging time. It would really be easier for you if you have a cup turner. If you don’t have the budget for purchasing one, you can make a DIY cup turner.
Which Is Better to Use, Matte or Glossy Paint?
You may use both matte and glossy paint for your glitter tumbler project. Be experimental and play around with different kinds of paint even glitter spray paint.
TeckWrap Craft Glitter Adhesive Vinyl Roll in Black
(also available in Champagne pink, Cornflower blue, Carnation, Champagne gold, Silver, Magenta, Bright blue, Grape, Crimson, and many more)
Add Some Glitter!
Working on glitter tumblers can be difficult or challenging for many. Whether it be about the long waiting time, working with Mod Podge or epoxy, or not having a tumbler turner can discourage anyone from trying it.
Don’t feel discouraged when faced with challenges. Look at this project with optimism. Keep on trying and practicing. With the experiences and learnings along the way, you will eventually become a seasoned and versatile crafter!
Be experimental and explore different kinds of material that you can work with. Try it! Take the plunge and create your own glittery tumbler. It is a perfect gift idea for friends and family members.
If you are unsure about working with glitter, you can try TeckWrap Craft’s collection of glitter adhesive vinyl . With glitter adhesive vinyl, you don’t have to go through the long process of making glitter tumblers. You get the same quality for a shorter period of time.
Don’t forget to check out TeckWrap Craft’s collection of adhesive vinyl that you can use for your glitter tumbler project! All thanks to TeckWrap Craft for making your crafting life easier by creating glitter vinyl!
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