How to Make glitter tumblers step by step guide with video and pictures
How to make glitter tumblers using epoxy or without using epoxy. Have you ever wondered how to make those beautiful glitter cups you see on Etsy selling for $50 and up? If you want in on the action it’s pretty easy.
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How to make a glitter tumbler
The hardest part about this process it the drying time. If you are impatient then this is not the project for you buddy.
Materials needed for glitter tumblers
- Stainless Steel Tumblers
- Epoxy
- Bottle warmer
- glitter
- gloves
- medicine cups
- tiny cups
- Spray paint
- Mod podge
- Adhesive stray
- Vinyl
- Painters tape
- Sandpaper
- Tumbler turner.
Step One
The first step is prepping your cup. The best way to prep your cup is by sanding it. When sanding your cup, sand in a circler motion. The reason why we sand that cup is to create a surface for the paint to stick on and you can coat your cup evenly.
You will need to be in an open area because of the paint fumes. I set a flattened cardboard box on top of our trashcan and sand my cups outside.
How To Spray paint your Tumbler
I normally start off with white paint as my base coat. Depending on your final outcome you could do an ombre or full-on color. Either way, it’s super cute. I prefer using the brand Rust-oleum, the colors are pretty and the paint goes on great.
Drying time between coats is 15 minutes. I normally put two coats on my tumblers as a base coat.
Pro Tip: When you are spray painting one color. Make sure you are about a foot away from the cup and with even sprays. Spray from top to the bottom of your tumbler. Make sure not to have any drips or runs. It’s best to start off lightly to more fuller coats of paint.
Step Two
Step two: is personal design. The possibilities are endless. There are so many different methods. In this post, I will be showing you how to make an ombre glitter cup.
- Storyboard
- Full color
- Hydro dip
- Smoke method
- (alcohol ink and wrap)
- rainbow glitter
- unicorn dreaming
- and a ton more (I will keep updating with more methods)
Step Three
Step 3: After your tumbler’s paint is completely dry. I’m talking about dry to the touch (Nothing will rub off, It’s on there “like white on rice”) You can now move on to preparing for GLITTER!!!!!
The first thing I do is spray my tumbler with some adhesive spray. I love using the Krylon brand “Spray Adhesive”. This stuff is good and did you know you can even restick your Cricut/Silhouette Mat with this?
The best method to spray adhesive on your tumbler is putting your hand in a plastic bag and fisting your cup and twisting your wrist while spraying your cup.
Step 4: Carefully take the bag off your hand and onto your turner and slowly start shaking your glitter onto your tumbler. The glitter I’m currently obsessed with is the “CHEAT’ glitter from a brand named “It’s pretty personal” Today I will be using a touch of gold and shattered glass.
How To Do The Ombre Method
The secret to doing the ombre method is starting at the bottom of your tumbler and the closer you get to the top of the cup the farther you are from the cup. Here’s a video for reference.
How to use epoxy
Working with epoxy is a fun process. The possibilities are endless once you master it.
Pro tip: I love using a baby bottle warmer to loosen up the epoxy. This method makes less bubbles.
You must do one part equal to the other. So that means you have to do the correct measurement. So if you use 2ml of part “A” you must use 2ml of part “B”. So you won’t have any surprises or heartaches of making the perfect project just to strip it down and start over again.
Step one: Prep time is important. You need all your supplies in one room because the epoxy will get “hard” on you. Basically cure on you.
You will need a measuring cup, gloves, popsicle sticks, the little mouthwash cups (i get mines from dollar tree)
I normally warm my part A and Part B with a baby bottle warmer for about 2 minutes…..do not boil it. You want it lukewarm, not fresh off the barbecue grill hot.
So take two medicine measuring cups and pour
How much epoxy should I use?
One full coat I use about 3ml. But this is all on preference and project. If you have a glitter cup it may take a lot more (4ml) to get a good first coat. Stir your mixer, if you let it sit then it will try to cure. Now the countdown begins you will have a window of time to get your epoxy on your tumbler.
Just remember not to use too much. a little goes a long way and you will have to do multiple coats to make it look cute and professional looking
Next pour both Part A and Part B into one mouthwash cup. take your little mouthwash cups and popsicle sticks and stir again.
Remember there is a limit on time.
Your cup should be on your turner on a good speed….its all preference. I use the max speed, I’m not sure why or if it makes a big difference but I like it lol.
To get an even layer on your tumbler use a heat gun or old hair dry on high heat. I’m not judging you. Make sure you are a foot away or you will have epoxy flying around everywhere.
Let your cup spin for 8 hours to cure completely.
How to fix Epoxy Mistakes
Normally, before the epoxy dries completely, use a heat gun or blow dryer to loosen up the epoxy and smooth over it. But to be honest I was a little loss answering this question because Y’all know I can go on forever. I asked my email list and answered a few common questions.
Gloria asked: “What if it dropped off of the turner and now I have dog fur on it.”
If the design is messed up then strip it and start over. If It’s minor, then wait to the epoxy dry, Sand your tumbler down and get as much as you can off it. Last step, laying the second coat of epoxy.
Kia asked: No matter, what I do. I see bubbles on my cup and some spots are covered and some aren’t.
If the epoxy hasn’t fully cured then you could use a heat gun to smooth out the bubbles or missing uncovered spots on your tumbler. But the best way to prevent this is by using the baby bottle warmer to solve this problem.
Kelsey: My epoxy won’t dry… I mean it’s been spinning for fucking ever. What am I doing wrong? I hate working with epoxy. I just can’t get it!!!!!
On my first epoxy project, I made this mistake and didn’t measure my project.
But now…baaaaaaabbbbby I’m eyeing my measurement cup-like
If it’s dried completely and fully cured then you will have to re-sand it and re epoxy it for a second coat.
If all hope is lost then you can strip the cup completely and restart your project. The cheapest and fastest way to strip your unsavable Epoxy projects.
How To Strip Your Epoxy Projects
There are a number of ways to strip your epoxy projects. Below are a number of products that can help you strip your epoxy projects.
- Acetone epoxy remover
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