In this tutorial, I will show you how to make glitter tumblers with epoxy beginners. We will use epoxy, a glitter mix, and glassware to create these pretty tumblers.
Last Updated on March 11, 2024 by Tina Shao
You can make glitter tumblers and drinkware with the following supplies.
Tape off the top and bottom of your tumbler with painter’s tape. This will prevent any excess epoxy from leaking out of your tumbler, which makes cleanup much more accessible! But this is optional.
Spray your tumbler with a light coat of white or metallic silver spray paint before applying your glitter, then let it dry completely before moving on to step 3 (or if not using white, spray paint as usual).
If you add glitter later, use something non-glittery as a base coat (otherwise, it can look like glitter soup).
You can also use acrylic paints if you don’t have any spray paint available, but it’s best to use metallic finishes if possible because they look more like real silverware (and less like plastic).
Mix and add epoxy resin according to package instructions and fill up your tumbler about ¾ complete with polish before adding glitter (this will cause overflow when mixing in!).
Keep stirring until everything has been thoroughly dispersed throughout the liquid mixture, ensuring no air bubbles.
You can do this by hand or with a drill mixer attached to a stand or electric hand mixer (don’t use a food processor). Once mixed well, add the glitter to the mixture while constantly stirring until you achieve the desired color saturation.
Then, add any other decorative elements, such as vinyl decals or extra glitter, before coating with another layer of clear epoxy resin for durability.
Apply glitter generously to the tumbler and allow it to dry for at least 24 hours before using or giving it as a gift. You can leave the tumbler plain, but if you want some extra pizzazz, apply a vinyl decal of your choice over everything else!
The final coat of epoxy is applied to your project’s inside and outside. Make sure you use a generous amount to form a thick layer covering all parts of the tumbler.
Place the tumbler on a level surface and apply a thin coat of epoxy to the inside of the glass with a foam brush. Be sure to cover all areas, including the bottom and rim.
You will want to be careful not to get any epoxy on your hands, as it will take days to wear off (if at all), so wear protective gloves if possible.
After brushing on one layer of epoxy, allow it to dry for about 10 minutes before adding another coat; this helps prevent bubbles from forming between layers. Repeat this process until you have applied an additional three coats total (including Step 7), allowing each layer to dry before moving on to another one.
It’s best not to do anything else during this step because vibrating or bumping might create bubbles!
Once both sides have been thoroughly covered in epoxy and allowed to cure completely (30 minutes should be sufficient), it’s’ time to clean off any excess glue with tack cloths or old rags. Then remove all those sticky blue painter’s tape pieces and enjoy your beautiful new glitter tumbler!
Once finished with Step 8, clean away any streaks or residue left behind by your fingers or brushes using rubbing alcohol, soap, and water!
You can check this video to learn more about how to make glitter tumblers with epoxy:
There are a few different types of epoxy available on the market, and you’ll want to choose one that is clear and has a low viscosity. It will be easy to spread but not so thin that it drips off your glitter tumblers and leaves you with a mess.
Be sure you’re getting 100% pure epoxy resin—not some other mixture that includes other ingredients like paint thinner, which may not work as well for our project!
You’ll need a clear top coat to seal the finished tumblers. I recommend using nail polish or acrylic sealer. Nail polishes are typically thinner and easier to apply, while acrylics require more structural strength but more time and patience.
You can use any glitter you wish, but generally, the more sparkly you want your tumbler to be, the larger the pieces of glitter should be.
You will also want to consider whether or not you want iridescent glitter in your resin. If so, make sure it is an excellent type of iridescent glitter.
Iridescent glitters have been known to cause problems with curing because they float on top and don’t get entirely coated by epoxy resin. An excellent example would be using gold leaf flecks instead of flake pieces (which would sink).
Chunky glitters are best used with clear or white resin because they help reflect light into the piece after curing and give off a glow-from-within appearance where finer particles won’t show as much detail or sparkle as larger ones.
When you are making glitter tumblers with epoxy, here are some things you have to avoid:
If you have ever worked with epoxy, you know it’s a tricky substance. Depending on the materials involved, it can be messy and difficult to work with. However, there are ways around this if you’re willing to put in a little extra effort.
One of these methods is sanding down your glitter tumblers before applying the epoxy.
Usually, when people think of sanding something, they feel about smoothing out rough edges or surfaces so they’re smooth enough for painting or gluing. Sanding also helps fill in gaps between pieces and create an even surface.
The answer depends on the size of your tumbler and the type of epoxy you have. Generally, one coat is enough if you use a small tumbler (3-5 ounces). However, using a large or heavy tumbler may need two or even three coats!
If you are trying to determine how many coats are ideal for your project, experiment with different amounts until you achieve your desired results.
It’s better to use more than needed than too little; if there is too much epoxy left over after applying it all over your project, scrape off some excess with an old paintbrush and dispose of it properly by throwing it in an industrial waste bin outside.
I hope this article has helped show you how to make glitter tumblers with epoxy for beginners. I would love to hear about your experience with glitter tumblers and if you have any other tips or tricks.
Once you have added the glitter and epoxy, you want to give it at least 12 hours to dry completely. The longer you leave it, the better. You can also do this in a warm place if you like; this will speed up the drying process.
If you are looking for speedier results, there are ways of using a hair dryer on a low setting to get your tumblers ready as soon as possible!
Glitter tumblers are dishwasher-safe. Just make sure that you place the tumbler on the top shelf of the dishwasher, away from the heating element. This will ensure that the epoxy is not damaged during a wash cycle, and your glitter tumbler will last longer!
Yes, you can glitter acrylic tumblers. The best way to do it is to use epoxy, that’s made of plastic. This will prevent the epoxy from melting or cracking your tumbler.
But you will need to use a different epoxy than the one you would use for glass. You can get acrylic tumblers for a lot less than glass ones too. So that’s a bonus!
You can make glitter tumblers without epoxy. You can use glue instead of epoxy or acrylic paint instead of epoxy. You can use a plastic tumbler instead of a glass tumbler.
The most important thing to know is that you won’t get the same results as you would with epoxy, and your project may not look like what others have created with this technique–but if that’s okay for you, then go for it!
You can drink from the tumbler and use it for food storage. However, it would help if you didn’t use your tumbler for food storage for a few reasons:
If you want to use your food-grade tumbler for food storage, rinse it thoroughly with hot water and soap after each use. Use vinegar or an alcohol-based sanitizing solution to clean the inside of the tumbler (this will kill any bacteria that may have grown on it).
Casting resin is thicker and more durable than epoxy, which is ideal for making tumblers. Casting resin requires less preparation time, is easier to use and clean up after, and will not create fumes or cause irritation if it gets on your skin.
Because it’s so easy to use, casting resin is the best material for beginners. You can find it in various colors and finishes and even get premixed bottles from some manufacturers.
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