Did you catch our sweet treats-themed Christmas tree on the blog the other day?
If you didn’t see our whimsical, colorful treats tree, make sure to check it out right here.
I’ve gotta be honest — decorating that tree was an absolute blast for me. Sure, I like decorating with traditional red and green too, but there’s something about using an entire rainbow of colors that is so fun and cheerful and MERRY.
On a related note, I’m pretty sure the kids think our house is straight out of a scene in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
I’m absolutely okay with that.
I mean, who wouldn’t smile if they stepped into a candy-filled, colorful wonderland?!
Our playroom is now more magical than ever and the entire family is loving it!
The cutest DIY gumball machine ornaments … that the kids can help make
While I bought most of the ornaments on our candy-themed Christmas tree, I did make two types of DIY ornaments, and I want to share one of them with you today.
This DIY ornament is SO EASY.
Our cute little gumball machine ornaments took me about 10 minutes to make, and my two kiddos even helped me make them!
Aren’t they so fun?
The best part? Well, best parts, I should say — because there are two:
- This cute gumball ornament is (mostly) mess-free, and
- You can order everything you need to make it on Amazon
While I love crafts that don’t make a mess, what I love even more is when I don’t have to leave my house to get all the supplies I need for a DIY.
As someone juggling parenting with a full-time job and a side gig, that’s what we call WINNING.
Here’s everything you’ll need to make these adorable, simple ornaments.
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DIY gumball machine ornaments: What you’ll need
You don’t need many supplies to make these fun ornaments.
Here’s what I used for this project:
- Shatterproof clear round ornaments
- Small pom poms in any color your heart desires (I bought this pack from Amazon because I wanted to use ALL the colors)
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Small two-inch clay pots (I bought these pots, also from Amazon)
- Spray paint or acrylic paint in whatever color you want your gumball machine base to be (I used this spray paint from Rustoleum — this was the perfect shade of red)
Want to grab all the supplies to make your own gumball machine ornaments? Just click below!
DIY gumball machine ornaments: The (easy!) instructions
Now you’re ready to make your ornaments! There are exactly THREE steps. Three. That’s it.
The kids can even help with most of the process, depending on their age.
Here we go:
#1: Paint your pots. I used spray paint and did this step on my own (AKA without the kids standing under foot), but you can use acrylic paint that’s available at the craft store if you prefer. Personally, the spray paint was a faster option … and I love “quick and easy” so I took the spray paint route. Once they’re painted, let them dry according to the instructions on whatever paint you used. If your kids are a bit older and you decide to use acrylic craft paint, then maybe they can help with painting the pots.
#2: Stuff pom poms into your ball ornaments. Here’s the part that kids of all ages can help with! Open the tops of the clear ball ornaments and add your pom poms, and then put the tops back on. I chose a multicolored pack of pom poms but the beauty of these ornaments is that you can use whatever colors you’d like. Want a gumball machine with only pink and white gumballs? Go for it!
#3: Use your hot glue gun to glue the ball ornaments to the pots. Turn your painted pots upside down, place a few dabs of hot glue on the part of the pot that’s facing up, and then place the clear ball on top with the hook part facing up. Hold the ornament in place for a few seconds so the glue has a chance to dry. This step isn’t so kid-friendly, of course — but it’s quick and easy for an adult to do.
That’s it!
Now grab some ornament hooks and add those babies to your tree!
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Thanks, mama!
And happy crafting!
