Handmade ornaments are heartfelt and make amazing gifts. They can also be super fun and a great Christmas craft to make with kids and groups. This DIY Gumball Machine Ornament does not get any cuter! It reuses a K-Cup and a clear ornament! So easy and fun ornament craft to make and make a beautiful handmade gift!
I am always trying to look for ways to reuse things. It is no secret I am a coffee lover so I have a K-cup or two around the house! I am so happy to have upcycled an empty, cleaned-out K-cup into the perfect little base for this adorable gumball ornament. A few more craft supplies and you’re ready to go! You don’t need to be a seasoned crafter to make this fun ornament, let’s get started!
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Video Tutorial for Gumball Machine Ornament
If you prefer the step-by-step written tutorial with photos, please keep reading below! Here is a quick video on how to make this fun ornament for the holidays!
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DIY Gumball Machine Christmas Ornament Supplies:
- Empty, clean K-Cup – You can also use one of these tiny red solo cup shot glasses!
- Clear Plastic Ornament (if only making one ornament check your dollar store)
- Red Spray Paint (omit if using red solo shot glass)
- Black Sharpie
- Small, Multi-colored Pom Poms
- Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks – use a low temp glue gun as to not melt the plastic!
- Ornament hooks (if you hate those ties that come with the clear ornaments)
Cheryl’s Tip:
If you are making these with a group, it helps to have the K-cups already cleaned out and even pre-spray painted and ready to go. You can also use acrylic paint but it can sometimes look streaky.
How to Make a DIY Gumball Machine Ornament
First you will take the metal cap off of your clear ornament. I also removed the string hanger and the little springy wire thing that keeps the top on the ornament.
Next, you will spray paint both the metal topper and the K-cup with red spray paint.
*As I update this post to give you the most accurate information, I will share that I have seen tutorials using a small terracotta pot painted red, this is super cute but SUPER heavy for your tree branches!
Then apply a thick circle of glue onto the bottom of the ornament and glue the the ornament ball onto the flat area of the K-cup, which is actually the true bottom of the cup.
Be sure to center it as much as you can. It does not need to be perfect though!
Then you will take some multi-colored mini pom-poms and put some inside the ornament. (they are static-y!) I just tapped the ornament and the pompoms eventually all settled to the bottom of the ornament. I tried to use a tiny funnel but the poms just got stuck in it!
Replace the metal lid, springy wire thing, and the string hanger. You can choose to replace the string hanger with a pretty ribbon, bakers twine, a silver tinsel chenille stem, or simply an ornament hook to easily hang on your Christmas Tree.
Finally, using a black sharpie, draw on the candy door and a price (optional) onto the front of the gumball machine base.
Then you are left with an adorable DIY Gumball Machine Ornament to hang on your tree! If an adult does the spray painting and the hot gluing part, you can have kids do the rest!
This gumball machine Christmas tree ornament is a perfect neighbor gift, for bus drivers, grandparents, or anyone who loves a fun handmade ornament!
More Handmade Ornaments
You may particularly love these other dollar store ornaments: Hot Chocolate Ornament, Online shopping ornament, and puzzle piece ornaments. See all ornaments here.
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Comments & Reviews
Sharon Roberts says
Adorable! !
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Thank you so much Sharon!
Connie Hurst says
can you tell me what size ornaments you used. im having a hard time finding the right size
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Connie, I want to say it was about 2.5 inches. It came in a 2 pack from Dollar Tree.