Crafting ideas: Glitter inspiration

If you’re as addicted to anything sparkly as I am, then you’re going to love these glitter-inspired crafting ideas. But first things first, you have to know your glitter.

Fine glitter: Fine glitter is much better for decorating clothing or scrapbooking. The texture gives you more precise control.

Coarse glitter: Thick, coarse glitter is better for enhancing home decor items like candlesticks, wine glasses or mason jars. You’ll end up with a more dramatic effect.

Alright, now try your hand at any (or all) of these shimmering craft projects:

Adorn wine glasses: Do you frequently entertain? If so, consider adding some shine to your wine glasses. You can use different colored glitter on each glass so that guests can easily tell them apart. Here’s how to do it:

1. Cover the base and stem of your wine glass with Mod Podge (this stuff should be in every crafter’s arsenal).
2. Hold your wine glass over a large bowl, and sprinkle on the glitter, making sure to shake off the excess when you’re done. If you need more glitter, reuse the stuff that fell into the bowl.
3. Allow about 30 minutes for the glasses to dry.
4. Finally, spritz a light, clear coat of Krylon spray to set in the color.
5. Let dry overnight.

Enhance cards: Glitter only enhances well wishes in birthday cards. But I’m pretty sure nobody appreciates loose glitter falling out of card (and sticking to absolutely everything) when they open it up. Instead, use some basic craft glue and fine glitter to create a sparkly border on the envelope or adhere some sparkles to the front of the card. You can also line the inside of your envelope with some shimmer.

Make a paper lantern shine: Paper lanterns are a must-have for your patio. They provide just the perfect amount of warm light to keep your party going into the late evening. Give your white paper lanterns a special touch by adding some glitter. The process is simple:

1. Apply a light coat of spray adhesive onto your lantern.
2. Add handfuls of glitter to the surface, letting the excess fall onto a drop cloth below.
3. Repeat until you achieve the desired look.

Update a mason jar: Mason jars are essential for the home. You can fill them with flowers to make a quick and easy dinner table centerpiece, or you can use them to store spices and label the lids for a simple way to organize your kitchen seasonings. Draw even more attention to these rustic decor pieces with a bit of glitter.

1. Choose whether you would like to leave your mason jar clear or paint it a different color. If you do opt for color, you’ll want to paint before adding glitter. Select a hue that complements the color of your shimmer.
2. Apply Mod Podge to areas you plan on covering with glitter, like the inside or the bottom outside half of the jar.
3. Top with glitter, shake off the excess and let dry. You can use this sparkling mason jar as a flower vase, a container for your office supplies, or a storage unit for your toothbrushes in the bathroom.

Create glitter magnets: The only two magnets I had on my fridge were from my dentist and a pizza delivery service. Sure, they worked, but they certainly didn’t enhance the appearance of my kitchen. I decided to create my own glitter magnets instead.

1. Purchase a few plain, small magnets from your local craft store.
2. Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to the surface of the magnets and sprinkle different colored glitter on each magnet.
3. Shake off the excess glitter and let the magnets dry. You now have an adorable way to display to-do lists, photos and holiday cards.