DIY Sprinkles Ornaments
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Hey everyone! Ali here, today. You all know that I love to do craft projects with sprinkles. So I thought it would be fun to share with you a really fun project that I recently did on a craft-a-thon day with my mom — these DIY Sprinkles Ornaments!
I saw the idea for these from a photo once upon a time on Pinterest. And as you can see, they are pretty much as cute as can be. And it turns that they are also easy, relatively quick, and they are a perfect way to use up those leftover half containers of sprinkles! (See my examples below.) All you need to make them are some clear ornaments, varnish, sprinkles, and you’re good to go.
So check out this step-by-step photo tutorial below to learn how!
Alright, here goes…
First, gather up all of your supplies. (I almost just said “ingredients” – can you tell I’m a food blogger?) ? You will need (affiliate links):
- sprinkles (the more colorful, the better in my opinion!)
- varnish (any kind will work, it just needs to be clear)
- clear ornaments (I used glass, but the shatterproof might be a little safer – available at any craft store)
- hangers (I found these little gold hangers pictured above at Target, but you can get them anywhere or use string)
- optional: dixie cups (for draining the varnish) and ziplock bags or a funnel (for pouring the varnish and sprinkles)
A funnel might actually be easier for pouring the sprinkles and varnish, but I didn’t have one. So I went the ziplock (piping) bag route. Anything that you have on hand to help get the sprinkles and varnish inside the ornament opening will work!
Start by pouring a little bit of varnish into the ornament. (As you can see, I set the ornament on the dixie cup for stability while pouring.) You just need enough varnish to be able to coat the inside of the ornament, about 1 teaspoon or so.
Then take the ornament in your hand and slowly swirl the varnish around so that it covers the entire inside surface area of the ornament.
Then turn the ornament upside down and let it drain into the dixie cup for at least 30 minutes. (This was the easiest way I found to drain the excess varnish.)
Now resist the temptation to pour in the sprinkles any earlier than a half hour. I got a little excited and started early when the varnish was still a little too wet, and some of the sprinkles bled just a bit. Ideally, you want the varnish to be fairly dried and just a little bit sticky.
Once the ornaments are ready, use a funnel or your ziplock bags to pour the sprinkles into the ornament. You want just enough sprinkles to be able to cover the inside of the ornament. But if there are any extra sprinkles, you can just shake the excess into the opening of your next ornament. (Just place the openings next to one another and shake!)
Once the sprinkles are in, gently swirl them around to coat the inside…
And then place the topper back on, with your desired hanger. And voila!
I, of course, had to try these with all kinds of different sprinkles.
Every single one looked adorable!
The perfect “sweet” holiday decor. Perfect for gifting or adorning your own tree. Hope you enjoy!
I can’t remember which photo originally caught my eye on Pinterest, but I just found this one which I used as inspiration for the tutorial. It mostly focuses on paint-filled ornaments, which are also adorable. Check it out!
MUST MAKE! Ali, these are adorable! Without a doubt, they’d be my favorite ornament on the tree!
These are adorable! I love them all. I will be making these next year for sure! Pinned. Have a wonderful Christmas!
Blessings,
Nici
Oh my word this is ADORABLE!!! I want these. I have to have these! Its PERFECTION!!!
SO FLIPPIN CUTE!!! I’m not sure if I’ll get to it this year but I will definitely do this. THANK YOU for sharing!
So cute. Thank you for showing this. Next year I think I will be making some of these to give.
Oh wow these look so cool, will have to give them a try next year! Thanks for sharing a great idea.
love this idea. know now what I’ll making as gifts and for myself also.
Too cute! Wish I hadn’t just tossed all the leftover sprinkles from my annual cookie decorating party. Next year :)
So “sweet” and so easy!!! Thanks for this! Merry Christmas
This is so cool. Looks easy and fast. Those of us on a blimited budget this is a blessing
I am loving this! I turn my kitchen into a Cookie Baking Wonderland after Thanksgiving and can’t wait to add these to my decorations! Thanks for such a fun addition!
Super cute! Heaven knows I have plenty of sprinkles I could use for this!
I love these!! I have featured them on my Top 10 DIY Ornament Round up
I bought some of these for coworkers and filled with red hots! They are always stealing mine at work! Really looked pretty in the ornament.
Hi Ali I have been trying to make your sprinkle ornaments it is not working and I’m so frustrated. Do you have tips to help the sprinkles stick? I tried waiting 30 minutes and they wouldn’t stick so I tried adding more and waiting only 15 minutes and they still didn’t stick. In upset I really want this to work! Help!
Oh no! I’m so sorry that they’re not sticking. Hmmm, I don’t know why that would be — maybe different brands of varnish perform differently? Or maybe the sprinkles have some sort of coating on them? So sorry about that. Let me know how it turns out!
I couldn’t get mine to stick either. My polyurethane seems thinner than yours appears in pictures and by 30 min it was pretty much dry and nothing stuck. Even when I figured out the optimum time for the sprinkles to stick, the coating was still very patchy with big holes with no sprinkles. Guess I’ll have to try the same brand of varnish you used! Great tutorial, I just advice those who attempt it to not just try any old varnish.
I want to say thank you for another way to do the ornaments as the one I used called for the polyurethane in a tube and I have looked for months everywhere trying to find it and could not here in OK. I tried using Aleene’s clear tacky glue but you need to let it dry for at least an hour or the sprinkles bleed. I am going to get some varnish and see what happens.
What a cute idea! I’ll have to give this a try :)
Thanks Ashley! :)
Made these as a baby sprinkle favor for my daughter who is expecting a baby girl. The party is in December. I am not crafty but easy and adorable!!
Very cool, Patricia, and congratulations! :)
will white glue do the same thing????
We haven’t tried that, so we’re really not sure. The sprinkles might still stick to it but you also might see some of the white glue.
This is AMAZING! Anyone who knows me knows just how much I love anything with Christmas ornaments and how much I LOVE sprinkles. Yes, I still put them on my icecream (even at home). I have had in mind to make a “dessert” white Christmas tree for my dining room with candy and treat related ornaments. This will work perfectly!!! Can’t wait to make them! Thank you!
Hi Ali:
We (my wife and I) have been doing a Christmas craft every year with our son since he was born. We bring the creations to distribute to family members at Christmas gathering. This year, we happened upon your ornament project and this has been voted in as the craft for Christmas 2019.
A few questions regarding the varnish: I see that it is Rustoleum Polyurethan but I can’t tell if it is latex or oil based. Would this not make a difference in drying time?
Thanks,
Mark
I had to order my lacquer (& other supplies) online & when I received them to my dismay there was nothing on my bottle of Gloss Mod Podge saying that it was clear, white, or any other color. If I had been at the store picking it out myself perhaps I could have seen a bottle that was definitely clear to be able to buy it. Due to the late date & not being able to take the time to make an exchange I went ahead & used it, even though when I got the bottle open it was obviously white. I did the first ones I did as suggested, making sure that I waited 30 minutes to an hour to fill with the sprinkles. It didn’t look as cute as if the lacquer had been clear. I was disappointed so I rushed the next few & didn’t wait at all to pour in the sprinkles. Happily, I think they came out really cute❣️❣️❣️IF I can send a pic I will. sharsusi
I bought shatterproof ornaments and the varnish you have linked on amazon, but the varnish never really set to hold the sprinkles. Has anyone done this with shatterproof ornaments, and if so, what varnish did you use?
years behind, but loving these! I’m not very crafty, so been trying to figure out some cheap-but-personal gift ideas that might be in my wheelhouse, especially for several first-christmas-tree holidays. haven’t mastered the ziploc funnel, but at least sprinkles are easy to clean up, and turned out really cute — thanks for the idea!
These are charming! I love them all. I will definitely make it next year! Pinned. Have a wonderful Christmas. I turn my kitchen into a cookie-baking wonderland after Thanksgiving and can’t wait to add them to my decor. I tried to wait 30 minutes and they didn’t stick so I tried to add more and waited only 15 minutes and they still didn’t stick. I’m worried I want it to work.
Thank you very much, I just made these for co-workers and they absolutely loved them!!!! We always hav3 a Christmas in July party, and I always find a very bright colorful ornament to buy for everyone. This year I save a bunch of money by making these and I truly believe they were their favorite thus far!!!