DIY Gumball Machine Ornament Tutorial
Turn your tree into a candy lover’s dream! This DIY gumball machine ornament is cute, colorful, and crazy-easy to make with just a few supplies!
This DIY gumball machine ornament is a simple, creative craft that’s perfect for kids to make during the holidays!
Handmade Christmas ornaments make great gifts for the holiday season! There’s something magical about them — especially ones that look like they came straight out of Santa’s candy shop.
This Christmas gumball machine ornament DIY is one of those crafts that’s fun for both kids and grown-ups to make. Plus, it’s so stinkin’ cute on the tree!
You could include them with other candy-themed decor or add them to your Elf-themed tree. Candy is one of the essential food groups, after all!
Too busy to make this right away? Pin it for later! Pin this post to your favorite board on Pinterest and it will be there when you’re ready!
Why You’ll Love This Craft
This adorable craft checks all the boxes: simple, inexpensive, and oh-so-fun! You only need a few supplies (you probably already have most of them lying around), and the end result looks like it came straight out of a holiday boutique.
Whether you’re making ornaments for the classroom, decorating your own tree, or gifting them to friends, these little gumball machine ornaments bring smiles all around. It’s the kind of project that makes you feel like a crafting rockstar with minimal effort — my favorite combo!
This year I decided to host the Twelve Days of Christmas Crafts on Instagram and we had so much fun! We made a ton of crafts to go along with my DIY tree collar and holiday ribbon picks!
And this little gumball cutie totally stole the show. The boys had a blast adding theirs with “gumballs” and, naturally, argued over who could use the most. Classic.
Be sure to check out this wine cork garland, sweater ornament tutorial, clay farmhouse ornaments, and wood plank tree signs too!
This gumball ornament is so fun and whimsical, perfect for kids! They would be so much fun paired with a gift card and gifted to friends or family.
How to Make These DIY Ornaments
This post contains affiliate links.
Supplies
- Mini red solo cup – This forms the perfect base for your mini gumball machine.
- Clear plastic ball ornament – The “bubble” that holds your adorable faux gumballs.
- Red faux berries (12–20) – These shiny little gems look just like real candy gumballs!
- Hot glue gun – Every crafter needs this trusty tool.
- Baker’s twine – Adds a festive hanging loop that ties the whole look together.
- Black felt Sharpie – For drawing the cute little “door” at the bottom.
- Soda can pull tab – The clever finishing touch that makes it look like a real gumball dispenser.
Tip: You can totally swap out the berries for colorful pom poms or even real sprinkles sealed in resin if you’re feeling extra crafty!
Instructions
1. Cut the berries from a festive floral stem. I think that these shiny berries totally look like gumballs!
2. Half-fill the clear plastic ornament with your “gumballs.”
3. Use the black Sharpie marker to color in a “door” at the base of the cup.
4. Glue the soda can tab to the bottom of the cup to create the coin slot.
5. Attach the bottom of the clear ornament to the top of the cup using a dab of hot glue.
6. Finish it off with a loop of baker’s twine for hanging.
That’s it! You’ve got yourself a mini masterpiece to add to your Christmas tree or use as a gift embellishment.
Seriously, how darling are these gumball Christmas ornaments?! So simple and versatile, this ornament would make a great craft for kids to do at school.
Tips and Tricks
- If you’re crafting with kids, let them choose their colored “gumballs” for a personalized touch.
- Use different colored berries for more variety to your gumballs.
- Add glitter spray to your finished ornament for a sparkly, “fresh from the candy shop” look.
- Use a soda can pull tab from a festive holiday drink for an extra pop of color.
- Keep your glue gun on the low setting so you don’t end up with melty ornaments.
- Make a few extras and use them as gift toppers for teachers or coworkers.
- Store your finished ornaments in a small box so they don’t roll around and lose their shine.
Have you made a Christmas craft like this? More of our favorite DIY Christmas ornaments include: this reindeer ornament, these DIY wood slice ornaments, and this dried orange garland.
This post contains affiliate links.
More of My Crafting Essentials for Holiday Crafts
- We love using these Apple Barrel acrylic paints to add bright color to all of our projects.
- These paint brushes are ideal for most craft surfaces and a great price!
- This art supplies kit is our favorite because it has everything we needed to get started.
- This rolling storage cart helps to keep our craft supplies organized.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I use instead of faux berries?
You can use colorful pom poms, tiny craft beads, or even real sprinkles sealed in clear resin for a candy-inspired look.
How do I keep the glue from melting the ornament?
Use a low-temperature glue gun and small dabs of glue. It sticks perfectly without warping the plastic.
Can I use paint instead of a Sharpie?
Absolutely! Acrylic paint works great if you want a bolder, more defined “door.”
How long does it take to make one of these ornaments?
Each gumball ornament takes about 10 minutes from start to finish — perfect for a quick craft night!
Are these safe for kids to make?
Yes! Just supervise the hot glue step. The rest is totally kid-friendly and perfect for family crafting time.
These whimsical Christmas gumball machine ornaments are colorful, nostalgic, and just plain fun. Alright y’all, grab your glue gun and let’s make something merry and bright!
If you love this DIY gumball machine ornament tutorial, please give it a five-star review and help me share it on Facebook and Pinterest so that others can enjoy it too!
[mv_create key=”249″ layout=”hero” thumbnail=”https://homemadeheather.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_6789-scaled.jpg” title=”Holiday Crafts” type=”list”]
