Double Sparkle, No-Shed, Secret Glitter Technique

Glitter, sometimes referred to as "the herpes of craft supplies," gets a bad rap. A sparkly, spangled, bad rap. But if there was ever a time to flex your glitter muscles, it would be this time of year. Just as the holiday season is about to kick off. By using this technique, the initial glittering process is still messy (AND FUN) but the aftermath is much more tidy. You won't be finding glitter bits in your vacuum come St. Patrick's day. Also, this technique amps up your glitter to make it more sparkly then ever!

This cluster of thrift store candlesticks makes for a great centerpiece, but you can use this method on anything that will stand still; ornaments, knick-knacks, silk flowers...you name it. 

Want to see more? Let's get started!

*Materials*

Tacky Glue (the new always ready bottle is AWESOME)

Thrift store candlesticks (or any object worthy of glittering)

Large grain glitter

Fine grain Glitter

A disposable cup with water

Old paint brush (that you won't mind losing in the name of glitter)

Recommended: wax paper or freezer paper (to use as a no-stick drying surface)

Use paint brush to apply a layer of tacky glue all over the surface of your candlestick. 

Toss liberally in large grain glitter, catching excess on a tray or paper that can funnel the extra glitter back in the bottle. After everything is covered, allow to dry overnight.

Secret solution:In a disposable cup, mix together equal parts fine grain glitter, tacky glue, and water. Blend thoroughly using your brush or a plastic fork. 

Note: For me, a tablespoon (or so) of each of these items will provide enough secret solution to cover three candlesticks. Don't worry about exact measurements - eyeballing it is fine. 

Also note: To keep things simple for demonstration purposes, I used two shades of gold glitter. In most other circumstances, at this step, I will mix together 2-4 different kinds of fine grain glitter, just to add richness and depth. You really won't see the different colors in the end, it's the contrast between the little reflective bits that creates the extra sparkle. The light bounces off each spec of glitter slightly different, and the end result is impressive! My favorite all-purpose glitter combo: gold, copper, pink, and opalescent -- it looks great on top of any color glitter (PS: Tulip sells variety packs). 

Apply the mixture all over the surface of the candle. After a few hours it will be good to go! If you are working on an object that will be handled frequently (like a light switch or a piece of furniture) a second coat of the glitter solution is a good idea, but not required.  

The camera picks up on some of the difference, but you really need to see it in person. The after results reflect so much more light. The texture is amped up, and the detail of the under object comes through in a big way. Best of all, you can move it around the house, and store it for years, and no glitter will come off. It's stuck. BAM. It's not going anywhere!