Vintage Gumball Machine Makeover

This post is sponsored by Goodwill Industries. As always, all opinions are my own.

#GoodwillDIY #ShopGoodwill

Transform a thrifted Vintage Gumball Machine into a a custom piece of decor!

Hunting for treasures at Goodwill® has become a favorite pastime for me and my husband. We're always looking for vintage items, books to fill the classroom library, and finding average items to transform into custom treasures that will be loved for years! I could spend hours perusing through the store, adding items in my cart that I can upcycle into something fabulous.

Around the holidays, I will often hit my local Goodwill to find unique items to customize for those on my shopping list. There are so many treasures that can be crafted from your Goodwill finds! Luckily, affordable and meaningful options are out there. When you create holiday crafts and gifts from items purchased at Goodwill, you create job opportunities and training in local communities. Did you know that every 23 seconds on business days, someone gets a job through the help of Goodwill? It's pretty awesome to help create jobs in your local community when you shop and/or donate stuff to Goodwill.

Just this past week as we were scouring the store, the light shone down and we heard the angels singing when we found this shiny, red 1985 gumball machine! I've wanted a vintage* gumball machine for years, so I might just keep this spectacular find as a gift to myself this Christmas...

*I am older than this machine, so I feel weird calling this "vintage".

The hardest part of the makeover is to decide on the color. Lots of people are adamant to keep the gumball machine in it's iconic red color. I don't have much red decor in my home, and especially in the craft room where the gumball machine is going to reside. I love gold and am slightly obsessive about glitter, so I decided to combine the two! I found some gold metallic and gold glitter spray paints to give the gumball machine a whole new look.

Carefully take the gumball machine apart. There are a lot of small pieces, so work in one area and take pictures as you disassemble if needed. Tape over any areas you don't want covered. To save on glitter spray paint and to get a nice color base, paint the machine lid and base with a metallic gold spray paint first. I highly recommend finding one that is both a paint AND primer for best coverage. Let each layer dry before adding another coat. To prevent drips, be sure to spray in even strokes and not hold the paint in one spot for too long.

Once the base coat dries, add a couple layers of glitter spray paint. This gives your project the glittery look without the mess of loose glitter!! If you're worried about any glitter coming off, you can add a coat of clear sealant over top. Let the gumball machine dry completely for a few hours, or overnight.

Once the gumball machine is dry and no longer tacky, you can reassemble the machine. Work slowly so that you don't forget any pieces. Clean the glass bowl well before putting in on the base. When you put the lid on top, don't put it on too tight or it could cause the glass bowl to shatter.

Technically a gumball machine should be filled to the top with gumballs, but you can fill it with anything you want! Since this is going in my craft room, I decided to put my washi tape collection inside instead! I've got tons of textures, colors, and patterns of washi tape that I think will look great on display.

I love, love, love how this makeover turned out!! My craft room is going to look so fun with this glittery gold gumball machine. To find your own treasures to transform, find a Goodwill location near you. You can also follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for more ideas and inspiration.

What has been your favorite Goodwill find?