Today’s thrift store makeover is something REALLY different for me! No painting involved and the only tool I used was my trusty hot glue gun! Around Christmas I saw some old gumball machines turned into cute snow globes. Then I saw one with succulents planted in it. So I thought I would mix the gumball machine trend with the fairy garden trend! All I needed was a gumball machine. I’ve NEVER seen one at a local thrift store but amazingly on my next thrifting trip to Goodwill, there it was! And only $2.99!
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The Rules:
- Upcycle an item(s) from a thrift store, resale store, or garage sale into a new piece of decor.
- There’s no monthly theme.
- There’s no budget to stick to.
Meet the Hosts
Amanda | The Kolb Corner Erlene | My Pinterventures Kim | Made in a Day
Dru | Polka Dot Poplars Maureen | Red Cottage Chronicles Pili | Sweet Things
Shirley | Intelligent Domestications Debra | Shoppe No. 5 Marie | DIY Adulation
Chelsea | The Johnsons Plus Dog Jes | My DIY Envy Ann | Duct Tape and Denim
Molly | Just a Little Creativity Ashley | 3 Little Greenwoods Kimm | Reinvented
Kim | Farmhouse Made Victoria | Dazzle While Frazzled Sara | Twelve on Main
Chelc | Inside the Fox Den Sue | A Purdy Little House Michelle | Our Crafty Mom
Sherry | Savvy Apron Jennifer and Vicki | 2 Bees in a Pod Lora | Craftivity Designs
Ali | Home Crafts By Ali Denise | My Thrifty House Colleen | Life on Kaydeross Creek
Toni | Small Home Soul Michelle | Michelle James Designs
Medina | Grillo Designs Karen | Dragonfly & Lily Pads
Make sure you follow our board on Pinterest for more upcycled decor inspiration!
Supplies for Gumball Machine Fairy Garden
- gumball machine – I found mine at Goodwill but there are LOTS on Amazon. I found this mini one for around $5.00.
- reindeer moss
- fairy garden miniatures – Again, there are LOTS of fairy garden sets on Amazon. Here’s the set I bought.
- detail glue gun & hot glue sticks
I had never seen the inside of a gumball machine so I thought I’d take a picture just in case you, like me, was wondering how to take it apart. That nut in the center screwed off and the gray plastic piece was holding the glass globe down. Once the nut was off everything easily came apart.
Glue the reindeer moss to the base, building up a little at the back.
Then play with the fairy garden miniatures until they’re where you want them.
Replace the glass globe and gray plastic piece, then screw the nut back on.
Once the top is screwed back on your simple gumball machine fairy garden is complete!
If you enjoyed this gumball machine makeover, here are a lot more projects for you by some of the best upcycling and repurposing bloggers online!
Thanks for reading.
‘Til the next project,
Ann @ Duct Tape and Denim
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Featured on: Crafty Moms Share, Earth Day Ideas.
Super cute idea and great upcycle! Visiting from Thrift Store Upcycle.
Oh my gosh. This is so stinkin’ cute! I have a red gumball machine that I decorate for the holidays and I may just have to pull it out for spring now. Love, love, love!
This is just too cute! Those little mushrooms and hedgehog are just adorable. What a great upcycle idea!
Oh my goodness! I love fairy gardens & in a gumball-that is so adorable!!
This is the cutest thing ever. I love miniatures and this one makes me smile. Lovely job and perfect for spring and summer decor.
This is super cute and very creative. All of these little fairy gardens are so fun but putting it in the gumball machine is so unique!!!
We’ve had one of these for a long time and I’ve never quite figured out what to do with it. I love this idea!
This is so sweet, Sam!!
This is so precious. What a great upcycle.
How cute and I can’t believe you found the machine for $5! I saw one not log ago and GW wanted a $20 for it. Great find and super cute vignette!
Kim
I saw another last week and it was $12.99. And not even as cute as this one!
Gosh Ann this is so cute! I love the little picket fence and those cute little mushrooms, you have started a new trend I’m sure!
Cutest gumball machine I’ve ever seen!
Oh my gosh I think fairy gardens are SO adorable! Love this idea! Now I must be on the lookout for a gumball machine 🙂
Could it get any cuter!!? First of all great score finding that gumball machine. I have never seen one in a thrift store in my area! But that fairy garden inside is adorable. Love it!
Thanks! I never had either. Then I saw ANOTHER one this week!
I love fairy gardens and this is such a cute idea. So creative and a brilliant way to repurpose a gumball machine
Oh so cute. Thank you for sharing your gumball machine fairy garden at the Snickerdoodle Create~Bake~Make link party!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful post at #OverTheMoon. I look forward to what you will share next week! Like someone in person today! We hope you’ll come back again next Sunday when we open our doors at 6:00 PM EST. Pinned and tweeted!
We’d love to have you share your post with us at #CCBG we pin all entries http://tryit-likeit.com/link-party-it