THEMA: Glitter Jars

Glitter Jars 04 Jun 2013 18:49 #1

  • Lirael
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You'll need:
A Jar (I prefer small jars, but the tutorials I read all used larger jars)
Glitter (I used super fine stuff, but you can use whatever you want I imagine!)
Sparkles
Water (Hot preferered)
Glycerine (tiny amount)
Glitter glue
Ribbon (Optional)
Hot glue (Again, optional, but I recommend!)
  • Put some hot water in your jar (Don't fill it right up!)
  • Add some glitter glue (I used some blue for the blue one, and some clear/white for the whiter one).
  • Put the lid on, shake it up until you don't have clumps of glue.
  • Add glitter and shake again.
  • You'll probably have some float on the top, but I found it was much less using the glitter glue.
  • Add a few drops of Glycerine (Add more by eye until your glitter settles at the speed you want).
  • Add other sparkles. put lid on and shake again to make sure it still works like you want.
  • Top up with more water to the top (or just below).
  • Put lid on and I suggest using hot glue to go around the rim and seal it. Add some ribbon and stickers if you want to.

  • Beside
s just looking pretty, these jars are often recommended for those that suffer from things like depression and self harm. Why? Because they're a possible means of calming a person down. Also a lot of parents have used them for kids, again, to help them calm down. I haven't personally had any urges to self harm in a good while, but I'm more than happy to have one or two glittery things around my room in case I do. The idea is to shake the jar up, and then watch as all the glitter and sparkles settle.

I have found that the sparkles settle much faster than the glitter. Going to try again tomorrow (Try and get another jar or two from somewhere) with more glycerine and see how that works.
Anhang:
Up there just me and my shadow, no bass, no guitar, no tambourine. Then I found you like a melody, you were singin' in the same key as me. <3
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Glitter Jars 05 Jun 2013 07:10 #2

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Isn't that a snowglobe, basically? Or is there so much more glitter in such a jar?
So I would glue something to the bottom. ^^ I have a snowglobe with glitter and a faerie with a unicorn inside.
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Glitter Jars 05 Jun 2013 14:22 #3

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Basically yeah. There's a LOT more glitter in these, and I would have used more, but I ran out of the white. XD.
I'd like to do one with mini Loki and Thor from Marvel, but I can't get such things, which is sort of rubbish really.
Up there just me and my shadow, no bass, no guitar, no tambourine. Then I found you like a melody, you were singin' in the same key as me. <3
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Glitter Jars 05 Jun 2013 14:39 #4

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Maybe a small MLP would do? That would be cuter anyway. ^^

For a while I was pondering over Seekers snowglobes but I wasn't sure about the figurines inside. Modelling a tiny Giselda, making a mould and casting her wouldn't be a problem anymore. (Back then I would have used cement which worried me, these days I know how to cast resin which does not act like a sponge.) I'm not sure if the acrylics would stay on forever though. It would suck pretty much if the painted mini-Gisi sits in murky water one day because her colour went off in the water.
Making each figurine from FIMO in the right colours would be too much work and thus too expensive.
So the idea stayed an idea. I think I would have to make one and watch it for a year or so. *gg*
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Glitter Jars 05 Jun 2013 17:47 #5

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Oooh! That's an idea! I could get a pony, all I'd need would be a larger jar! Scratch that! Rainbow Dash would fit lovely in the larger jar I have here! Aww, I wanna do that now! Have to try and get my dad to take me to Hobbycraft 'cause I can't afford to go by bus again. =D And get another Rainbow, that's easy enough, I could do that next Wednesday.
Oh ephie, you have some wonderful ideas. <3
Up there just me and my shadow, no bass, no guitar, no tambourine. Then I found you like a melody, you were singin' in the same key as me. <3
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Glitter Jars 05 Jun 2013 17:48 #6

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You mean one of the large ponies with hair? I thought the smaller ones which are all plastic. An underwater pony would be a novel idea though!

Uhm, as we're speaking of glitter... I just attached some to a new project of mine and now it's everywhere. When you use glitter, do you use some kind of varnish or sealant on it? I just used thinned-down white glue (which is not that perfect, btw) and nothing on top of it so far.
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Glitter Jars 05 Jun 2013 17:55 #7

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To be fair, I tend to not use glitter if I can avoid it, my dad despises the stuff since he got a bit in his eye one time! But I did read that the girl who makes the bows that inspired mine, uses hair spray to seal glitter...

And nope, one of the little ones entirely made of plastic.
(mylittlewiki.org/wiki/File:G4PVRainbowDash.jpg)
Up there just me and my shadow, no bass, no guitar, no tambourine. Then I found you like a melody, you were singin' in the same key as me. <3
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Glitter Jars 05 Jun 2013 18:05 #8

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I don't use it much either since it's so messy but it fits this piece so well. Hair spray, eh. Then I'll try fixative.
Patrick always ends up with glitter in his hair although I'm long done when he comes home. ;D

Ah, yes, that's one of those I was thinking of. Didn't know you can buy them like this, I thought they might come in random bags as they're so much smaller than the others.
That will look grant in a glitter storm!
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Glitter Jars 05 Jun 2013 18:09 #9

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They generally do come in 'blind bags' but you can get Rainbow, Twilight, Apple Jack, Pinkie and Rarity separate in blister packs. Fluttershy's a rarity in herself and only available in the bags. >.<

Next project sorted. =)
Up there just me and my shadow, no bass, no guitar, no tambourine. Then I found you like a melody, you were singin' in the same key as me. <3
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Glitter Jars 05 Jun 2013 18:24 #10

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Can't wait to see the finished piece!

I haven't seen those all-plastic ponies in a store yet but I see them on Ebay so they must be available here too. ^^
If I would make one of those jars... I think I'd try to add a small tree made of silver wire and beads. Or brass wire, green wire - whichever is more resistant to water. Man, now you planted an idea in my head again. Thanks. *grumbles* :P
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Glitter Jars 06 Jun 2013 21:12 #11

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I bought another jar on Sunday and went ahead and used the Rainbow Dash I already had.

A few notes.
Hot glue doesn't work to hold figures down on the glass. I ended up using Araldite!
Also, the water ended up being cloudy.
On the whole I'm not exactly super pleased with the pony jar. And of course now I have to hope Tesco has a Rainbow Dash in next time I have money to go there.

Also about those pony's. I've only seen the ones in clear packaging in Tesco, and the 'blind bags' I've only seen in ONE toy store. And that was in Birmingham. No way I can afford to go to Birmingham just for some toys. =')

(Photo will follow later, I'm using the wrong computer right now)
Up there just me and my shadow, no bass, no guitar, no tambourine. Then I found you like a melody, you were singin' in the same key as me. <3
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Glitter Jars 06 Jun 2013 21:47 #12

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Well, I looked around for some snowglobe tutorials to see if I really need to buy glyzerine to make just one snowglobe.
A few of my findings:

- Instead of glyzerine washing-up liquid or baby oil can be used.
- Demineralized water will hold the longest and preferably it should be boiled before use.
- Sometimes the water seems to become cloudy right away no matter what you do, just try again then...
- Things that go in the water should be sparkling clean.
- If the jar is put upside down hot glue should be used generously around the rim to seal it.
- A little pedestral between the figure and the jar lid makes the figure stand out more (especially if it's small).

I want to make a snowglobe and told Patrick to tell me once one of his many sauces in a nice jar is empty. Not sure yet what I'll use in mine, it depends on the size. I will put it upside down and hide the lid with a ribbon or so.

What do you use the glitter glue for? Isn't glue... like bad? Granted, the glitter glue I once bought doesn't glue anything anyway, I'm happy if the glitter stays on the paper, at least. :P

So sad the MLP jar didn't work out like we imagined. :-\
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Glitter Jars 06 Jun 2013 22:08 #13

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The glue and glycerine both get mixed with the hot water. It helps to, uh... I said thicken, but my mum corrected me. Can't remember what her correction was.
Basically It helps to make the glitter settle slower. Or at least that's the idea.
I tried the washing up liquid, it worked, but also made the water cloudy... Hmm...

As you can see, I have mine up the right way. Since these things are in my bedroom I'd rather not increase the risk of glittery water going everywhere. But I still seal my lids with hot glue and a bit of ribbon. Except the Rainbow Dash one. I only glued that one. Couldn't find a ribbon that I thought would work. =)
Up there just me and my shadow, no bass, no guitar, no tambourine. Then I found you like a melody, you were singin' in the same key as me. <3
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Glitter Jars 06 Jun 2013 22:10 #14

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It kind of depends on the jar's bottom too, I guess. If there's a serial number or company name stamped into the glass I doubt I will want that side up, lol. We have a chocolate creme that comes in a very pretty glass with no markings but it only has a soft rubber lid. Of course there's always the empty FIMO snowglobe that can be bought but I didn't plan to spend that much money on a small fun project.

Ooooh, now I have an idea, after we talked about the mini bottles so much privately. My husband always has a cute mini bottle of sparkling wine on New Year's and I'm always sad to throw it away - that would make a pretty glitter jar. Even though I doubt I could put a figure in through the bottleneck, but maybe some bigger plastic beads for extra twirls. Or even FIMO fruits?!
New Year's is still a long time away though, so that calls for some patience. Darn.


He he he, I got my hubbie to buy a small wine bottle but before I use that I grabbed an empty bottle of salad dressing. Washed it well, boiled demineralized water and added glitter and some washing liquid.

So just to make sure I get that right - will adding glycerine/washing liquid make the glitter fall slower or quicker?

Now if I could just think of something to hang from the lid. I put in some large plastic "gems" that the glitter can land on but it's still a bit boring to me. I see you put some sequins into your jars, I think I'll do that too.
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Glitter Jars 06 Jun 2013 22:14 #15

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the glycerine is supposed to make it fall slower. =)
Actually the 'sequins' are nail art confetti. Me and my mum love the look of the stuff, but it just doesn't stay stuck to our nails because we end up picking them off.
Up there just me and my shadow, no bass, no guitar, no tambourine. Then I found you like a melody, you were singin' in the same key as me. <3
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Glitter Jars 06 Jun 2013 22:15 #16

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Okay, so a bit more washing-up liquid! My glitter falls a bit too fast.

He he, and my sequin boxes tend to spill open (at least the big ones) and make a mess in material box #3, so it serves them right to be drowned! Muhawhaw!
Still have to think of a way to prettify the bottleneck and lid when I'm done, then I can show a piccie too. Mine is blue though, like yours, so not that much different. The wine bottle one will be pink and peach though. ^^
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Glitter Jars 07 Jun 2013 09:03 #17

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Ooooh! Sounds perdy!
The more blue the better. XD I'm such a blue fiend it's crazy.
Up there just me and my shadow, no bass, no guitar, no tambourine. Then I found you like a melody, you were singin' in the same key as me. <3
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Glitter Jars 07 Jun 2013 09:21 #18

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I might have overdone it with the glitter jar. There's now a heap of sequins, 3 large plastic beads and 3 seashells in it. Quite a wild mix and to hide it I added more glitter, lol.
One thing I have to say though is that it really works. Okay, if I removed the junk that stands behind it the effect would be even better but it IS very calming to watch the glitter fall. Always loved snowballs anyway.
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Glitter Jars 11 Jun 2013 17:06 #19

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=D Maybe yours is better because it's a bigger jar!
There's always larger jars here, but I don't fancy risking one of them falling over and smashing in my room so I'll make do with the small ones I have.

I also don't remember uploading a photo of my Rainbow Dash jar. It's actually a little less cloudy now! But the photo is from just after I made it.

Oddly enough, the water in the Rainbow jar has actually cleared quite a lot now! I wonder why it was so cloudy to begin with...
Anhang:
Up there just me and my shadow, no bass, no guitar, no tambourine. Then I found you like a melody, you were singin' in the same key as me. <3
Letzte Änderung: 11 Jun 2013 17:07 von Lirael.
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Glitter Jars 11 Jun 2013 18:05 #20

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Hm.
I still have nothing to show, as I disassembled my first bottle again and am unhappy with the other one. Seems I'm just not happy if there isn't anything else than glitter inside. Since you said hot glue doesn't work on glass I have no idea how to fix things inside the bottle - apart from reaching through the tiny opening and the long way down.
By now I start to think that I would like the small bottle better if I just fill it with layers of glitter etc up to the brim, with no water, but I'll try to finish the blue bottle. Just have to get the seashells out somehow, I absolutely overdid it with the kind of items I threw in. Looks like a junkyard in there.
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Glitter Jars 11 Jun 2013 18:57 #21

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Two part glues are good. That's what I used for Rainbow in the end. The one I use was Araldite, it stinks, and takes about an hour two fully harden, but she hasn't budged inside the jar at all, and it's been shaken rather vigorously.
Up there just me and my shadow, no bass, no guitar, no tambourine. Then I found you like a melody, you were singin' in the same key as me. <3
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Glitter Jars 11 Jun 2013 23:37 #22

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The thing is I filled the tiny wine bottle with 3-4 layers of pink plastic pellets. It looked cute but after shaking it the glitter vanished under the pellets since they're lighter. I have no idea how to glue 30 or 40 of those things into place though. Of course I could try to make it into one solid item by pouring pva glue or transparent resin into the bottle - but if that doesn't stick to the bottle bottom I'll never get it out again, nor get it glued in place. :-\

Then I was close to putting a piece of whitened wood in (for some reason I imagine a tree in the water that the glitter can pearl off of) but thought about rotting just in time. Thought about making a tree from beads and wire too - easy to get in - but I'm not sure if the coated wire will last or if the tips will rust one day.

(originally posted 2 months later)

Oh well, here is my remade glitter jar. -_-

I started to dislike the large bottle of the first try so I snagged a tiny bourbon vanilla sauce flask from my hubbie and remade it. Thinking I was clever I made a groundcover from sand-coloured Fimo and anchored the seashell into it. Since the bottle is shaped so nicely I was convinced that it would stick to the bottom quite decently and not become loose. It looked soooo cute, I'm still sad I didn't take a photo of it!

Since I wasn't aware Fimo would shrink during the curing process I was in for a bad surprise when I added the glitter, water and two large plastic beads: The glitter ran behind the "sand" and now it's all around the bottle and it looks really messy. Another case of good idea, bad execution on my part. *sighs*
Strangely enough there's also glitter clinging to the glass from the inside now. It didn't do that before. Maybe it wasn't such a grand idea to reuse the glitter from the old bottle after letting it dry.

Still, I'll keep this one. Still have to seal the lid with some hot glue, then I'll go looking for a scrap of fabric and some ribbon to prettify the top.
Anhang:
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