I have a slight obsession with gumball machines. I especially love the red, shiny ones but any gumball machine will do! I found one at a thrift store a few years ago and gave it a bit of a makeover and a new top but after finding these amazing ways to repurpose a gumball machine, I’ll be scouring the thrift stores for more and using them for lots of things besides gum! Painted, transformed, repurposed, or upcycled, a gumball machine is the perfect whimsical decor in a home!
Have you got a gumball machine that’s ready for a new twist? Check out these unique and inspirational ideas!
Clever Ways to Upcycle a Gumball Machine
Give a gumball machine a coat of paint in any color and turn it into a trendy succulent planter.
Just add water {and a fish}! A gumball machine fish bowl is an amazing way to upcycle an old candy machine. The sealant is a critical part of this project but this is definitely one of the best repurposed projects I’ve seen!
Turn a gumball machine into a festive snow globe for some fabulous winter decor.
A gumball machine lamp is a unique and fun way to light up a room and would look especially cute in a playroom or child’s room.
Or you can take it a step further and transform a gumball machine into a chandelier.
A repurposed bird feeder made from a gumball machine might be my favorite. Adorable, right? I’m pretty sure the squirrels would have a great time with this one too!
Turn a gumball machine into a terrarium {with faux or real succulents} for a burst of color in your home. This is the perfect way to combine the succulent trend, the boho trend, and the upcycling trend all in one project!
A gumball machine makes an incredible yarn container. I’m completely smitten with this idea! It’s the perfect way to corral small balls of yarn!
Or you could use a gumball machine for other craft supply storage, like buttons or beads. Wouldn’t this be cute in a colorful craft room?
Have you done anything fun with a gumball machine? I’d love to hear your ideas and suggestions!
For more whimsical and colorful upcycled ideas, check out 10 ways to repurpose a globe.
Love it! Pinned and tweeted! Thank you so much for sharing this with us at our linky party. We hope to see you next Monday @ 7 because we can’t wait to see your new creations! Happy Wednesday! Lou Lou Girls
OMG I needed this post – I hav had a broken gum all machine in my classroom for YEARS and I jus couldn’t throw it away! Thanks for saving it from uncertain peril ;). Found you at the Fabulous party!
Putting a fish in an old gumball machine is cruel and your fish will die. All fish, even Betta, need air. The machine in the tutorial does not allow for enough oxygen to keep a fish alive AND is far too small a space, even for a Betta. Although people often put Goldfish and Betta fish in small, not aerated containers, they really need more space and a pump to “live comfortably.” Please, please research all pets, including fish and reptiles, before purchasing or adopting and please don’t spread harmful misinformation like this tutorial. Pet fish have a reputation for living only a short time, but this is largely due to their humans not researching their needs and putting them in containers that are too small and not oxygenated. This is an agonizing death for them. Imagine suffocating slowly or feeling your organs burst inside you, because they’ve grown too large for your tiny body that “only grows to the size of its container.” This is the fate of most pet fish.