Originally costing only 1 penny for a gumball, the first Gumball Machine, in 1907, was an instant hit with both children and adults. As if the colorful balls contained inside that clear glass sphere weren’t exciting enough, the real thrill came from inserting your shiny penny into the slot, cranking the handle all the way around in a full circle, then opening the metal flap to discover which of those rainbow hued gumballs would drop into your hand!

Bubble gum has been a favorite treat for over a century and a gumball machine not only holds a nostalgic sentiment, but is an icon of anticipation guaranteed to make you smile.  Blowing bubbles has been a family amusement for decades and I love contests to see who can blow the biggest bubble before it pops!

If you’re a fan of our Gumball Machine Ornament, don’t forget to take a look at our candy and chocolate ornaments! We have a massive collection of personalized Christmas ornamnets to choose from. Many ornaments found in the food and drink category are Polish glass ornaments with fantastic details to resemble real-life food. The foody on your Christmas list is sure to appreciate their favorite snack memorialized on the tree!

Make A Nostalgic Gumball Machine Ornament

This inspiration caused me to wonder how I could make a gumball machine ornament that I could hang on my tree for the holidays. I created a glass ball ornament that is easy to make, a great project for kids, and you won’t have to clean up a sticky mess from these pom-pom gumballs!

Gumball Machine Supplies:

• Clear glass ball ornament (used 2 5/8”)
• Colorful pom-poms (used 10mm)
• Red solo cup shot glass
• Tin foil scrap
• Red paint
• Glue
• Ribbon
• Paint marker (optional)

Step 1: Remove the cap from the clear glass ball ornament and paint the outside of the cap with red paint.  Let it dry.

Step 2: While the paint is drying, turn the cup upside down and glue the glass ball to the top of the cup.

Note: If the bottom of your cup bows out a bit, it might be easier to use an Exacto blade or scissors to remove a circle of plastic from the bottom of the cup so that the ornament sits on the ridges.

Step 3: While the glue is drying, cut the tin foil into a small rectangle.  You may want to fold the tin foil over a few times to make it sturdy. Then glue ONLY THE TOP portion of the rectangle to the cup.  This will serve as the gumball machine flap.

Step 4: Once the glue is dry, feed the pom-poms into the top of the glass ball ornament.

Step 5: Once the paint is dry, replace the cap on the gumball machine.

Step 6: Tie a colorful ribbon to the top.  Optional: Using the paint marker, write 1 cent on the glass.  Let it dry completely.

Now you have your very own gumball machine ornament.  This is a great classroom project for kids or a fun family craft night.  If you want your gumball machine to be unique, get creative with colors and paint the cup a different color other than red.  Then make sure to paint the cap on the ornament to match!

If you love candy ornaments but aren’t interested in making a gumball machine, we have a wide variety of personalized candy ornaments that are sure to satisfy any sweet-tooth decorators on your shopping list!

CAN(DIY)