How to Seal Glitter

One of the easiest to use and most affordable mediums for sealing glitter is a decoupage medium. Mod Podge is a fantastic option that's available in craft stores. Decoupage mediums are thinner than white glue and include other qualities that make them wonderful for crafting! 

Some people wonder if you can make your own Mod Podge out of glue and water. In some cases this is a fine option that allows you to work with products you already have at home! Some people have used a diluted white glue and water combination to seal their glitter projects, and this works all right for kids projects especially. However, when it comes to sealing glitter on more decorative projects that you hope will stand the test of time, you want to buy a decoupage medium at the store. Decoupage mediums have built-in sealers that will help your project last longer than ordinary white glue would.

Love the pretty teacup pictured below? Get the tutorial.

For projects that already have glitter on them:

1. Before you begin, tap off any excess glitter.
2. Apply a coat of decoupage medium to the project with a foam brush.
3. Allow to dry.
4. Apply a second coat of decoupage medium to the project.
5. Wait 24 hours, and your glitter is sealed!

For sealing glitter on new projects:

One option for sealing glitter with a decoupage medium is by mixing glitter directly into the Mod Podge!

1. You can using any glitter thickness (chunky, fine, or ultra fine).
2. Mix glitter with Mod Podge and brush it on to your project like paint.
3. Allow to dry in between coats.
4. You can apply as many coats as you'd like to your project!
5. The best part? Your glitter is already mixed with your sealer, adding extra security for keeping that glitter from falling off your project!

Want an insanely sparkly, sealed, beautiful project? Mix glitter of your choosing with a decoupage medium that already has glitter in its formula!

Take your project to the next level:

1. Apply decoupage medium to a clear glass jar or bottle of your choosing. Sprinkle glitter on generously, and do this over a piece of paper so you can funnel the excess glitter back into the bottle. Allow to dry.
2. Mix a solution of glitter decoupage medium with glitter in the colors of your choice. That's colors, plural! Using multiple colors of glitter like gold and silver or gold and pink will really help the different colors pop, sparkle, and shine.
3. Apply a coat of this mixture all over the already-glittered glass bottle or jar.
4. Allow to dry completely. If desired, add another coat of this solution. You will have a perfectly glittery and perfectly sealed new project!

Wondering whether sealing a project with Mod Podge will dull the glitter is a fair concern. In fact, many of the glitter tutorials featured on FaveCrafts don't include a sealing step, likely for this reason! The short answer is: maybe. The thinner the coats of decoupage medium you use, the less likely you are to cloud up your fine work. The thicker the coats, the more likely you'll prevent your glitter from falling off the project, but you're also more likely to wind up with spots that aren't as shiny as the others.

Love these wine bottles? Watch the video tutorial.

1. If the item is small enough, use clear nail polish. Nail polish is highly glossy and works well if you're covering a small item.
2. For larger items or for more quickly sealing a small item, use a high gloss acrylic sealer! These sealers come as sprays and work fast. You're more likely to wind up with a crazy shiny and sparkly finished project!

We love gorgeous projects like this Light Up the Night Glitter Jar that feature adding glitter to the inside of the glass vessel. If you have the option of adding glitter to the inside of your project instead of the outside, you're less likely to get glitter all over the house. With this tutorial, this blogger doesn't even suggest sealing it! It's even fun to rotate the glass jar in your hands as you let the glitter work its way all over the inside of the project.

Love the way this jar looks? Get the tutorial.

When it comes to sealing glitter on fabric, your products are your most powerful tools. Using products from Tulip like beads in a bottle or fashion fabric paints are already formulated to stay on your fabric. Simply follow the directions printed on the packaging.

Make this stunning glitter jean jacket.

If you bought a glittery top or jacket and now the glitter is winding up all over your home, the best way to seal glitter on fabric is to use fabric glue.

1. Choose a glue specifically formulated for longevity like Aleene's OK To Wash-It Fabric Glue.
2. Depending on the glitter pattern you're sealing, use a fine brush to apply the glue in the thin layer to the product. 
3. Allow 24 hours to dry.

Hairspray is a fantastic option for sealing glitter on fabric! Not only is it an item you most likely already have around the house, but it is so easy to spray your item and go. Best of all, if you're worried about the hairspray gunking up your item, turning it yellow, or any number of other concerns, the hairspray can come out with a dry cleaning.

The steps are simply basic. Simply hold the can of hairspray approximately ten inches away from the fabric item in question. Spray a light layer over the glittered sections, and allow to try.

Sealing glitter on paper is perhaps the easiest to do compared to glass or fabric items that might experience more wear. Often you need to seal glitter on paper for scrapbook layouts or handmade cards which aren't handled quite as frequently or roughly, in general, as a fabric item you wear or a glass mug you drink out of.

In addition to using decoupage mediums with glitter in them already, you can seal glitter on paper in the following ways:

1. Use a spray sealer. You'll want to make sure your sealer is acid free if you're using it on any memory keeping items. Follow the directions printed on the can to seal.
2. Use a decoupage medium. As mentioned above, decoupage mediums can cause your glitter to look slightly cloudy if it's applied too thickly. Be careful when applying decoupage to your glittered products. Better to apply several thin layers than one thick layer that doesn't properly dry!