I need you to know up front that this is not one of those projects where you put on a beautiful linen apron and measure things and transform a basic object into a magazine-worthy spread...
This is a “I found an old paintbrush and now it’s sparkly” situation.
Also, if you’ve been feeling a little crunchy creatively (not blocked, exactly, more like… everything feels like it should be important), this is the kind of easy craft idea for both adults and kids that helps without asking for a big emotional commitment. You’re basically just making art studio decor with the supplies you already have, and it’s weirdly satisfying.
The goal is a DIY glitter paintbrush that looks cute on the wall or just sitting in a jar on your desk (like it’s part of your studio aesthetic on purpose).
What you need (minimal, promise)
Grab an old brush you’re not precious about. Add any paint you have nearby (acrylic, leftover wall paint, whatever). Chunky loose glitter or confetti. Glue if you want to get fancy with rhinestones. And something to catch the glitter because otherwise you’ll be finding sparkle in your socks until 2047 (or maybe that's the goal, here?).
That’s it. That’s the whole supply list for this upcycle glitter craft.
Step-by-step:
-
Start by painting the bristles and even a bit of the handle. You can absolutely paint the whole thing if you want it to be color drenched (did you know that's trending right now?) or you can paint sporadically so it looks like it woke up like that.
Paint it whatever color makes you happy. One solid color is the easiest. Stripes are fun if you’re feeling chaotic. Either way, the important part is timing, because:
- You want to add glitter while the paint is still wet, because the wet paint is basically your glue. Hold the brush over scrap paper and sprinkle glitter directly onto the wet paint. Let it land where it lands. Tap off the extra. You remember doing this as a 4-year-old, I'm sure.
- If you want extra coverage, you can do a second round after it dries. Quick repaint, re-sprinkle, back to drying. This is a paintbrush DIY, not a test of your self-control, so do what you want.
Once it’s dry, you can stop there and it already looks SO CUTE. Or...
-
You can add embellishments. I’m talking rhinestones, little gems, whatever sparkly bits you have hiding in a drawer. Use tiny dots of glue, press them on, and then once again, let it dry like a responsible adult.
At this point, you’ve successfully upcycled a paintbrush into studio decor DIY that looks like it came from a very niche boutique where everything costs too much.
A couple little things that make it look intentional
If you want the finished glitter paintbrush to look less “I did this at midnight” and more “this is my art studio decor aesthetic,” pick one glitter color instead of mixing five.
And if you’re going to add gems, try starting with less than you think you want to use. Not because maximalism is wrong, but because a few well-placed details can look oddly fancy. Unless you want it to look like a disco wand. In which case, I support your path.
A little heartfelt note from me:
I will say: when everything feels like it needs to be productive, a small creative DIY project that’s purely for fun is a necessary creative reset. You get to finish something. Your space gets a little happier. And you’re reminded that making things can be simple again.
Also, you end up with a glitter paintbrush on your desk, and that’s honestly a strong argument by itself.
