Easy Diy Gumball Machine Easter Candy Jar

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Transform your sweet treats into a show-stopping DIY gumball machine! A fun candy jar craft that doubles as cool Easter candy centerpieces! Plus, they make great gifts and let you showcase your favorite Easter candy in a jar!

3 homemade gumball machine candy jars made from terra cotta pots filled with easter candy on a white background

With Easter less than a week away, I’m sure all our minds are on chocolate, marshmallow goodies, and Jelly Beans! It’s time to finish prepping those Easter Baskets! But there is still time to put together a fun Easter Craft; that also makes a fantastic gift for teachers or grandparents! This way you can make their Easter brighter! Try making one of our Nestle Easter Candy filled mini Gumball machine Candy Jars! It is a lot of fun to make; and they really do make the best Easter candy jar! And just image how cute it will look on your child’s teacher’s desk filled with goodies! I am making these for the boy’s teachers for Easter gifts. Plus two others so we can keep one and give one to Grandma and Papa for Easter.

Gumball Machine Candy Jar Supplies

terra cotta pot, spray paint, acrylic paint, bubble bowl, E6000 glue and easter candy on a white background
  • 5.9″ Terra Cotta pot
  • 5.9″ terra cotta saucer
  • bubble bowl
  • wooden knob or drawer handle
  • Spray paint in color of your choice (Krylon Colormaster in Sea Glass and Gum Drop colors)
  • Acrylic paint for trimming (Apple Barrel 20360 Light Yellow)
  • E6000 glue
  • Festive Stickers (optional)
  • Spring or Easter Ribbon
  • Easter gift Tag
  • Your favorite Easter Candy – like jelly beans or mini chocolate eggs

Easter Candy Jar Instructions

Start by spray painting the Terra Cotta pot and saucer. I made multiple gumball candy dispenser machines so I alternated the colors to give variety.

Paint the Terra Cotta Pots

Spray the outside of the terra cotta pot and saucer the color you desire. After it dries apply a second coat. Then allow to thoroughly dry.

Two terra cotta pots and saucers upside down on newspaper being spray painted with lavender and spring green paint

I used a special spray paint that let me do the 2nd coat after 10 minutes. And it really helped to save on time.

Once the Pots are dry, flip the pots over and do the same for the inside. You can choose to keep the entire pot the same color, or you can alternate colors on the inside.

Two terra cotta pots and saucers on newspaper being spray painted with lavender and spring green paint

Allow the terra cotta pot and saucer to thoroughly dry.

Paint the trim and knobs.

I used a fun screw-on sponge brush found in the craft section of Walmart. It made the trim painting go much faster. I did a textured trim with the paint by blotting the paint on with the sponge. But it would also look great with a smooth trim painted on with a small paintbrush.

Yellow acrylic paint bottle with a sponge brush top next to terra cotta pots and white knobs

Allow all the trim and knobs to fully dry. Then apply a second coating if you wish.

Yellow acrylic paint bottle with a sponge brush top next to terra cotta pots and white knobs that are all painted with a yellow trim

You might even end up doing a 3rd coating if the spray-painted color comes through like it did on mine.

Glue the Candy Jars

Turn the terra cotta pot upside down and carefully glue the bubble bowl onto the under side with the E6000 glue. Make sure the opening of the bubble bowl is facing up so you can fill it with candy.

Turn the terra cotta sauce upside down and glue the knob or handle onto the back of the saucer. Allow the glue to thoroughly dry.

Do NOT glue the lid (Terra Cotta Saucer to the glass bowl.) This is the lid and you will simply have it resting on the top of the candy jar.

2 large and 2 small gumball machine candy dishes with painted terra cotta pots on a white background,

Decorate the Gumball Machine Candy Jars

Once the glue is dry you can decorate with stickers, vinyl, window clings, or any other embellishments, if you choose. I found some adorable Easter window clings and Easter Stickers that the kids were excited to glue onto the terra cotta pot base.

2 large gumball machine candy jars and one small candy jar with decorated terra cotta pot based on a white background

If you are giving these DIY gumball machine candy jars as a gift, you will want to attach a gift card. You can create your own or use our Easter gift card printable.

Easter labels that read Hope you have a hopping fun easter

Print the gift cards out on white cardstock. Cut them out and then use a hole punch to make a hole for the Spring ribbon. Tie the gift card onto the easter gumball machine candy jar with a small ribbon.

Easter printable gift card attached to a terra cotta pot with lavender ribbon.

Fill the Candy Jar

Now the best part! Fill the Easter gumball machine candy jar with your favorite Easter candy!

three glass bubble jars filled with easter candy on a terra cotta pot base

Once they are filled, gently place the terra cotta pot saucer on top as the lid.

3 Easter gumball machine candy dispensers with lids on top on a white background

Give your newly finished gumball machine Easter candy jar as a gift to a teacher, neighbor, friend, or family member.

Or keep it as the perfect Easter Candy Centerpiece to greet your guests as they enter your home. Either way, it is a lot of fun and you will get a lot of compliments!

TIPS

  • Thoroughly clean the bubble bowls/glass before starting. Removing any labels and adhesive residue from the bowls and terra cotta pots will ensure a smooth surface for painting and decorating.
  • When spray painting, work in a well-ventilated area and wear protective gloves and a mask.
  • Always allow the paint and glue to thoroughly dry before moving on to the next step. This will ensure a smoothly painted surface, and ensure your gumball machine candy jar will stay assembled.
3 Easter gumball machine candy dispensers with lids next to them on a white background

Make a Mini Gumball Machine Easter Candy Jar:

The original Easter candy jar craft makes a rather large gumball machine. But if you want something small, I have you covered! I made a smaller one as you see in the picture. The mini gumball machine candy jars are still just as cute as the larger ones, but maybe are easier to gift or might fit your Easter decor better. To make a smaller one simply use:

  • 4.3″ Terra Cotta pot
  • 4.3″ Terra Cotta saucer
  • bubble-style drinking glass. Yes, this is a glass cup that you find in the kitchen section. I was unable to find one small enough it in the craft section so I visited the kitchen aisle and found these glasses to be perfect! And they were only around $1 each.
3 Easter gumball machine candy dispensers with lids on top on a white background

Final Crafting NOTES:

If you can find a Terra Cotta saucer that is a size in between the 4.3″ and the 5.9″; it would look a lot better for the larger Gumball machine Easter candy jars. But I couldn’t find it. Personally, I think the big candy jars look better with a smaller “lid” but the 4.3″ was too small that it wouldn’t fit snug as a lid. So I had to go with the very next size up; which was the 5.9″. Which I think is slightly too big. But what can you do?

Remember to pin this Gumball Machine Easter Candy Jar Idea to Pinterest! 
Use the share buttons on the side or bottom of this page.

Yield: 1 Gumball Machine Candy Dispenser

DIY Easter Gumball Machine Candy Jar

3 homemade gumball machine candy jars made from terra cotta pots filled with easter candy on a white background

Upcycle your Easter Candy into a Fun Centerpiece! This easy DIY Terra Cotta Gumball Machine dispenses treats in style & makes the perfect Easter craft for kids (and adults!).

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 30 minutes
Additional Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 35 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $10-20

Materials

  • 5.9″ Terra Cotta pot
  • 5.9″ terra cotta saucer
  • bubble bowl
  • wooden knob or drawer handle
  • Spray paint in color of your choice
  • E6000 glue
  • Festive Stickers (optional)
  • Spring or Easter Ribbon
  • Easter gift Tag
  • Your favorite Easter Candy

Instructions

Paint the Terra Cotta Pots

    Spray the outside of the terra cotta pot and saucer the color you desire. After it dries apply a second coat. Then allow to thoroughly dry.

    Once the Pots are dry, flip the pots over and do the same for the inside. You can choose to keep the entire pot the same color, or you can alternate colors on the inside.

    Allow the terra cotta pot and saucer to thoroughly dry.

Paint the trim and knobs.

    Using the Acrylic paint, and a small sponge brush, paint the trim edges of the terra cotta pots and the top of the knobs.

    Allow all the trim and knobs to fully dry. Then apply a second coating if you wish.

Glue the Candy Jars

    Turn the terra cotta pot upside down and carefully glue the bubble bowl onto the under side with the E6000 glue. Make sure the opening of the bubble bowl is facing up so you can fill it with candy.

    Turn the terra cotta sauce upside down and glue the knob or handle onto the back of the saucer. Allow the glue to thoroughly dry.

Decorate the Gumball Machine Candy Jars

Once the glue is dry you can decorate with stickers, vinyl, window clings, or any other embellishments, if you choose. I found some adorable Easter window clings and Easter Stickers that the kids were excited to glue onto the terra cotta pot base.

Fill the Candy Jar

Fill the Easter gumball machine candy jar with your favorite Easter candy! Once they are filled, gently place the terra cotta pot saucer on top as the lid.

Notes

For paint colors I used Krylon Colormaster in Sea Glass and Gum Drop colors and the Acrylic paint for trimming is Apple Barrel 20360 Light Yellow.

Do NOT glue the lid (Terra Cotta Saucer to the glass bowl.) This is the lid and you will simply have it resting on the top of the candy jar.

  • Thoroughly clean the bubble bowls/glass before starting. Removing any labels and adhesive residue from the bowls and terra cotta pots will ensure a smooth surface for painting and decorating.
  • When spray painting, work in a well-ventilated area and wear protective gloves and a mask.
  • Always allow the paint and glue to thoroughly dry before moving on to the next step. This will ensure a smoothly painted surface, and ensure your gumball machine candy jar will stay assembled.

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59 Comments

  1. That is SO cute. I love it because it’s in Easter colors, but you could totally customize it for any holiday or occasion by changing the colors.

    1. That is so spot on Robin! I had so much fun making this one; i actually want to make a few more; and paint them to match each holiday of the year! Then just trade them out each season!

  2. These are just too cute and I love they are made from Terra Cotta pots. I can make these for table decorations. Thanks so much for this great craft.

  3. It’s a bit too late for me to make these for Easter, but I have other ideas that would work. I think these darling things will make cute decorations for birthday parties and not-too-distant Fourth of July. Of course, I’ll paint them differently. Thanks for the inspiration.

  4. Those are so cute and I can see why any little one would love having those and decorating them. I might just have to keep mine because I do love my candy.

  5. This is adorable! I’m going to try to make this with my son over the weekend since it will be a fun activity for us. I know that he’ll love it too.

    1. I was never allowed to play with Spray paint as a kid. So I never thought much about it until we spray painted the boys very first Pinewood Derby car. Now I’m falling in love with Spray paint and I am having so much fun with it! lol. Now I’m looking for projects where I can use Spray paint. lol.

  6. Thanks for this fun idea! I really can follow this. I have to make some for my girl’s teacher, student teacher and for their principal.

  7. This is such a cute idea, my youngest will love making these with me. I will use different colors though so we can use it year round.

  8. You are just so creative… wow, that is awesome. I would never thought of any of this, I would just throw candy in a jar and wonder why it isn’t pretty. HA

  9. These are the cutest things I have ever seen in a while! I love the concept and beautiful photos.

  10. YOu really are so talented. I can’t believe you did this and came up with this. I am not creative at all. I am going to do this project โ€ฆโ€ฆ.one day. these would be great easter gifts. thank you so much for sharing

  11. Okay, these are super cute!!! And you can put your own touches on them, how fun is that?!

  12. These jars are terrific, colorful and creative. I love the paint colors and the idea. I would enjoy giving this to someone for a gift too.

  13. Very cute! Iโ€™ve made a few of these for different occasions. I made a yellow one for Easter this year, put some green grass, a little bunny, and little egg basket in it. Iโ€™ll use it for Easter decor on my counter.

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