Adorning projects with glitter makes for a sparkly finish, but the results can easily get ruined. If you don’t properly seal in glitter on a surface, it will flake away or fall off. The result is that your sparkles will quickly dwindle away.
So how can you seal glitter without losing its sparkle?
You can seal glitter without losing sparkle by using different sealants, including Mod Podge, Polyurethane, and Triple Thick.
In this article, we’ll explore which sealants work best to seal in glitter and how to use them. Stay tuned for answers to frequently asked questions and tips for getting the best results.
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Why Should You Seal Glitter?
You should seal glitter on your projects to prevent glitter from flaking off. A seal keeps the glitter adhered to your project, protecting the look and finish. Sealing glitter will also prevent making glitter messes that need to be cleaned up when transporting your project.
Adding a seal that dries transparently will effectively lock in your glitter and create an even, smooth surface. Note that certain seals are more opaque than others. This means that some will work better than others to optimize the glitter’s sparkle.
Even if you adhere glitter to a surface with glue, the top of the glitter still might fall off. Because glitter is so tiny and flaky (especially ultra-fine glitter), it’s prone to rubbing off without a seal.
Let’s explore some of the types of sealants you can use and how effective they are.
How Do You Seal Glitter Without Mod Podge?
Mod Podge acts as both an adhesive and a sealant, making it perfect to lock down glitter and maintain its sparkle. The benefits of using Mod Podge are that it dries clear and works on various surfaces. Mod Podge is also permanent and water-resistant. This means you can safely clean surfaces where you’ve sealed glitter.
Among crafters and artists, Mod Podge is generally considered the best glitter sealant. However, if you need an alternative to Mod Podge, there are plenty. The following questions address other types of sealants you can use for glitter.
What Can I Spray on Glitter to Keep It From Falling Off?
Both fabric glitter spray and hairspray work as sealants for glitter, depending on the surface. Fabric glitter spray is more permanent, but designed for fabric only. Glitter sprays are unique in that they act as both the sealant and the glitter application.
Can You Use PVA Glue to Seal Glitter?
PVA glue is a great choice for attaching and sealing polyester and craft glitter onto a surface. To act as a sealant, you can use a paintbrush to apply it evenly to a surface over the glitter. Note that it does dry clear but isn’t going to be as clean or transparent as Mod Podge.
This means that it will keep glitter from falling off the surface, but it might dull the sparkle a bit.
PVA glue is a water-based, nontoxic substance. It is what many refer to as craft glue, wood glue, or white glue.
Can You Use Polyurethane Over Glitter?
Polyurethane sealants work well to seal glitter onto glass surfaces. They dry clear with a smooth finish so that you don’t lose much sparkle. For optimal sparkle, try to find a polyurethane sealant that has a glossy finish.
There are two effective ways to seal glitter onto a surface with polyurethane. First, you can adhere the glitter to the surface, dry it, then seal it. Or, you can mix glitter directly into your polyurethane sealant and apply the mixture to the desired surface.
Can You Use Epoxy Resin Over Glitter?
Epoxy resin works very well to seal in glitter on various surfaces. However, this sealant option is far messier than using Mod Podge or glue.
Resin is very sticky and hard to clean off of your hands, so you’ll need to wear gloves. It’s also unhealthy to breathe in, so you have to take extra caution when applying it.
You can apply epoxy resin with a brush. However, it will probably spread more evenly by pouring it over the glittered surface.
Note that epoxy resin is only safe to use on certain surfaces. Once it gets poured and dries, epoxy is considered non-hazardous, so you can use it on cups and dishes.
Can You Use Triple Thick Glaze Over Glitter?
Triple Thick works great to seal glitter. Adhere the glitter to an appropriate surface and let it fully dry. Then, apply Triple Thick Glaze with a paintbrush and let it dry again. Its composition is highly effective at trapping in glitter so it won’t fall off or lose sparkle.
Triple Thick is a brush-on gloss glaze for various art projects. The concoction applies smoothly and evenly to various surfaces, including wicker, plaster, wood, painted china, jewelry, resins, and artificial flowers.
Can You Seal Glitter with Fabric Glue?
Fabric glue itself isn’t a good choice for sealing glitter onto fabric. It’s very effective at adhering glitter to fabrics, but not for sealing. However, a better choice is fabric glitter spray, which combines clear adhesive and glitter.
Can You Seal Glitter with Hairspray?
Hairspray is a decent option for sealing glitter onto surfaces that you don’t want to alter very much.
Hairspray applies in such a thin, transparent layer, it could work well for fabrics or tree ornaments. It helps to lock in loose glitter so it doesn’t fall off its surface. But since it’s so thin, it’s not as effective of a sealant as, say, Mod Podge.
Does Hairspray Seal Glitter on Wood?
Hairspray only adheres to certain surfaces, such as different types of fabric. It doesn’t permanently adhere to wood surfaces, though. Sealant sprays sold at craft stores work better than hairspray when it comes to wood surfaces.
Hairspray may also alter the wood’s color because of its composition.
Which Spray-On Sealant Is Best for Glitter?
Many crafters turn to Krylon spray-on sealant for a clear and shiny finish. You can use it to seal glitter onto metal, wood, plastic, plaster, glass, ceramic, and wicker surfaces. It’s incredibly effective as a sealant, and it dries to the touch in just 10 minutes.
Tips for Sealing Glitter Without Losing Sparkle
Keep in mind the following tips for effective sealing when it comes to glitter:
- Wait until glitter has fully adhered and dried onto its surface before sealing
- Wait for sealant to completely dry between each coat/application layer
- Cover your clothes and/or workspace so that glitter doesn’t get stuck in crevices
- Make sure to choose a sealant that dries clear (preferably a glossy finish)
- Remember that the more layers of sealant you add, the more the glitter gets dulled
Summary: How to seal glitter without losing sparkle
You can easily seal glitter onto various surfaces so that you don’t lose its sparkly quality. Sealants such as Krylon spray-on sealant and Mod Podge make great options that dry clear and fairly glossy. Other options include PVA glue, hairspray, polyurethane sealant, and epoxy resin.
Make sure to follow our tips on how to seal glitter without losing sparkle. Without an effective sealant, glitter will get flaky and fall off over time, making it duller and duller.