Nail Polish Crafts – 15 Quick and Easy Projects
If nail polish crafts sound like a phrase that shouldn’t be used all in one sentence, you’re in for a surprising treat with this article!
Recently, I’ve been experimenting with nail polish as a type of paint, and it works unexpectedly well.
Nail polish is a great craft supply, and can be used on loads of different surfaces making it really versatile.
We all have at least one box or drawer full of nail polish, most of which never gets used, tell me I’m not the only one?!
Today, I’ll show you 15 unique crafts you can make with your old stash of nail polish.
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Table of Contents
15 Fun Nail Polish Crafts
Nail Polish Crafts
One of the things I love about painting with nail varnish over acrylic paints is that it sticks to pretty much any surface!
Perhaps you have a few colors that you never use anymore, they will all come in handy for these crafts.
From quick and easy crafts you could do with your children, to more intricate crafts that require more expertise, you can expect to find plenty of variety in this roundup.
This was a really fun craft to do! In this tutorial, I teach you how to marble with nail varnishes. You can use this technique on pretty much any surface - not just mugs!
Nail polish marbling is a great craft to do with kids and teenagers too if you're looking for a fun party activity or way to pass the summer days!
These earrings have to be one of my favorite nail polish crafts. Just look at them! I bet no one would guess they're even made from nail polish!
Creating enamel jewelry can be quite difficult, but this quick hack makes a difficult craft, easy!
Using nail varnish alone makes these earrings quite flimsy but adding a coat of resin for protection gives these earrings a real quality look.
Quite possibly the cheapest upcycle/DIY out there! I love the idea of giving old jewelry a refresh, and this craft certainly does that.
In this tutorial, Sandy talks you through how to apply the nail varnish so it doesn't pool and leave thick patches of nail varnish.
She also tested this ring out to see how long lasting it is, and it held up for her whole holiday away including a quick swim!
We all have tonnes of these bobby pins lying around the house in random places - don't tell me I'm the only one, right?!
This is a great way to repurpose them and make a really unique pair of earrings. And the best bit - if you're ever in need of a grip for your hair, you can just whip one off your earrings!
If you're looking for other jewelry crafts, check out my post on 16 upcycled jewelry projects.
Instantly add a touch of elegance to a very basic vase using this marbling technique. It's hard to believe these vases were made with jus nail polish!
Marble is always in style for interior decor but it comes with a high price tag so this is a great way to add a marble look to your home without it costing the earth.
How cool are these trainers?! They look almost galaxy-like. You could even try marbling on a white pair of canvas shoes in any color you like.
You'll want to practice your marbling skills before testing them out on a pair of trainers!
You'll have noticed by now that most of the craft ideas you can use nail polish for include marbling - Christmas baubles are no exception!
This thrifty hack is a great way to add a touch of glam to your Christmas decor.
These mini wreath ornaments can be used for a whole host of things, from hanging on the Christmas tree, to wrapping paper accessories.
This tutorial also comes complete with a video, for those of you who prefer to learn visually.
This is a really simple but effective Christmas craft!
The tutorial includes a template of a snowflake for you to trace over with your glue gun and then gives tips on how to paint the decorations using nail polish.
While we're still on the topic of Christmas decor, check out these beautiful DIY Christmas angels made from old jewelry.
These tiny marbled plant pots are really sweet and would make a great gift or favor.
You'll need two or three bold colors to show up on the terracotta, or you could paint your pots wite first as this tutorial shows you.
Color blocking is really popular right now, and a great way to add a splash of color to your outfit is to wear color-blocked jewelry.
If you have any fake gold bangles or even necklaces lying around, you can repurpose them using this fantastic tutorial!
This is such a great craft to do with your kids! They can make any or all of their favorite TV characters with the help of this tutorial.
The nail polish does need time before decorating it, so some patience must be exercised by your kids if you choose to do this with them! Alternatively, you could paint the washers beforehand so they're ready to use.
I love the simplicity of these stones, coupled with powerful words and intricate patterns, they'd make a great gift!
I also have another rock painting tutorial here which is a really fun craft to do with kids.
These cute hearts are simple and easy to make, you'll just need some empty plastic tubs or bottles, and our ever-versatile craft supply - nail polish.
They can be made for Valentine's Day, or any other day that you feel like spreading the love!
Here are some more upcycled Valentine's gift ideas!
I really love this cabinet! It was thrifted, but the original colors were all wrong for the color scheme... nail polish to the rescue!
Wood paint was used for the actual cabinet, but nail polish came in surprisingly handy for re-coloring the mosaic tiles on this piece of furniture!
Upcycling furniture is one of my favorite things to do, I loved upcycling this pink chest of drawers!
Can I Use Any Nail Polish for Crafting?
Yes! Absolutely!
Any nail polish you have will work for any of these crafts. Just bear in mind that some nail polishes are better quality than others.
Better quality nail polishes tend to have stronger pigment colors and will show up much more on your crafts than cheaper varieties.
Some of my favorite brands to use (that don’t come with a huge price tag) include OPI, Barry M, and Rimmel.
Is Nail Polish as Paint Long Lasting?
This one kind of ties into the last one. Again it depends on which brand of nail polish you use, and how often you’re going to use the item you’re making.
If you’re upcycling a piece of furniture or household decor that isn’t going to get touched a lot, for example, a vase or tiles, you’ll probably find that it lasts for ages and barely chips!
If it’s something you use more often, such as jewelry or accessories, it’s going to chip a little easier. I’d suggest using some sort of protective coat on top of the nail polish.
One of the best protective coats many folk use is resin. It dries hard and clear, completely protecting the nail polish underneath. It also gives it a nice glossy finish.
However I’ve also had good results with mod podge which you may already have at home from other crafty projects.
How Many Coats Will I Need For My Project?
Again, this depends on the quality of the nail polish and the craft you’re making.
When painting tiles or any flat surfaces, you’re better off using one thick coat of nail polish. It evens out as it dries.
I find that method works better than doing two or three thin coats.
If you’re painting something that has a trickier shape and is more likely to run, I’d stick with a few thin coats of polish rather than one thick coat.
Can I Use Nail Polish on Any Surface?
I’m yet to find a surface that I can’t use nail polish on! It works on plastic, wood, stones, tiles, the list is endless!
If you’re unsure about painting on the surface you want to use nail polish on, test a small patch first.
If you have any other ideas for crafts to make using nail polish, I’d love to hear from you!
Drop me a comment below or feel free to ask any questions via my email. I always make an effort to respond.
