There’s no denying that glitter can add a certain elegance and sparkle to any crafting project. But as any crafter knows, the problem with glitter is that it falls off easily, especially on slick surfaces such as glass. Sealing glitter can prevent this, but how can you seal glitter without losing the sparkle? We’ve done the research and have come up with the most effective methods.

Effectively sealing glitter that is already on glass without losing the sparkle can be achieved by following these steps:

• Tap off the excess glitter
• Apply a coat of sealer
• Allow the sealer to dry
• Apply a second coat of sealer (if necessary)
• Allow the second coat to dry

If you have yet to apply glitter to glass, you can also mix the glitter in with the sealer before applying it using the steps above.

The steps listed above will seal the glitter onto the glass and prevent it from falling off. But the best way to prevent it from losing sparkle depends on the particular product you use and how you apply it. To learn about the best products to use for sealing glitter and how to use them effectively, please continue reading.

What Can I Use To Seal Glitter On Glass?

Using the right product to seal glitter onto glass is essential for maintaining the glitter’s sparkle. You can use many different products to seal glitter, but the key to doing so without losing sparkle is to use a product with a high-gloss finish.

High-gloss finishes will reflect more light off of surfaces than matte, satin, or even gloss finishes will. Sealers with matte or sating finishes will dull the sparkle of the glitter. While a gloss finish certainly won’t dull the sparkle as much as matte or satin, the glitter won’t be as sparkly as it would be if you chose a sealer with a high-gloss finish.

The reason that high-gloss finishes work so well is that they not only maintain the glitter’s sparkle but also help enhance it. By having a higher sheen, light is reflected not only from the glitter but also from the sealer. Fortunately, many of the most popular sealers do come in a high-gloss finish variety. Let’s discuss each of the best ones.

Can You Use Mod Podge To Seal Glitter?

Mod Podge is one of the most effective sealers to use for craft projects, especially smaller ones. It is affordable and easy to use, so you may be wondering if you can use it for glitter as well. The good news is that yes, you can. But, as previously mentioned, it is important to choose the right Mod Podge product.

Avid crafters may know this, but if you’re a beginner at crafting, you may not be aware that Mod Podge comes in different finishes. Choosing Mod Podge Super Gloss will give you the best results if you’re trying to seal glitter without losing sparkle. 

If you don’t have high-gloss Mod Podge, you can use other finishes as well, but it will affect the amount of sparkle that the sealed product has.

It’s also important to remember that the more coats of sealer you paint onto glitter, the less sparkly it will be. You’ll likely only need one coat of Mod Podge, especially if using a product with a lower sheen.

Click here to see this Super Gloss Mod Podge on Amazon.

Another option available to you is Glitter Mod Podge. This is a great product to use if you have not yet applied glitter to a glass surface. The glitter won’t lose its sparkle since it is already mixed into the Mod Podge.

The downside to using Glitter Mod Podge is that you are limited to specific colors of glitter. However, you can take glitter-less Mod Podge and add glitter to it before applying it to glass. This will give you a similar effect to what you would get by using Glitter Mod Podge.

Click here to see this Glitter Mod Podge on Amazon.

Can I Use Polyurethane Over Glitter?

Another product you can use for sealing glitter is a polyurethane sealer. But again, these sealers come in different finishes, so you will want to choose one that has a gloss to it for the best results.

Remember that more gloss equals more sparkle, so you will want to choose a gloss finish over a semi-gloss finish if you don’t want to lose some of the sparkle.

Alternatively, you can mix glitter directly into a polyurethane sealer if you want a quick, easy, and effective way to add glitter to a glass surface. But if you're planning on using your polyurethane sealer for more than one project, you will want to pour a little into a separate container to mix your glitter in.

Click here to see this polyurethane varnish on Amazon.

What Other Products Can I Use?

There are two other products that are effective at sealing glitter onto glass without losing sparkle. Besides Mod Podge, one of the most effective products to use for crafting is an acrylic sealer. Acrylic sealers come in different finishes, but again, you will want to choose one with a high gloss sheen.

Click here to see this spray-on acrylic sealer on Amazon.

Let's say that you have a small glitter project that needs sealing, and you don't have a sealer at home. In this case, you can use clear nail polish. Clear nail polish has a glossy finish that you can use over glittery nail polish to help prevent chipping while maintaining shine. Why wouldn't it work on your glitter craft projects as well?

You may also like: Best Varnishes For Polymer Clay

How Do You Seal Glitter Without Losing Sparkle?

1. Tap Off Excess Glitter

If you’ve already applied glitter to glass, the first thing you’ll want to do is tap off the excess. You will need something to catch the glitter so that it doesn’t get all over your house.

We all know what a pain glitter is to clean up. Since you don’t want to break the glass, tap it off using your fingers.

2. Apply A Coat Of Sealer

Next, you will want to apply your chosen sealer on top of the glitter. Either brush the glitter on or spray it on depending on the type of product you chose. If you brush the sealer one, more glitter may likely fall off in the process, but it shouldn’t affect the look of your project. 

If you’re unsure how much sealer to apply, thinner layers are better than thick ones. Not only will the sealer dry faster if it isn’t as thick, but you will also have more shine as well. You can always apply another coat later if necessary.

3. Allow The Sealer To Dry

It is important to allow the sealer to dry completely before touching your project. Drying times will vary based on the sealer you choose and how thick of a coat you put on. But you can expect to wait a few hours at the very least.

Once the sealer is dry, check to make sure that no more glitter is falling off. If glitter continues to fall off when you touch or tap the glass, you may need to apply another coat.

4. Apply A Second Coat Of Sealer (If Necessary)

It may not be necessary for you to apply a second coat of sealer. But if it is, make sure the first coat is completely dry before you apply more. When applying the second coat, be careful not to apply it too thick to not interfere with the glitter’s sparkle.

5. Allow The Second Coat To Dry

Allow the second coat to dry completely before touching or using your project. After applying a second coat, it’s a good idea to wait for a full 24 hours to make sure that the sealer has plenty of time to cure.

How To Mix Glitter Into Sealer

You may have opted to mix glitter into your sealer and then apply it to glass. It’s totally fine to do that, but you should know that you may have to use a lot of glitter to fully cover the amount of space you want to be covered. 

You can mix any size and type of glitter into a sealer. All you need to do is pour the necessary amount of sealer into a separate container. Then, pour in your glitter, mix it up and paint it onto the glass. Remember that you can always add more glitter or sealer if necessary, but you can’t take glitter away.

How To Seal Glitter With Polycrylic?

Polycrylic is another name for acrylic sealer. Sealing glitter with polycrylic is no different than using any other type of sealer. Remember to use a glossy polycrylic sealer for the most sparkle, then apply it by following the steps above.

You may also like: 15 Types of Glass Crafts

Final Thoughts

Now, you've got some great ideas for how to seal glitter onto your crafts and keep it sparkling. Remember to apply sealer in thin coats, using a high-gloss finish. You can always add the glitter to the sealer before application. Thanks fo reading, and enjoy adding a bit of dazzle to your crafts!