What to do with a vintage gum ball machine

Question

I had this red gum ball machine in my storage building and decided to pull it out and use it for something.  What am I filling it with? BUTTONS - All white of course!

Judy · Answer

I have one just like this and filled it with old marbles.

Katrina Warren · Answer

@Judy Clark That's awesome! My mom sews & one like that would be perfect for her old button collection, if I had one I'd fill it with faux pearls & put it in my seashore themed bathroom. :)

Steven E. Bunn · Answer

I filled one with antique pool balls

Janet Pizaro · Answer

How about coins? Is there a way to get them out. I would imagine so but can't tell by photo.

Cathleen W · Answer

I have one, older and on a stand - You can get the gum balls at Wal-Mart and Toy's R Us. I like the marble idea though.

Diana Wearing · Answer

I made a couple succulent terrariums with mine ~ one with live plants and one with faux succulents ~ it was the first project I posted on Hometalk :-)

Dmw2094062 · Answer

Use different size marbles, I saw this in a magazine and I have done this. It's really cute

Melanie Bradley · Answer

i used to have a old gum machine and i put my grandmothers marble collection in it. oh just like dmwfarm

Heidi Giunta · Answer

I found an old bubblegum machine at our local Salvation Army .  I had no idea what to do with it but then I made a fish bowl!

Melanie Jean Stultz · Answer

what about sea shells

Barbara Valenti · Answer

What about a planter? Or a bank? Put it on the counter in kitchen, remove top and store utensils in it. Paint a silly face and put a wig on it! Change with the seasons.

Linda · Answer

Could you turn it into a fish tank? I don't know if it could be made to hold water but perhaps you could glue the bottom part so it doesn't leak?? You'd have to remove the red lid, I suppose. I can just see a fish or two swimming around in there!

Elizabeth Pilkey · Answer

It looks like a REALLY nice old piece. I'd use it for what it is and fill it with Jelly Beans or gumballs. Colour coordinate them to your room decor if you like.

Kim Cunningham · Answer

A lamp- you can get a lamp kit at home box store :)

Eileen B. · Answer

I agree with Kim Cunningham. A lamp would be good you could fill it with marbles to make it look like it has gumballs in it

Laura Laskey · Answer

I made mine into a planter. I took the glass bowl to a local glass shop and had them cut a piece of glass the correct size for the bottom. I then used aquarium sealant to adhere the pieces together. Voila! One planter.

Laura Laskey · Answer

Also, one of my favorite bloggers shows how she made hers into a fish bowl. It was the inspiration for my planter. The instructions can be found here: http://www.thriftydecorchick.com/2009/06/i-shall-call-him-squishy.html

Sheila · Answer

I put gum balls  in  mine .

Rosalie chow · Answer

The glass of my gumball machine broke. I happened to have a clear glass head. I made a knitted hat on the head and place it on top of my gumball machine. It fits, I inserted wine core in the clear glass head. When I place a quarter the head moves. Cool I think. It looks like it a wine core dispenser. Enjoy. God bless you.

Debbie Kauk · Answer

you could do a terrarium in it and put plastic succulent plants.

Ann daniel · Answer

make a lamp that's what I would do.

Watts in DE · Answer

I like the Lamp, terrarium and fish bowl ideas also. Here's some other ideas to get your brain tinkering; 1.Make a faux aquarium, with clear epoxy, plastic plants from the pet store and source some other animal (?) to suspend/swim in the bowl, from toys or other minnitures for dioramas, alligator, goat, giraffe whatever. 2. Could you make it into a drinking vessel for sharing with straws? I'm interested in seeing the results of what ever you do with it.

Sue Peet · Answer

lamp post for your front yard.

Darla Conley · Answer

I stored my vintage marbles in mine. Great way to display memories.. marbles and gumballs :)

Lonita D · Answer

Love the shell button idea - with the plain white, you can always add glass stones, shells or other colorful bits according to the season.

Denise Boyce · Answer

With a little DYI you can install a low wattage solar led to the inside of the lid and have a nice night light. With all those buttons glowing it'll look great Use it outside for just enough light to sit and relax after dark.

Tanya Alford · Answer

Our son & daughter>n>law are New Orleans SAINTS fans. He took it apart & painted it the SAINTS colors. Then put M&M's in the colors Black, Gold, & white in it. It turned out fantastic. Now everyone has to pay a penny to eat the LUCKY M&M's.

Patsy McQuade · Answer

The glass globe in ours was broken, so my husband put a terracotta pot in its place. He put the 'pipe' that goes thru the globe area, thru the hole in the pot and stabilized it---I don't know how, actually. I planted a hanging vine and colorful flowers in the pot and it looks wonderful!

Dee · Answer

I recently saw a lamp made from a vintage gumball machine. I love my old white buttons, too!

Barb · Answer

How about making it into a lamp for a child's room or a family room.

What to do with a vintage gum ball machine

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