The Best Nail Polish Crafts
Got old, colorful nail polish? Craft with it! These fun nail polish crafts are easy, doable, and a great way to use up the polish you don’t wear. I love finding new, unique things to make with stuff I already have and this is one of my favorite “unusual supplies!” Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Nail polish has been my favorite unconventional craft supply for a while now. I always have colors that I did not end up liking, or older polishes that are too thick to really use. I also love getting fun colors on the cheap from inexpensive brands.
If you’re just getting started with nail polish crafts, start with your collection, and add in a multi-pack of colors to have handy. Some nail polish crafts require special polishes. For example, some will call for a crackle effect, some a glitter. But having a rainbow of colors handy will definitely jump start you for most of these. For effects, go for a brand you trust. For solids, use up the cheap brands that you didn’t like!
14+ Fun Nail Polish Crafts
Fashion Upgrades Using Nail Polish
Upgrade an old pair of bangles in minutes! Painted bangles are so much prettier than plain ones. Notice how the texture shows right through.
These neon chain earrings by A Splendid Assemblage are genius and chic! Jewelry making skills involved are very basic and the result is awesome.
Funky and fun seashell earrings use nail polish in a surprising way! (Hint: it’s not used a a paint in this case).
Upgrade sunglasses to mimic a designer pair in a simple craft by Real Girl Runway. I can see any teen or tween digging this one!
Make a gorgeous faux Druzy bottle cap necklace as well as druzy studs, using nail polish for a beautiful gilded edge. Using glass glitter really upgrades things on these.
The possibilities are endless for these mini sunglasses charms! You can adapt it as a pair of shades for your child’s favorite Barbie-style doll too!
Turn acrylic cabochons into beautiful jewelry using nail polish in this wire wrapped cabochon tutorial!
Pair Eyewear are glasses with interchangeable toppers/fronts so that you can easily switch up your look. Snack Rules teaches how to customize your own toppers using nail polish (and other methods).
Make faux gemstone beads and then turn them into fun wrap bracelets with an easy and trendy tutorial!
Colorful Craft Corner made a super cool dragonfly pendant from wire and… you guessed it! Nail polish, of course!
This is one on the top of my to-do list! Make these minimalist color blocked stud earrings by In Honor of Design in minutes!
Make these color blocked bobby pins by The Thinking Closet on the quick and cheap! Stack ’em up and give ’em to friends!
I was always a big fan of these washer necklaces by Sunhats and Wellie Boots. Make a bunch, wear a few at once, and give them out to friends.
Nail Polish Crafts for the home
Get crafty in the kitchen with these enameled teaspoons. What a lovely hostess or housewarming gift!
One of my favorites of all time, this dipped rainbow candle is a beauty! It uses one color at a time, with the translucent quality of nail polish really shining, and the hydrodipping technique giving a gorgeous texture.
Color code your keys with a fun idea from A Bubbly Life:
If you can create art on nails, why not make it on canvas? This art canvas by Inner Child Fun can star in the perfect gallery wall.
Use puffy fabric paint and fill in the spaces with nail polish to make pretty decorated bowls for condiments, keys, jewelry, or whatever you’d like.
Gilded agate coasters from Thou Swell are chicer than plain agate coasters and so easy to make!
These marble dipped vessels by Sugar and Cloth look like they’re made of real marble! The result is amazing.
More things to make with nail polish
This heart magnet has a beautiful enameled look thanks to nail polish. You can also make this on flat wood squares to place on a card.
Check out these chunky wooden alphabet magnets by Arts and Crackers – they are so cool. I am sure your little one will love it!
Crafting Ireland teaches how to make versatile enamel dots as used in this pretty card.
Glitter Magnets by Finding Zest are another easy and functional craft your tween will love!
Make these adorable custom pencils for back to school, by Arts and Crackers. Click the image for the full tutorial.
The Craft Train shares this rock painting genius – use nail polish to craft ladyrock bugs! She shares some tips for using the nail polish with kids too.
You’ll want to store these marbled makeup brushes by A Bubbly Life out in the open. (A clear makeup container does the trick.)
Add sparkle to your home with glittery snow flakes by Muslin and Merlot.
Want to learn how to make jewelry out of anything (including nail polish!?) Get the book!
What nail polish craft ideas can you add to the list? Comment below!
Want more? Check up my follow-up post – featuring NAIL POLISH HACKS – alternative ways to use your nail polish (other than crafting).
So honored to have my color-blocked bobbies included in this awesome mix! You betcha I pinned it!
I love them! Happy to put them in 🙂
I’ve taken earring holders shaped like animals or flowers ( the gold tone stands) and used nail polishes to paint them, and ring holders- lots if fun!!
Love this list! We have a few more nailpolish ideas/ tutorials on our blog. We have quite a few, but here is one as an example!
Thanks!
put a few drops of nail polish Into a cup of water, and stick in anything u want!it will create a snazzy water watercolor effect that will blow people away!
I love these so much!! I think I’ll need to update a pair of sunglasses I don’t like. I was going to toss them out or give them away, but if I can salvage them that’s even better! Thanks for including my pencils!!
You totally should! It takes 5 minutes and looks so cool…
Neat ideas! I’ve tried the key one. I’ll have to try out some of the other ideas here.
Last year for Christmas I painted some small flat rocks with old nail polish as a gift for my sisters. Just add a name or phrase with sharpie, maybe a small sticker or two and spray it with a sealer. And presto! A fairly cheap little gift everyone seems to love.
That sounds so pretty! I’d love to see a photo – you can post to my Facebook wall if you’d like.
Use clear to seal a tiny decopage earring – drip onto a card [hold card vertical and drip polish, it will run down like in streams — faded draw pulls , shine like new with a coat of clear – miniature makers, use over signs to make them shine – use polish to stipple through a stencil which makes it shinny and bright – edge up a paper stencil to toughen up and give more use [after polish dries, trim up the edges]
Great ideas – thanks for sharing! I definitely want to try tiny decoupage earrings 😀
I love this I put it on my board you are so creative
This was great incentive to round up all of the old nail polish and start a new project. We will be decorating pencils this weekend.
– Kelly
Yay! Have fun 🙂
Hey Menucha….can I have membership with you……I am quite creative?
Hi Navneet! You can sign up for emails here: http://eepurl.com/YXCtr
These are great ideas. I just used some silver nail polish to create my own look on a flex fit bit band.
Great idea! Thanks for sharing!
This is cool and fun too
Wow is there nothing that cannot be re-cycled. Such fun., You can also use your nail varnishes to colour clear plastic projects. Gives the effect of Stained Glass.
Love this
Love that idea!
Looking forward to trying this myself. I’m wondering if it chips easily just like on nails. I was thinking of designing accessories and I hope the nail polish will not peel off that easily. The accessories are going to be a giveaway. Probably using top coat will help resolve the issue?
Hi! I find that it takes much longer to chip since it doesn’t get the same wear that your fingernails do. But they’re not permanent. The spoons that I used them on lasted a number of washes.
Awesome ideas!! Please keep posting your craft ideas.
Hi I enjoyed reading your post and I have found some wonderful ideas for me to try thanks for posting it take care of yourself and I look forward to reading your new posts Debra Veda
Enjoy, Debra!
I use nail polish to paint pop bottles instead of sharpies, then I get a bigger selection of colors and a shiny finish.
Works on pop cans to. I have great color for my butterflies, beautiful.
Joanne, that sounds lovely! I agree – the finish when using nail polish on permanent crafts like this is so beautiful. I’d love it if you shared some photos to the Sisterhood of Crazy Crafters here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/458595427875660/ I’m sure the ladies there will love it.
Joanne, that sounds lovely! I agree that the finish you get with nail polish looks beautiful on more “displayable” projects like these. I’d loved it if you shared some photos in the Sisterhood of Crazy Crafters group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/458595427875660/ – the ladies there will love to see this!
Very nice ideas from nail polish. I liked the post.
You are so creative and I really appreciate you passing on your ideas. I’ve done a couple nail polish crafts, but you go beyond.Thanks so much.
You are so creative and I really appreciate you passing on your ideas to us. I love these. Thanks so much!
Hi Cathey, thank you for your kind words! Enjoy and stay safe!
what if the nail polish comes off and gets in your hair?
Hi! You only use it dry. If a little flakes gradually, I wouldn’t worry, Any painted hair accessory chips. It’s actually very hard-wearing. Your nail polish on your fingers is less so because of the constant abuse it gets.
Wow this is a beautiful craft ideas. Please can this nail polish be used on glitter tumblers?
Honestly, I’ve never tried it. I don’t see why not, however, you’ll need a lot to complete a tumbler, it does work best on smoother surfaces.
i have used nail polish to decorate plain rocks. i used diffrent colors and they turned out great.
I did the earrings that was so fun me and my best friend
Hi Ellie, I’m so glad you enjoyed!
Maybe you can add this idea:
Marbling mugs by puting some drops of nailpolish in water. You can google for it and find many options.
Can I cover outside wine bottle with blue clear nail polish
And add a wine cork light
I use nail polish to upgrade boring buttons.
I use nail polish to refresh buttons on clothing and bonus! I don’t have to sew the back on! I just put a piece of cardboard behind the button.
I have also “repainted” faux stones on jewellery to change it up a bit.
Love these ideas, thanks!
I made square and triangle designs on my door sidelights then used nail polish to create a stained glass look.