I've been thinking about hosting a glass can party using UV DTF prints for a long time, and was so excited when the opportunity finally arrived.
If you're looking for a craft activity for your next gathering, a glass can party may be the perfect solution.
If you've never used UV DTF prints before, learn more about them in my UV DTF Ultimate Guide.
UV DTF glass cans are a fun, creative, low-stress activity perfect for a girls' night out, birthday parties, book clubs, or even as a money maker at your next in-person event.
I love that everyone who participates leaves the event with a custom creation they're excited to use that is uniquely them. This idea is easy to set up, and the finished product is something everyone will love.
Watch how I set up my party by pressing play on the video below.
What Is a Glass Can Party?
What is a glass can party? It's exactly what it sounds like, a party where guests get involved choosing UV DTF stickers in a variety of designs they can add to a glass can.
UV DTF stickers are durable, vibrant, and with a little instruction, easy to apply.
These stickers don't require specialty tools or multiple steps. Simply choose a sticker and add it to your glass can. Peel, stick, and enjoy.
Supplies Used
- UV DTF Stickers
- Glass Cans
- Felt Edge Scraper Tool
- Rubbing Alcohol Wipes
- Garbage Can
Designs Used:
- Crying Over Book Boyfriends
- Listening Counts Too
- Book Lover SVG Bundle – 16 Designs
- Reading Cat Designs
- Retro Book Lover SVG Bundle
- Reading Book Lover Quotes Bundle
- Book Lover Printable Bundle
- Halloween Coquette Sticker Bundle
- Funny Boos – Ghosts
- Retro Groovy Sticker Bundle
- Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun
- Sticker Book Lover Bundle
- Fourth Wing Stickers Bundle
- Funny Book Lover Sticker Bundle
Step 1 – Plan Your Event
Before ordering supplies, think about the type of event you’re hosting. Will it be in a home or at a venue? Are you following a theme or looking for a lot of options? Are you covering the total cost or charging per sticker, per glass can, for entry?
If you want all the UV DTF stickers to follow one theme, make sure you have a lot of different options. If you're not following a theme, you may want to think about the total number of designs you need for how many people are attending.
If you have a theme, it will help guide your design choices. For example, a book club might lean toward “bookish” designs, while a party or seasonal event could include a mix of quotes, florals, or trendy graphics.
Step 2: Order Your UV DTF Stickers
Next, we need to order our stickers. The key to a successful glass can party is a great combination of variety of designs + multiples of each design, so you don't have people fighting over favorites.
Offering different sizes, styles, and colors ensures each guest can create a glass can that is uniquely their own.
For group events, it's better to have too many vs not enough. Gang sheets are a great option for glass can parties. You can upload a lot of designs, duplicate them, resize them, and fill the entire sheet.
I recommend adding some large statement designs and smaller accent designs that coordinate.
I also like to choose stickers with a variety of backgrounds. Some of the stickers I ordered have a white background, some don't. I think this helps make the finished glass can look less like it has a full wrap and more like it has individual stickers.
By using a gang sheet, you can literally order hundreds of prints at once, and you can fill every inch of the film.
I literally ordered 5 feet of UV DTF transfers in a wide variety of sizes. How many stickers you need will depend on how many people will be at your event, how much time they'll have, etc.
How to Order UV DTF Stickers from Ninja Transfers
Open ninjatransfers.com and click on UV DTF stickers and then UV DTF PermaStickers.
I'm using the Build a UV DTF Gang Sheet option.
I chose five feet of stickers. This will be 22 inches wide by five feet long. You can change this later if you find you need more or less.
I also selected the Auto Build option. With this option, I can upload multiple images at one time, and Ninja Transfers will lay them out on the gang sheet for me.
I can also lay out the designs by myself.
Here, I clicked Upload and found the files I wanted to use on my computer, and with them uploaded, I chose the size I wanted and how many I wanted, and it placed them on the gang sheet.
With each design loaded, I would preview the gang sheet to see what it looked like, and if needed, I could alter the sticker size or quantity.
I ended up with close to 200 stickers, which was plenty for my event.
How many total stickers will fit on a 5-foot gang sheet will depend on the size of the sticker and the image margin you choose.
When I had the gang sheet full, I clicked Save and added it to the cart. If you think you may want to order the same gang sheet again, go ahead and name the file so it's easy to find next time.
After you complete the checkout process, Ninja Transfers will print the entire sheet and send it directly to your home.
Step 3: Prep Your Supplies
However you order your stickers is how they will arrive. I received a 5-foot by 22-inch roll of UV DTF stickers.
The first thing I did was cut all of the stickers apart.
If you're selling the stickers individually, you may want to arrange them by size, by sticker, or by price.
I want my glass can party to be fun. My plan is to spread the stickers out on the table and let everyone dig through them to find the ones they want.
Set out the other supplies so everyone can grab what they need when they need it.
Step 4 – Give Instructions
It's important that everyone knows the application process before they begin.
UV DTF stickers have a stronger adhesive than any sticker I've ever used before. If the sticker gets placed in the wrong location, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to remove it.
I also find it helpful for each person to have their glass can with them. This allows them to see how much surface they have to cover. This can help them choose a sticker combination that will work.
Have each guest clean their glass can with an alcohol wipe to remove oils, hair, dust, etc. This will help the stickers adhere properly.
Allow the glass can to dry completely before applying any stickers.
Step 5 – UV DTF Sticker Application
With the glass cans cleaned, everyone can choose their stickers. A helpful tip is to start with one larger, main design. I feel like this sticker really sets the tone for the whole glass can.
Once they've found that sticker, they can choose more designs.
First, rub the sticker with a scraper tool to ensure it adheres to the transfer sheet.
Next, peel away the paper backing.
Locate the sticker on the glass can. Remember, take your time; you can't really relocate these stickers once they're stuck down.
Use a felt-edged scraper to smooth the UV DTF sticker to the glass, pushing out any air bubbles.
Slowly peel away the top carrier sheet. Take your time starting at one corner, and make sure it's stuck down well.
With the carrier sheet removed, I like to use my fingers to really go over each sticker, checking for any bubbles. If there are any, push them out for more durability.
Repeat this process for all the different stickers, and that's it, your glass can is complete.
With the stickers stuck on the glass can, your project is complete. I recommend waiting 72 hours before washing for the best durability.
Why is a Glass Can Party the Perfect Group Craft?
I tested out this party craft option recently at a book club retreat. I wanted to ensure it was going to be as easy as I expected.
We had so much fun. This is a craft that is creative but not complicated. By bringing a variety of stickers, guests can customize their glass cans without feeling overwhelmed looking through designs to order their own.
I do think having a theme is a good idea. Most of my designs are bookish themed because I was bringing them to a book club gathering. I did add in a few trending designs, but the overall theme was books.
Because you can tailor the stickers to any theme, this could be a really fun activity for a bachelorette party, a make-and-take for a bridal shower, or a birthday party, etc.
Glass Can Party Bar for Profit
You may have seen people doing the hat bar, where people choose a hat and then choose different patches to add to the hat.
This is a similar concept. You could set a base price for the glass can and a certain number of stickers, and then allow them to purchase additional stickers at an extra cost.
To really get people excited, I recommend adding a sticker for the event you're at. If you're at a music festival, county fair, etc, add a sticker that represents that event.
People love having something to take home that they will actually use. That's what makes this such a great idea, whether it's for a personal party or as a small business.
Are You Ready to Host a Glass Can Party?
If you have a group event coming up, a glass can party may be exactly what you're looking for.
With minimal setup and maximum creativity, your guests are going to love diving in and creating a custom glass can in no time.
I loved watching my friends create their glass cans. There were a lot of laughs and conversations as people discovered different stickers and asked opinions from each other about placement and how stickers looked together.
Grab some stickers and a collection of glass cans, and you're ready to party.
I hope I've answered any questions you have about hosting a glass can party. If you have any additional questions, leave them in the comments, and I'll be happy to answer them for you.
