Make sure that the bottle is empty and clean. If it’s dirty, fill it with water, then add a pump of dish soap. Close the bottle, shake it, then pour the water out. Make sure that you remove the label as well. If there is any residue, use a goo-removal product to get it off, such as Goo Gone.
If the cut part turns out jagged, trim it down with scissors to make it nice and smooth. Some plastic bottles have a molded line just under the dome. Use this as a guide.
If you prefer, you can use a small, plastic tub for the base instead. Choose something that is 2 to 3 inches (5. 1 to 7. 6 cm) tall, and a little wider than your bottle. Cut it shorter if it’s too tall. [3] X Research source
This will eventually make the stem. It should be long enough to fit the width of your hand. If the stem is too long, trim the top or bottom edge until it is the right length.
How narrow you make the tube is up to you. It should be wide enough to fit the neck of your bottle, however. This is typically a little over 1 inch (2. 5 cm). Super glue will work the best for this, but you can use hot glue instead.
Hot glue sets up fast, but you still should hold the tube while the glue dries. For a stronger bond, use an industrial-strength glue, such as E6000.
Keep sliding the neck into the tube until the domed part of the bottle touches the tube. You can take the cap off first, or you can leave it on. If you take it off, however, you can use this trophy as a pencil holder! You can use industrial-strength glue for this step too. Be sure to let the trophy dry overnight, however.
Apply acrylic craft paint with synthetic taklon brushes. Avoid bristle brushes (too coarse) and camelhair brushes (too soft). If you are using spray paint, be sure to work in a well-ventilated area. Apply the paint from 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) away. If you want a more elaborate trophy, consider painting some words or designs onto it, such as “#1” or “Champion!"[9] X Research source Alternatively, draw your designs with hot glue before you paint the trophy. This will give you nice, raised designs.
The exact size of the paper cups does not matter, as long as they are both the same size. Apply acrylic craft paint with a synthetic taklon paintbrush. Don’t use a bristle brush (too coarse) or a camelhair brush (too soft). Hold the cup from the inside while you paint it. If you want to use spray paint, set the cups down in a well-ventilated area. Apply the paint from 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) away. Work on the next step while the paint is drying to save time.
Cardstock will work the best because it is nice and stiff, but you can use regular printer paper or construction paper too. The handles should be the same size as 1 of your cups, or just a little bit shorter.
You don’t want to use too much paint for this step, or the paper will turn soggy and warp. Alternatively, you can color the handles with a gold or silver marker. It won’t be the exact same color as the cups, but it will be close enough. Do the next step while the paint is drying.
If you don’t have hot glue, you can try tacky glue, but it will take much longer to dry. Alternatively, you can place the bottoms of the cups together, then wrap a piece of double-sided tape around the seam. This will allow you to stick on sequins![13] X Research source
If you don’t have double-sided tape, you can use hot glue or tacky glue. Use the glue sparingly so as not to create bumps or bulges.
If you wrapped double-sided tape around the middle of the trophy, stick some sequins to the tape. Don’t use rhinestones; they are too heavy and will fall off. [15] X Research source If you want to write something on your trophy, try something like: #1, Winner! Champion, or World’s Greatest!
Hot glue will work the best. If you want to use tacky glue, you’ll have to pin the ribbons in place with a clothespin until the glue dries. You can also try double-sided tape. If the ribbon is fraying too much, you can singe the cut ends with a flame. If you are a child, ask an adult to help you. Satin ribbon about 1⁄2 to 1 inch (1. 3 to 2. 5 cm) wide will work the best. Red or blue are traditional colors, but you can pick any color you want.
Another option is to use a wood or metal candlestick. Avoid glass, as that is difficult to paint. [19] X Research source
You can find plastic animal (and many other non-animal) figurines in toy stores, dollar stores, and craft stores. For a Lombardi trophy, use a mini (American) football. You can find these in dollar stores or impulse-buy bins. [21] X Research source
If you are using a plastic glass, flip the glass over and hot glue the figurine to the bottom. [23] X Research source If you are using a candlestick or a bottle, hot glue the figuring to the top. Don’t flip the candlestick or bottle over. For a Lombardi trophy, glue the (American) football at an angle, so that 1 point is lower than the other. [24] X Research source
For a Lombardi trophy, you could write the number 49 in Roman numerals (XLIX). [25] X Research source For a traditional trophy, you could write “#1” or “Winner!” For a personalized trophy, try “Best Mom!” or “#1 Dad!”
For a nicer finish, you can apply a spray paint primer first. You apply it just like regular spray paint, and you only need 1 coat. Gold is traditionally used for first place while silver is used for second place. For a Lombardi trophy, use silver. [27] X Research source
The trophy needs to be the same size you want your final trophy to be. If you need to, use an image editing program, such as Photoshop or Microsoft Paint, to make it bigger. You will be using graphite on the back of the paper to trace it onto the cardboard. If you don’t want to do that, print the trophy out on cardstock to use as a stencil instead.
A graphite stick will work the best for this, but a pencil will work as well. Press hard enough to make the graphite shiny. If you printed the trophy out on cardstock, cut the trophy out instead. Cut the main shape out with scissors or a craft blade, then use a craft blade to cut the details, like the handle holes.
If you made a stencil, simply place the stencil on top of the cardboard, then trace around it with a pen or pencil.
If the lines are too light for you to see clearly, trace over them with a pen or pencil to make them darker. Be sure to work on top of a cutting mat so that you don’t ruin your table. If you are a child, ask an adult to help you with this step.
Use a compass to trace a full circle, then draw a line across the middle to divide it. Cut it out with a craft blade. You can also cut a square base if you prefer.
The top of your semicircle is the curved part. The bottom is the straight part. Don’t assemble the pieces just yet. You need to paint and decorate them first!
You only need to paint the front of the trophy, but you need to paint both sides of the semicircle. You can use spray paint too, but be sure to work in a well-ventilated area. Apply the spray paint from 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) away. Because cardboard is absorbent, you’ll probably only need a single coat.
The bottom straight edge of the semicircle needs to be flush with the bottom edge of the trophy. If they aren’t even, take the base out and make the slit deeper. If the semicircle base wobbles too much, apply some hot glue to the seams to stabilize it. Let the glue set, then paint over it so that it matches the rest of the trophy.
Write “#1” or “Winner!” on the trophy with a black marker. Turn the trophy into a picture frame by cutting out a square or rectangle, then gluing a photo behind it. Draw designs over the trophy with hot glue, then paint over them using extra paint. This will give you a 3D look. Hot glue beads, buttons, or rhinestones to the trophy. Leave them as they are, or paint them to match the trophy.
