I am so excited to be participating in the fall edition of the Pinterest Challenge (created by Katie Bower and YoungHouseLove)! Seriously I pin waaay more things than I create, so I knew this was my chance to knock out one of my pending projects!
But which one to choose? It was a tough call, because I want to do all the projects I pinned...but I decided on making ornaments! Those who know me know that I have a major thing for ornaments - every single one on the tree has to have a story attached to it. Oh, that wooden bear ornament? Yeah, it reminds us of our trip to Hetch Hetchy - the time we accidentally set up camp in the middle of a bear feeding ground. Sea turtle? Bought on Christmas day on our honeymoon in Maui. Sparkly car? Reminds us of the year we had to repair our cars (as in engines, transmissions, major stuff) eight. times.
For this challenge I was inspired by these gorgeous ornaments made by Alyssa Ruklic
(found on her board here)
As soon as I saw these I was in love! I asked her how she achieved the affect. She told me by putting the paint inside drop by drop, swirling, and tapping the sides to encourage the streaking affect. I knew this was the project for me to try :)
I decided to base my palette off this painting I posted back in September:
(original post with link to the artist here)
My equipment: glass ornaments and Americana acrylic paint
This pic is blurry, but if you kind of squint you can see the cool marbling affect that happens inside the ornament as you swirl. Sadly this isn't visible once the bulb is finished.
Almost finished!
I wasn't sure if I needed to let them dry, so I let them rest for an hour, nervously checking back every few minutes to make sure the paint was sticking. They were fine :)
This one was my first - yellow, gray and white.
The other side has more marbling and less streaking.
My second ornament used all four colors - gray, yellow, white and purple. This ornament is my favorite because it has two distinct pattern variations depending on how you look at it. The subtle purple side:
The bolder side:
Finally I tried a purple, white and gray variation. I was impatient on this one so I'm only going to show you the good side:
And there they are! This was such an easy and rewarding project. It only took about 10-15 minutes per ornament (I'm sure it would be faster once I felt more confident too) and the effect is so gorgeous. It really does remind me of the type of modern art pieces I love.
I am off to buy some more paint colors so I can try more variations - and maybe if I'm patient I can get mine to look more like Alyssa's :)
Feel free to share a link to a project you've recently completed (Pinterest Challenge or not)! I'd love to see what you've done :)
Be sure to check out the hosts of this Pinterest Challenge:
Katie of Bower Power
Sherry of YoungHouseLove
Ana from Ana-White.com
Erin from House of Earnest
Be sure to check out the hosts of this Pinterest Challenge:
Katie of Bower Power
Sherry of YoungHouseLove
Ana from Ana-White.com
Erin from House of Earnest
They're gorgeous! I'm going to have to try them!
ReplyDeleteI love this! I think I will try this technique along with the one Sherry did on Young House Love today. Very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you! They were really fun to make :) I'd love see how yours turn out too!
ReplyDeleteI made these when My children were small & now I made some last year with my 6 yr. Old gramdaughter.. They reely rock when u use metallic paints also!
DeleteThese were absolutely Beautiful! I have to try these. I think its funnny that you said on the purple grey and yellow you were impatient because I love that one. I can see that I will try it and it will take me awhile to get to your level. Thanks so much. Happy Holidays
DeleteHow cool!! I bet they would also be cool if you only did one side so you could still see the marble effect inside!
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful!!!! Thank you for sharing. You did such a good job.
ReplyDeleteVERY cool!
ReplyDeleteluv,
tanon
pretty!!!
ReplyDeleteLove these! So many ornaments are old-school and these are a great new twist. I'm so trying them at home.
ReplyDeleteThese are really cool! I love your color combo!
ReplyDeleteWhen you let yours dry, did you place them upside down or right side up? Tried to make two tonight, just wondering what works best?
ReplyDeleteHi Pepper,
ReplyDeleteI just left them right side up, with a couple napkins around each one to keep it propped up (mine kept trying to roll onto their sides). I primarily did this so there would be no clean up involved - I'm sure setting them upside down would work just as well :)
Ashton
Try using an egg carton to put them on. I use to make these with an ex's mom. She used rubbing alcohol first and let that dry. Then did the paint. It seemed to make the paint move along the side of the glass better.
DeleteDo you put more than one color in at a time? What keeps the colors from running together creating ugly colors...for ex. if you want blue and yellow..turning it green??
DeleteI made these for christmas and my colors did mix was trying the black and yellow got an awful avocado skin color green afterwards and when i let them dry all the colors just melded together and pooled at the bottom. What did i do wrong?
DeleteUse a muffin tin to hold your ornaments
DeleteI made these last year and after a day all the paint sunk to the bottom of the ornaments, and they looked terrible.
ReplyDeleteI make these every year with my 3rd graders. I coat the inside first with white vinegar. I've never had a problem with the paint not sticking. If it does something you don't like, I've also had success washing the ornaments outs with hot water and starting over.
DeleteOK - I made these a few years ago and didn't have great luck. Mine were near disasters. Did you put alcohol in yours first? Did you just use craft acrylic paints?
ReplyDeleteReally pretty! Where did you get the ornaments?
ReplyDelete@Janessa and @Letterlady,
ReplyDeleteafter two weeks they still look great! No issues with the paint sliding down (something I was concerned would happen too). I used Americana brand acrylic paint and glass ornaments (maybe a plastic ornament or non-acrylic paint caused the problems?) I didn't clean the ornaments or put any alcohol inside, just straight acrylic paint - one small drop at a time :)
Hope this helps!
I've done this on plastic ornaments and it worked well. However, I let them dry upside down over a disposable cup for about 7 minutes then flipped them right-side up and let them dry till the next day.
DeleteI also used the paint from the cup in another ornament. That one wasn't quite as pretty but it looked okay and made me feel better not wasting so much paint. It would depend on what it looked like in the cup whether you would want to do that of course.
@Leah Rose Damour, I bought the glass ornaments at Joanns, but I also saw them at Michaels. I actually bought these cool thin oval ornaments there, I'm going to be making more later this week :)
ReplyDeleteI found them at Hobby Lobby. They even carry smaller ornaments for the smaller trees. And sometimes they put decorative glass on sale for 50% off and it will often times include glass ornaments.
DeleteI was at Hobby Lobby 2 days ago buying some and the glass ornaments are on sale at Hobby Lobby for 40% off. They have large ones and normal sized ones.
DeleteWhen I make these I turn them upside down in an egg carton and let the excess paint run out. It's really neat how the pattern evolves as they dry. If you don't like how they turn out rinse them out, turn them upside down in an egg carton and let them dry out and start over!
ReplyDeleteI did this project with my students at school. I bought heart ornaments and they swirled their paint by shaking the ornament. They turned out very cool! We also didn't turn them upside down at all or clean them out prior.
ReplyDeleteIm wondering if she used ?car model paint ? just a guess,.. it look like it might be due to the metallic and because its nice and streaking unlike the acrylic, im going to pick some up and try it out.. ill let you know how it goes!!
ReplyDeleteDid these last night with my 6 year old, an they turned out beautiful. He can't wait for to give them away!
ReplyDeleteI just made these today and found if I did a couple of squirts of each color down the sides and then let them sit (so the excess paint could pool at the bottom) and then swirled the paint around, they turned out more marble-ish. I want to get some of the Martha Stewart glitter paints to mix in with my next batch - I think they could look really pretty.
ReplyDelete@anonymous - please let me know how it turns out! I really want my next batch to have more streaking :)
ReplyDelete@bec - glitter paints would look so cool! And I love Martha Stewart's glitter colors....another idea I'm going to have to try :)
Thanks for this fabulous idea! I just went totally nuts and made 30 of these (using cheap acrylic craft paint and glass ornaments from Michael's--50% off right now). Holiday gifts for everyone!
ReplyDeleteI did this once using different nail polishes! Some metallic, some glittered...just let it drip off the brush...but takes longer to cover.
ReplyDeleteHeidi
I use to make these all the time. I would pour a little alcohol in them first and let them dry completely. I also let them dry upside down so the excess paint would drain out. I punched little holes in an old cheerios box and placed them upside down in the holes. Worked great.
ReplyDeleteI made a couple dozen of these for a craft show. I used all metallic acrylic paints for them. They turned out very nice and I'm hoping to sell out!! It's a fun, easy project to do. I also dry mine upside down to give them a different effect.
ReplyDeleteThese ornaments are so much fun to make :-) I have a bunch I made 10 years ago, and they're still in perfect shape. Love the colour combos you used.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to have to make some more!
I've done these for years. If you want a really cool marble effect, it takes patience. I've found that after all the paint has coated the inside of the ornament, you need to lie the ornament down on its side. How? Go get some Dixie cups :) Just put them on their sides and every 15 minutes or so, rotate them 1/4 turn. They will continue to marble for hours. When you get the effect you like, turn them upside down in the cup (it catches all the extra paint). The next day, turn them right-side up and let them dry for 24 hours. I have dozens of these on our tree! Our favorites are done with navy/green/white - they look like miniature glossy globes. Hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteI tried these yesterday and they are so pretty, but I do have a problem. The glass has cracked on 80% of them. Did you have this problem? Any suggestions??
ReplyDeleteThanks
Love your color choices - LSU fans will quickly latch onto the purple and gold scheme! Geaux Tigers!
ReplyDelete@morgan hmmm I don't know why they are breaking :( I didn't have any trouble with the ones I made....and I haven't heard from anyone else who has had a similar problem....I hope you have better results with your next batch!
ReplyDeleteI tried these last night...using Americana and Folk Art Acrylic Paint. This morning all of the ornaments had streaking marks where the paint did not stick. The Americana ones were not near as bad as the Folk Art painted ornaments. So I just put in my paint to cover up the clear spots. Will let you know how they turn out. Not sure if I'm using too little or too much paint that is causing the non-sticking.
ReplyDeleteHere are my attempts so far: https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.2178566983628.2104188.1230494842&type=1
ReplyDelete@Addie, I hope the touch ups work! I used about a pea sized or smaller amount of paint each time, then I would swirl it around a bit and then add another color or two and repeat until I had covered the entire sphere. Hope this helps :)
ReplyDeleteHas anybody had any success or know of a technique to get the excess paint inside to dry?? I made these about a week ago and the paint is still just swirling around inside!! I want to give these as gifts, but want them to be dry! Does anybody know anything about "baking" them and how the glass would stand up to the heat of an oven!!!
ReplyDeleteTurn them upside down in disposable cups for a few days. the extra paint will drip out and then it will dry better.
DeleteThanks Ashton! I bought glass ornaments today and will try those. The ones I used before were plastic. I may be using too much paint...
ReplyDeletei love these, this will be a good idea for xmas gift for the famil or my sons teacher and he could do it by himself!:)
ReplyDeleteI tried some and did as told, just a bit of paint at a time. They are all streaky and not so nice.
ReplyDeleteI use small dixie cups to drain out the paint. They are perfect and sturdy. I am able to use the leftover paint in another ornament if i am doing a bunch in the same color scheme.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to knock some pinterest projects out as well. I was inspired by an image on pinterest a few months ago wrapping a book a night for your child to unwrap. I made it into an advent calendar for my 1.5 year old. ttp://www.thebeeskneescousin.blogspot.com/#!/2011/12/book-advent-calendar.html
ReplyDeleteI made several today with a friend. We tried a few techniques - probably because we were impatient with the paint not moving much. We took a straw and blew into the bulb. We don't yet know the final effect.... but I can tell you there is more moisture inside from our breathe. We were able to blow the paint around. We don't have any shrieks, but there is beautiful modeling.
ReplyDeleteI tried these at home with the kids. I obviously didn't pay attention to a "few drops and swirl" : ). We put a bunch of paint in the ornaments and then shook them. They are not a beautiful as the ones above, but the kids enjoyed making their own ornaments.
ReplyDeleteMine look really crazy, but I loved making them! And they're going to make awesome gifts this year. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! http://apartmentthriftychic.blogspot.com/2011/12/streaky-fun-ornaments.html
Megan
I made some today. I used glass ornaments, placed a few drops in at a time. I swirled some and some I shook, then placed upside down on a plastic cup. I love mine the marble look is so beautiful!!!!. As I sit here and they are drying they are still changing color and design. Will keep making more tonight. Yellow Bicycle Thank-you for posting. Happy Holidays
ReplyDeleteI was told to rinse the glass ornaments with white vinegar first to etch the glass and make the paint stick better. Just make sure they're completely dry before pouring in the paint. I love to do these and everyone is always impressed.
ReplyDeletewow, love them, they are so beautiful! thank you
ReplyDeleteWhat am I doing wrong? Could it be that I got Plastic bulbs instead of glass?? The papint isn't running like I have seen others. when the paint mixes the colors are turning brown... ugh!
ReplyDeleteI made them for my daughters teachers and they came out so beautiful.
ReplyDeletereally enjoyed doing this and so easy.
What makes the acrylic paint have a long lasting affect on the glass bulbs? I made several of these and initially the glass bulbs looked great but eventually the acrylic paint fell off of them, leaving one side clear again... how do you get the acrylic to permanently stay? Please e mail me at bergm648@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteMy teammate and I made them with our third graders again this year. They were beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI made Gifts for and everyone and they loved them, so impressed with this and so much FUN and a Stress reliever
ReplyDeleteI attempted these using your instructions, they were very helpful! I also recently started my own blog for my craft attempts, and I gave you all the credit. Thanks a bunch!
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful! You did a great job!
ReplyDeleteAmy
www.brooksboutique.com
IF it isn't sticking they may be using acrylic meant for canvas and not "craft" acrylics...Also if you mix the acrylic with water this technique will not work.
ReplyDeleteMy family makes home-made ornaments each year and we made some of these using the large ornaments about 15 years ago. Each family member made their own and then I wrote their names on the outside of them later using slick paint, I used a pearl white for the names because of the darker colors we all chose to use in out ornaments...black is good with lighter colors. My nieces were about 2 and 4 at the time and they LOVED getting to make their own ornament. My Mom kept one from each of us and hangs them from the mantle on the fireplace every Christmas. Some of the paint has chipped on them, but they are still just as special as the day we made them. So glad to see they are popular again!
ReplyDeleteDo you continue to add drops of paint? or just 2 drops?
ReplyDeleteThese would be great done in your favorite school or team colors, sororities, too. I need to try this!
ReplyDeleteI have been doing these ornaments since last summer.. & have leaned over to doing vases in the same manner.. but how do yo get the pattern that has so many streaks in them.. so cool!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is too cool! I'm so going to try this! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWe have been doing these ornaments in our prek class for 4 yrs now. Remember to rinse out ornaments with alcohol first and air dry. I let the 4yr olds choose their colors. They squeeze the paint in and oye they waste a lot. But what makes it their project is they have to turn the ornament every few minutes to coat the inside. It takes time but the streaking comes when you have finished coating the inside and turn them over to drain. oh my we have had some beautiful ornaments. I cut a hole in the side of the cup so that air can filter in and dry the paint on the inside otherwise all the paint settles to the bottom. Write their name and year on the neck, tie a pretty ribbon and the parents will enjoy for years.
ReplyDeleteWow! These look great. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI have made these ornaments for years with my 1st and 2nd graders....Any colors will do as long as you don't get too carried away and it all turns brown! Maybe use three colors max. I use dixie cups for them to dry upside down. That's how you get the vertical streaks. Another way to really make the swirls more intricate and gorgeous is to "recycle" the paint that flows out into the Dixie cup. Just take the cup that some excess paint dripped into and turn it into a spout to pour it into another ornament. I also tie decorative ribbon into a bow around the metal part at the top. The beauty in these is that each one is truly unique, and it's virtually impossible to mess up.
ReplyDeleteFound your link on Pinterest and was looking for an easy Chirstmas gift idea and a quick craft project. LOVE IT! The first few are certainly not going out as gifts, but the rest will. I am also using liquid etching to put the year or a name on the ball too. Fun fun. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeletecool idea!! Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteyou're sweet :)
The key is to add a bit of water to the paint. It is too thick to create a nice marbling effect. I tried this and it works like a charm. Give this a try and you will be amazed at how much better they appear.
ReplyDeleteTsst Tsst
ReplyDeleteMy sister makes ornaments similar to these by taking a bowl of water, dropping paint into water and then dipping the ornaments into the water painting the outside of the ornaments.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really cool idea, do you know the ratio of paint to water, etc?
DeleteVery pretty ornaments. I'm going to have to try this.
ReplyDeleteMy girls and I have done these the last couple years. THEY LOVE making these Christmas decorations.
ReplyDeleteI made these years ago as Christmas gifts for coworkers after I found this project on the Michaels web site. I used glass ornaments & at first I did rinse them out with water to get rid of any dust or dirt collected in them & allowed them to dry overnight, but then I skipped that step after the first batch & there was no harm in that. It does take patience because the excess paint needs to be drained out & the ornaments need to dry completely. After coating the inside of the ornament (with 2-3 colors) you should lie the ornament on its side using the small paper/Dixie cups, lay them on their side and about every 15 minutes rotate them 1/4 way. The colors will continue to marble for hours so when you get the effect you like turn the ornaments upside down in the cup to drain all the extra paint, leave them this way overnight. The next day turn them right-side up and allow them to dry for 24 hrs. With all that said I would begin making these a week or two before decorating your tree or before you plan on giving these away as gifts. Me, I began making mine over the Thankgsgiving weekend since I was off an extra day & had nothing else to do. At least I prevented myself from procrastinating and rushing to get it done at the last minute.
ReplyDeleteI really like when people is trying to create something and not just get cheap supermarket junk.
ReplyDelete-----
Christmas tree ornaments
So, yay or nay to using alcohol & letting it dry before using paints?...so many people say to use it, while others say it isn't necessary...what's the verdict? Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteWe did this about 15 yrs ago with my kids, and had a blast-to this day they pick the ornaments "they" did and put on the tree. The colors are dated maybe I'll visit this again. I never did rinse with alcohol, but its certainly not going to hurt anything. It's just an extra step, and added time, NBD.
ReplyDeleteI tried these with Martha Stewart pearl glass paint. It wasn't working too well. I would've had to use a lot of paint to finish. I wonder if I'm using the wrong kind of paint or need to put alcohol in ornaments first?
ReplyDeleteI just tried it with the Martha Stewart glitter glass paint it took forever but it looks beautiful. I think the paint is to thick to swirl and because of that it takes a lot more paint. I am switching to the regular acrylics instead, just hope they have glitter cause its so pretty with the glitter paint.
DeleteAdd a little alcohol to the paint; shake well. It will thin the paint AND cause it to dry faster. Remember: alcohol evaporates quickly & this speeds up the drying process!
Deletei did these with my 5yr old last night after doing the swirls to get the fine lines like the first ones pictured we used flat wooden sticks they are like a 1/8x6 inches they made a really cool effect they are drying now hope they stay because they look really cool.
ReplyDeleteI tried these, but the paint wouldn't dry. Did I use too much, and I was so frustrated. Any ideas of what I'm doing wrong?
ReplyDeleteThey look awesome. I can't wait to try them. I have been wanted to do these for years.
ReplyDeleteSo once you put the couple drops of paint in, do you start the process of turning it to swirl before adding another color or do you proceed with your 2-3 colors and then start swirling? I'm confused on the amount of drying time, especially between colors.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone else have trouble with putting in too much paint? I made these several days ago and they were super cute! I even dumped out excess paint and they still haven't dried 3 days later. I didn't think I was that heavy handed? The paint also didn't stick to the glass bulbs like I wanted. I did use smaller ornaments - about 3 inches, not sure if that would change anything? Any tips?
ReplyDeleteAlcohol is the trick...but if you add it now it will remove the paint. Next time you can thin the acrylic paint with alcohol, use a dropper & then swirl your colors together. I recommend using only 2 colors + white or a metallic.
DeleteYou will just have to be patient & let the one's you've already made dry in their own sweet time. Wish I could help!
I have made these for many years, a good variation that's really pretty is to put some clear white glue, I used a q tip to spread but after you add the glue pour sprinkles in...another variation is to write on the outside with colorful sharpies ....I made one with the words dream, hope, believe etc.
ReplyDeleteI have done these for years with my fourth graders as Christmas presents for their parents. I write the child's name and the year with a gold or silver paint marker. The children then pick the color ribbon they want to hang it with. They turn out really awesome.
ReplyDeleteAnother way to create beautiful ornaments is by using inks. I like Dr. Ph. Martin's Bombay India Inks. The colors are extremely intense. Many people use these inks for watercolor paintings. They come in glass jars with a dropper.
ReplyDeleteFIRST: use GLASS ornaments only
SECOND: swish some alcohol in each ornament & pour out the excess. I also clean the outside (gets the stickers off the bottom!)
THIRD: Only use 2-3 colors. I prefer to use 2 colors & then add a watercolor iridescent medium thinned with alcohol. You can also find watercolor additives in gold, silver, copper, etc.
FOURTH: ~I haven't tried this but saw it on a You-Tube video: they used a can of compressed air to create fantastic effects! It also decreased the drying time. I HAVE tried using a blow dryer but it just burned my hands!!
I hope that my suggestions help. From everything I've seen as an artist, ALCOHOL INKS are the best. Once again, just clean with alcohol & add the inks (=alcohol ink!)
MrsArtLady
Arkansas
I tried these a few days ago. They came out half decent. But, I wanted to tell you about a variation I tried that came out awesome and was fun to do.
ReplyDeleteI had bought some clear plastic ornaments in addition to the glass ones. I put some drops of paint in the plastic ornaments, put the silver hangers back on and my almost 3 yr old daughter and I played a game rolling them back and forth on the kitchen floor. We had a few going at a time and we had them colliding and bouncing off the cabinets. We had a ball and the darn ornaments came out better than the glass ones I worked so hard on! I did have to go back a couple times and add more drops of paint where needed. If you have a 3 or 4 yr old - give it a try. My only suggestion - cover the holes in the silver hanger with some tape. A little paint can escape. :)
Heidi Doucette
Use the alcohol first, then the paint, drain out excess and use your blow dryer on warm ( not hot) to dry them quicker!
ReplyDeletedid you blow the hair dryer just on the outside or let the hot air blow on the inside as well? my ornaments have been drying for a few days now and still are very wet!! Need them to dry asap to finish the outside, which I am writing on!
DeleteI tried these today. The first one wasn't very good Very thick gobs of paint. I rinsed then out with hot water and tried again. This time I thinned the paint just a bit using water. One of three colors thinner than the others. One paint was the metalic type...they are beautiful! Turned them upside down on an empty candy box insert. Can't wait to see them in the morning!
ReplyDeletethey are beautiful.. have tried painting on the out side by drawing pic..some ok.. other not so good..but this i will be doing...
ReplyDeletegood luck on the new colors you try..
debra
I work with special need individuals and this is a great idea. We have made these year after year and they always look so beautiful. So much fun..
ReplyDeleteDoes it matter - glass or plastic? Please email me a reply at rpike2900@yshoo.com
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Great idea. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI tried this for the first time last week and they came out beautiful! I had the same problem as someone else on here mentioned about the paint not staying on the glass though and I didn't see a solution? I know I read that alcohol makes the paint dry faster but what's the trick on making the paint stay? After I swirled the paint, I turned the ornament upside down to drain and left it like that for at least 2 days just to make sure. They looked beautiful when I hung them on the tree but then a few days later part of the ornament was clear again like if the paint was disappearing. How do I know if the acrylic paint I'm using is for canvas or glass? Also, can I somehow clean the ornaments that are drying and reuse them?
ReplyDeleteAlso, when drained the first two ornaments, I hated the thought of wasting the paint so what I found a few empty pill bottles and I started draining the ornaments into those bottles and reused the paint! The great thing about this is that since it's different colors in the ornament, when it drains, it's usually a mixed color that you may not have in your paint collection. For example, one ornament I made had black and red and gray and since I didn't use too much black, when it drained, it made a really pretty reddish black color. I also made one for a friend and it was dark green and gray and white and when that drained, it was a really pretty pastel green.
ReplyDeleteWhat about using plastic ornaments? Do they work?
ReplyDeleteI want to know too if plastic works. I am a teacher and would not trust small kids to carry home the glass ones with out breaking them. I was thinkinking plastic or maybe shatter resistant ornaments? I really would like to know if it works before I invest in a xmas project for the kids and they are terrible.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing - I LOVE it! We've linked up to you in our post "Clear Ornament Inspiration."
ReplyDeletehttp://youpinspireme.blogspot.ca/2012/12/clear-ornament-inspiration.html
i have made these and figured out if you use the small clear plastic cups to hold them upside down when they are drying they will empty out the excess paint and make a more marbled pretty look.
ReplyDeleteI got clear iridescent bulbs. These are great because the affect of the iridescent hides the over blending or spots that didnt get painted. I pulled them straight out of the box and dropped paint in. It worked best when I put drops down the side and made stripes with the colors first then I shook them til I got the affect I wanted. Im excited with how mine came out. Mine are drying right now. I think buying new paint that is not think will work best. I used paints from years ago that I had with craft supplies and had to mix them with water. If its too watery it doesnt stick. If its too thick it doesnt stick as well either.
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful......I made 2 dozen of these this year.....here are my pros and cons......which, unfortunately can only be learned from experience!!! You MUST turn them over to let the excess paint drip out or they will take forever to dry and your "design" will change drastically. The larger round ornaments work the best and are the fastest to dry, I bought some decorative ones, hearts and tear drops...disappointed they did not work out the best and dry time was slower. Using multiple colors 6 or more gave a better marbling effect and was much more attractive, looked more professional. Red Green and gold turns to an ugly taupe color when using too much Red. If you don't like them, you can just rinse them out and start over.....did this many times....Overall great project, love my finished products.......now!!! Have fun!!!
ReplyDeleteHi there! I linked to this post after trying it out for myself.
ReplyDeletethey look like marbles :D not sure if anyone else said this already as I didn't want to read all of the posts :) but they're amazing :)
ReplyDeleteDid you use one color at a time..let it dry between? What's to keep two colors from running together creating a mess of ugly color?...blue, yellow running together making green?? They are BEAUTIFUL and I want to try them next Christmas using teal and red....thank you!
ReplyDeleteI shake my ornament (with finger over opening) and this gives a different effect.Turn upside down over paper cp to drain excess & dry for several days. I have stored them in an attic and it did not affect paint
ReplyDeleteI do not use more than 3 colors and I use two or 3 at a time. The natural mixing of colors sometimes make a nice effect, using blue & yellow and getting green will look nice, try it
ReplyDeleteThis pic is fuzzy, but when you type of squint you can observe the awesome marbling affect that occurs within the ornament while you swirl. Sadly this is not visible when the bulb is completed.
ReplyDeleteWe finished ours and they look wonderful, thank you for the idea!
ReplyDeleteHas anyone tried these with plastic ornaments?
ReplyDeleteI saw these the other day, and they gave a all a great idea, 2 Pledge Floor Care Wood Finish Shine
ReplyDeleteput a few drops in and cover the entire inside of you bulb...then put your glitter ed paint in or other colors.
I finally tried these and they came out beautiful. Had to add some paint a few times over the first few days after finding some small bare spots but am very pleased with the finished product. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't know how to link a picture to view..
DeleteIf you making by itself and present your near and dear ones then it will be more pleasurable for them because everyone know the value of hand make gift.
ReplyDeletetried this last week with plastic, not glass. turned out beautiful! took forever to dry...just looked at it today and half of it slid off! why?! did I use too much paint? shouldn't it work just fine with plastic ornaments too?
ReplyDeletei'm doing this for my grandparents! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the FANTASTIC post! This information is really good and thanks a ton for sharing it :-) I m looking forward desperately for the next post of yours..
ReplyDeletecarbon fiber rims
Beautiful! I'm making these with my sons today!
ReplyDeleteHas anyone had a problem with the paint not sticking? How do you fix that?
ReplyDeleteWill this technique work with plastic ornaments as well?
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