Things You'll Need:
- Plaster ornaments
- Newspaper
- Craft paint
- Brushes
- Cups
- Glue
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Step 1
Purchase several plaster Christmas photo ornaments at your local craft store. Be sure to buy enough to make presents for everyone on your list. Also, vary the type of ornaments you buy. For example, get a variety of Santas, sleighs, snowmen and Christmas trees. While you're there, purchase some non-toxic craft paint in white, flesh, red, green, blue, orange, yellow, purple, black and brown.
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Step 2
Lay some newspaper down on a clean workspace. Fill one disposable cup with water and gather several other cups for craft paint.
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Step 3
Go over the ornament with base colors. Use the most appropriate colors for the different parts of the ornament, but use your creativity whenever possible. Paint very carefully and with a steady hand. Take care to keep the boundaries between regions separate. Don't let the white of Santa's beard spill over onto the red of his suit. If it does overlap, wait for the paint to dry and then repaint the color that was overlapped.
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Step 4
Mix some flesh-colored paint with a tiny amount of red when creating ornaments such as Santas and elves. Take a very small amount of paint on a very slender, soft brush. Paint over the flesh color on the nose, cheeks and lips. Try to create a fine gradation of color as you move outward. Add other features, such as eyeballs and pupils. Allow the ornament to dry completely before continuing.
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Step 5
Paint over the entire front of the ornament with polyurethane varnish. Set it out to dry for several hours. Varnish the back side and repeat the drying process.
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Step 6
Cut a family photo so that it's slightly larger than the frame inside the plaster ornament. Carefully spread a little glue around the area around the opening. Set the photo down on your workspace and lower the ornament down onto it. Reach underneath the ornament and press the photo firmly onto the back. Allow the glue to dry before adding a tie to the ornament.
