Making Ornaments Using Clear Glass Balls

Glitter paint adds shimmer to a clear glass ornament.

Clear glass ball ornaments lend themselves to many styles of decorating. Readily available at craft stores, the balls can be left clear or painted on the inside or outside. You can add a variety of inexpensive things to personalize the ornaments, making them suitable for many styles of trees, from country to mod. You can even put a lightbulb inside several and hang them in clusters to add sparkle to a large elegant tree.

Things You'll Need

• Clear glass balls
• Glue
• Rickrack
• Glitter
• Shredded gift-bag stuffing
• Sand
• Tiny seashells or shards
• Paint
• Christmas tree lights
• Ribbon

Instructions

1. Trace a thin line of white glue around the middle of the ornament. Cover the glue with a band of rickrack. Add additional rings of rickrack above and below the first ring. You can use ribbon instead of rickrack if you prefer.

2. Write names on the outside of the ornaments with white glue. Sprinkle glue with glitter. Wait one minute and gently shake off the excess glitter. Allow the ornaments to dry for several hours.

3. Squeeze the ring in the top of the ornament and pull it out carefully. Fill the ornament with tinsel or the shredded paper used to stuff gift bags. You could also fill the ball with 1/2-inch of beach sand and a few tiny shells or shards. Replace the hanger.

4. Remove the hanger. Hold the ball at an angle and pour 1 tbsp. of paint into one side of the ornament. Tip the ball the other way and pour another color of paint on the other side. Rotate the ball to swirl the colors around inside the ornament, creating a marble effect.

5. Remove the hanger and place a small light bulb from a strand of Christmas lights inside the ball. Cluster several of the lighted balls together on the tree.

Tips & Warnings

• A ribbon bow is a nice final touch.

• You can remove the color from scratched balls by soaking them in bleach. The bleach should loosen the color from the inside or outside of the ornaments. Rinse the remaining color off in warm soapy water.

• Cover the table with old towels to cushion any dropped ornaments.

References

• Make Stuff: Clear Glass Ball Ornaments.