Making ornaments with those clear glass balls

Springtimebride06

You can buy them at Michael's / Hobby Lobby & probably elsewhere.

I was thinking about attempting this but, wondered if anyone had tried it and if they had success.  I mean I know it can't be that hard but, not sure really what to put in them/paint on them.

 

Thanks

ZestofLime

I love those! I've done this a few times in the past.

My sister and I did silver swirly designs one year with a glitter pen on the small ones.

I've gotten the really big ones, taken the hanging top off and filled the inside with confetti or thin shiny red ribbons.

You could tie ribbons around the center or glue little bows on.

Just some thoughts.

 

Lil Miss Greenie

I did this one year by dropping acrylic paint down the inside and letting it create swirl patterns on the inside. My downfall however was patience! It only takes a little bit and then you have to leave it alone for hours, rotate, leave it alone, rotate, etc.

Mostly they turned out great but I had a few with too much paint where it took days to dry and messed up any kind of pattern I had going. Also, more than 3 colors made mine look messy.

QT3.14

You can fill them with something memorable like sand from the beach where you had your last vacation or honeymoon. You can fill them with colored sand patterns. You can use tissue paper, small fake flowers, or glitter.

Mrs.PinkPearls

I just posted this in a response on the craft board.

 

I made them a few years ago. I went to the craft store and got the clear bulbs. I got pictures of relatives and cut them out. I took tinsel, or anything similar to easter grass, rafia, etc., and filled the bulbs just under half way full. I cut out the pictures and used tweezers to insert the picture. You kinda have to roll them and then theyll fall into place. I sealed it and used a pretty christmas ribbon to hang it. They were a hit!

Springtimebride06

Thanks ladies!  I'm sold.  Off to Michael's to get some tomorrow.

 

sareias

Nice tips. I went to Michael's a couple of weeks ago. They currently stocked many choices of glass ornaments. That you can use to design your own idea.

Fineleo31

I did one for one of my yearly ornaments. It was fairly simple and came out ok. It was more of the flat round glass ornaments. I painted the backside purple and used a stamp to put a Merry Christmas design on the front. For a first attempt, I didn't want to get too crazy. My only problem was the paint on the backside wasn't very smooth. You could see every brushstroke. I probably wouldn't do that part again. Maybe just some swirls, but the stamp worked out well, you just have to be careful rounding it around the ornament.

mrssisler

I just saw in a magazine where they used these to make a "time capsule" each year for kids. They used different colors ribbon, etc & wrote milestones or fun things that happened during the year, & small pictures down in the bulb. They could be taken our year after year to reminisce. I thought it was cute!

laylandconner

Micheals online has some cute ideas and they have a free class coming up to learn how to do them

b55c

I did these 2 different times.  Once by dripping paint on the inside walls and swirling around.  Most of them turned out all right but some ended up being duds.  A couple years ago I had some friends over and we took a small circular stencil brush-dipped it in glue and dotted it on the ball, then sprinkled glitter over it.  They ended up with polka dots all over and we all thought they were adorable!

JackieB0129

We've done a few things with them.

1) This link is better than I could explain it.  http://www.ehow.com/how_4499266_make-swirled-paint-glass-christmas.html

2) Fill the inside with glitter and glue.  Swirl to cover the entire inside of the blub with the glitter.  Let dry upside down so the excess drains out.  They're really pretty when they're finished.

NYGirlie07

QT3.14:

You can fill them with something memorable like sand from the beach where you had your last vacation or honeymoon.

 I love this idea!!  )