Do your eyes start goggling from the moment the stores begin putting out holiday decorations and crafts, even if it’s in the middle of summer? And even though your craft room is loaded with supplies for months ahead of time, do you find that your “Christmas Muse” only comes out to play in December and you’re overwhelmed with project ideas for the holidays? The tree ornaments in this article are all very easy to do, and, even better, they can be completed rather quickly, allowing you to make sets for gifts or for decorating your own tree. Let’s dive in!
Stamping on glass can be daunting, but with a little patience, practice, and these tips, you’ll be stamping on glass all over your house! Michael’s sells great clear glass ornaments that are perfect for glass-stamping rookies. They’re slightly flattened, so there’s not as much of a curve to deal with, like on traditional glass balls. Be sure to choose stamps that aren’t larger than the flattest part of the ornament—this is the key to success with this project. When you stamp, be sure to “roll” the rubber gently on the surface of the glass, staying as steady as possible, so the stamp doesn’t slide. If you don’t like how it looks, wipe it off immediately with rubbing alcohol and try again! Stamping on both sides of the ornament allows for a distant “background” to the sentiment on the front of the ornament.
This ornament is decorated randomly with alcohol inks, creating a modern-art effect. Wear latex gloves when trying this technique in order to avoid pesto- and raisin-stained fingers for the next few days. It’s a quick project and the colors of ink reflect light so prettily!
How about a tiny shrine? Glass Glitter Beads lend the illusion of stained glass to the magazine cutout in this project. Look around your home for small items you can recycle into ornaments, or objects that will fit into these neat fillable ornaments from the Container Store.
The beauty of working with clay is that up until it’s baked, you can re-do these ornaments until you’re completely happy with the way they look. These stars are made with Sculpey III and remain flexible even after baking, so if they warp while in the oven, you can still sandwich the stars back to back without breaking them. Try experimenting with various Pearl Ex and clay color combinations.
Whenever you’re working with clay, be sure to use a dedicated set of tools (pasta machine, rolling pins, cookie cutters, toaster oven) that are used only for art purposes...don’t let them get mixed in with your regular kitchen supplies!
