Marble Madness

Have lots of little ones visiting and have nothing to do with them? These ornaments go great with the “magic” marbleized stationery from yesterday’s project!

These ornaments are super easy and look super expensive when you’re done. The cool thing is that each will be completely unique.

Clear glass ornaments are easy to find at craft stores like Hobby Lobby (noticing a trend?). The paints for this project are the little containers you can get for around 59 cents. These are the best because they have the little hole in the top to squeeze out the perfect amount.

Marbleized Glass Ornaments:

Materials and Supplies:

~3 to 4 (or more!) colors of Acrylic paints—metallic paints look really pretty.

~Clear Glass Ornaments (any size will do. Michael's and Hobby Lobby)

~Paper cups (4 ounce size. Optional. You can use the ornament box instead)

~Rubbing Alcohol or vinegar

~Ribbon

~Scissors

Directions:

1. Remove the hanger and cap from the ornament. BE CAREFUL! You are working with glass—it can break or the top might be rough from the manufacturer. Clean the inside with rubbing alcohol or a solution of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. Let dry.

2. Squeeze a small amount of paint into the ornament so it goes down the inside. Rotate the ornament and do it again and again. There should only be about a dime’s worth of pooling at the bottom so don’t be overzealous with squeezing.

3. Repeat with 2 to 3 other colors.

4. There are two techniques to marbleize. Quick and changing and slow and steady. Quick and changing means you continuously rotate the ornament until everything is coated and then pour out the excess. It will continue to change looks until it completely dries (which could take up to four days). Slow and steady means you coat the ornament and let it sit for five minutes on a paper cup. Rotate the ornament a quarter turn and let it sit. Repeat until everything is cover. Pour out excess paint. Neither way is wrong! If you’re working with children, make sure they don’t tip the ornament over, pouring out the paint all over them.

5. You can wait for it to fully dry (this can be sped up with a hair dryer) or do like I do and let it do the boring part while it looks pretty on the tree (who likes to watch paint dry?).

6. Place the hanger and cap back on…but now they look so cheap! So hide it with a pretty ribbon! Have a girl who only likes pink? Pink and white paint (metallics!) and a pink and white bow will by so pretty! Kentucky fan?... :) And you can use a Q-Tip to paint a monogram on the outside of the ornament with one of the inside colors.

Extra gift idea?

Take pictures of the little ones while they make the ornaments. Print them out wallet-sized (either at home on the printer or at Walmart) and put them in little ornament frames. You know what would make them perfect and match? The marbleized paper from yesterday!