Make Your Own Glittered Christmas Ornaments

How to Glitter Old Ornaments: Make Them Look New Again

   Elegant aqua ornaments in a clear glass bowl.

If you are wondering what type of ornaments can be glittered on the outside, just follow the link. I have some info there.

Project Sheet - You will need:

1. Set of older ornaments. If you prefer glass, select those with cracked, faded or mottled paint.
2. #10 paint brush 3/4" wide - step up and pay a bit more for one that will not shed its' bristles
3. Good quality : Viscous crafting glue that dries clear
4. Small nozzle glue gun with hot glue sticks
5. One extra large paper clip for each ornament
   
6. 1 pair of plastic or disposable gloves
   
7. Martha Stewart Glitter - extra fine or extra extra fine if not Martha Stewart.
8. You can use extra-extra fine glass glitter. However, glass glitter will tarnish after a few years.
9. Clear lacquer spray paint - gloss or matte depending upon the finish you prefer.
10. Metal or plastic hangers or a rod on which to hang ornaments to dry.
11. Water to clean paint brushes

Start by setting up your work area and a drying space. It should be a place where the ornaments can hang undisturbed for a couple of days. Put an old hand towel piece of cloth or paper towel over the lower part of the hanger to keep the hooks from sliding around. Plan to leave some space between the ornaments so that they do not touch while drying.

Glitter is messy and flies all over the place no matter how hard you try to contain it. To keep ornaments from rolling around or breaking if dropped on the work surface, lay down either an old towel or a glossy paper surface with Styrofoam sheets or bubble wrap underneath. If you use paper with a glossy surface, you will be able to capture some of the excess glitter that taps off of the ornament and put it back in your container. Plan what to use on the floor of your work space to make cleanup as easy as possible.

If you decide to use more than one size of glitter on your re-dones keep them separate. Do not mix them into one shaker. The smaller glitter will cover the ornament which means that the larger size glitter will not stick. Use the larger sized glitter first. Then use the fine/extra fine to fill in the spaces.

Lets' get started with this project: First plug in /heat up your glue gun while you unbend the paper clips. Hook ends should be unbent in the opposite directions as shown below.

Properly bent large paperclip. Top hooks onto drying rod, bottom hooks into ornament cap.

If the color of the ornament cap matters to you take them off of your ornaments, clean and spray paint them first. I have a project sheet with pics and instructions for painting old ornament caps.  When they are dry, reattach to the ornament with clear hot or a fast drying craft glue. Then attach your paper clip for hanging later.

To seal the cap to the ornament, partially lift out the ornament cap apply a thin bead or couple of drops of glue to the tip of the ornament and set the cap back in place being careful not to touch the glue or cap. Allow them to set up before handling. Once set, insert one end of the paper clip hook in the loop on the cap then, squeeze the bottom of the hook to keep it in place. Adjust the top of the paper clip hook to fit the width of your hanger and hang it up.

If you are glittering ornaments that you painted, be sure the paint is completely dry first. Best to let them set for 24 hours then glitter. Or, you can apply the glitter immediately before the paint dries completely.

Coat the ornament generously and smoothly one side at a time with crafting glue but not so much that it globs up or drips. Then generously glitter that side. When complete, gently tap the ornament to shake off the excess glitter. Keep your gluing area separate from your glittering area. That way you can gather up the excess glitter and put it back in the jar without picking up blobs of glue.

I found that an ordinary coat hanger works really well for hanging ornaments up to dry. I cover the lower bar with a sheet of Styrofoam or paper towel and staple it at the ends and in the center. That way the ornament hooks are less inclined to slide or bang together. Photos below:

Here is a photo of ornaments hanging on covered hangers:

Remember to spray the glittered ornaments generously (on all sides) with one or more coats of a clear glossy spray to seal the glitter and allow them to dry an additional 24-48 hours before handling.

Project Sheet: Glittering Your Own Glass Christmas Ornaments. (c) I Love Christmas!

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