It seems every year our children gets older, the more expensive the 'toys' get. The toys for my little dude won't matter, because it's just another day to him. But, for the 2 older ones, it's anything that has a mini computer in it with buttons. My son wants the PSP and the girl is getting a cell phone. (Oh, Lord)
This time of year though, I always start trying to find presents that fill:
- The thought put into the gift
- The price
Here are the directions on how to do Marbleized Ornaments:
What you will need:
- Acrylic Paint
- Glass Craft Ornaments
- Vinegar
- Plastic/Styrofoam Cups
- Nail Polish Remover
- Choose your acrylic paint colors. The inexpensive ones are fine.
- Choose 2-3 contrasting colors. Get metallic colors to make it luminous.
- Get the large or medium sized glass craft clear ornaments. Avoid the tiny ones, they don't turn out so good.
- Cut ventilation holes into the sides of the plastic cup. They should be large enough to let air through but not where the paint will drip out. I use it to steady the ornament as I add paint.
- Carefully remove the metal top and handle the bulb with care.
- Rinse out the bulb with one part vinegar and three parts water. Rinse again with just water, and let completely dry by placing the bulb open side down in the cup.
- Shake each paint tube well before opening.
- Add your paint slowly so that it streams down the side of the bulb, but just enough so that the paint easily reaches the bottom. You will add 4-6 streams of paint around the ornament.
- Start rotating the bulb around. After the bulb is coated, place the ornament open side down so that the excess paint can drip down into the cup.
- After you have removed the extra paint from the bulb, the drying process begins. Most of the blending and swirling of the colors happens at this time. If you want vertical streaks, let the bulb dry open side down for 48-72 hours.
- For the blended and swirling effect, turn the bulb on its side and allow it to sit for several hours at a time, then rotate again. Continue until you have the desired effect you are looking for.
- Once you have finished, turn the bulb open side down into the cup and let dry the rest of the way for 48-72 hours. If you don't allow it to dry completely, it will settle in the bottom and not look very nice.
- If you had any paint get on the outside of the ornament, just take it off with a little finger nail polish remover.
- Add a ribbon or initials to finish and Voila!!
