Maya Ellison
Adding glitter to plastic ornaments is a fun and simple craft that can be done by anyone, including kids. It is a great way to add some sparkle to your Christmas tree or gifts. You can use a variety of materials to make these ornaments, including polycrylic, floor polish, glitter glue, or even acrylic paint. The process typically involves coating the inside of a clear plastic ornament with your chosen adhesive, adding glitter, and then letting it dry before reassembling the ornament. The result is a beautiful, sparkly decoration that can be enjoyed for years to come.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materials | Glitter, polycrylic, floor polish, glue, plastic ornaments |
| Tools | Syringe, disposable cup, funnel |
| Steps | Pour polycrylic into ornament, swirl to coat evenly, drain excess, pour in glitter, swirl and shake to coat, remove excess glitter, let dry, reassemble ornament, attach hanger |
| Tips | Use fine or lightweight glitter, let ornament dry completely before adding more polycrylic and glitter, trim wire prongs before reassembling |
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What You'll Learn
Using glitter glue
Step 1: Prepare Your Materials
First, gather your supplies. You will need clear plastic ornament balls, glitter glue in your desired colours, and any additional decorations like bows or bells. You can find plastic ornament balls at craft stores, and it is recommended to choose clear ones to avoid the risk of breakage.
Step 2: Apply the Glitter Glue
Take your glitter glue and generously squirt it onto the inside of the ornament. You can do this in multiple stages to ensure full coverage. Apply the glue randomly and generously to both halves of the empty plastic ball. Let the first application dry for about 24 hours before adding more, as the glue lines will shrink as they dry. Repeat this process until you are happy with the glitter coverage and design. Don't worry about using too much glue, as you want maximum sparkle inside your ornament.
Step 3: Enhance the Design (Optional)
To enhance the shininess of your ornament, you can add extra decorations. For example, you can fill the ornament with cut-up shiny bows, placing them shine-side out on both sides so they peek out from behind the glitter. You can also add small bells, jingle bells, or stars to the outside of the ornament for an extra festive touch.
Step 4: Assemble and Display
Carefully put the two halves of the ornament together. You can use washi tape around the edge to secure it if you're worried about it coming apart. Now your glitter ornament is ready to hang on your tree or be added as a cute touch to gift bags!
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Using polycrylic
First, remove the cap of your ornament and pour in the polycrylic. You can do this with a syringe or a disposable cup, such as a dixie cup, or a funnel. For a standard-sized ornament, you will need around 3.75 mL of polycrylic. Gently swirl the ornament around so that the polycrylic coats the entire inside. Then, tip the ornament upside down and let it drain over a disposable cup to remove the excess. Make sure the ornament is balanced and draining evenly. If you are using a funnel, you can pour the glitter directly into the ornament now. Otherwise, pour some glitter into a cup and use a paper funnel or a disposable pipette to transfer it into the ornament. You will need a generous amount of glitter to coat the inside evenly. Swirl the glitter around the inside of the ornament, working your way up to the mouth, and continue to add glitter until it is fully coated.
Once you are happy with the glitter coverage, set the ornaments aside to dry upside down. You can let them air dry, or you can use a paper towel to cover the top and shake to coat the top thoroughly. You can also add some holiday sayings or designs using adhesive vinyl.
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Using floor polish
To make glittery ornaments, you can use floor polish as an alternative to polycrylic. The floor cleaner acts as a glue for the glitter and dries easily. It is also clear and liquidy, allowing you to coat the inside of your ornaments quickly.
If you are using floor polish, you can skip the step of draining the excess liquid from the ornament. If you are using polycrylic, you must drain the excess, otherwise, your glitter will drip down the inside of the ornament and you won't have even coverage.
To use floor polish, first, cover your work area with plastic or wax paper. The floor polish will stick to whatever surface it lands on and can ruin furniture and paint. Remove the tops of the ornaments and set them aside. Pour a small amount of floor polish into the ornament. Place your thumb or finger on the top and swirl it around so that the polish coats the entire inside of the ornament. Pour any excess polish into a bowl or back into the floor polish container.
Now you can add the glitter. Pour a small amount of glitter into the ornament and rotate it to cover all the sides. Keep turning and rotating it until you can’t see any spots without glitter. Add more glitter if needed. Tap the sides of the ornament a little to get any loose glitter out. Finally, put the top back on your ornament.
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Using acrylic paint
Adding glitter to plastic ornaments is a fun and simple way to create unique holiday decorations. Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving this using acrylic paint:
Prepare Your Workstation:
Before you begin, gather all the necessary materials, including clear plastic ornaments, acrylic paint in your chosen colours, a paint palette, a popsicle stick or similar tool for stirring, a disposable cup, and, of course, glitter! Cover your work surface with newspaper to make cleanup easier, as glitter can be messy.
Paint Your Ornament:
Remove the hanger or top of the ornament. Using a small funnel, carefully pour a small amount of acrylic paint into the ornament. You may need to add a bit of water to the paint if it is too thick to swirl around. Gently swirl the ornament so that the paint coats the entire inside surface. You can use a popsicle stick or your finger to ensure the paint reaches all areas, and don't forget to cover the opening of the ornament as well. Allow the paint to dry completely, which may take up to 48 hours.
Seal and Decorate:
Once the paint is dry, apply a layer of sealer to protect your design. You can use a product like polycrylic for this, which will also help the glitter adhere better. After the sealer has dried, it's time to add the glitter! Pour a generous amount of glitter into the ornament, and again, gently swirl it around so that the glitter coats the inside. You can use a piece of paper to cover the opening and shake the ornament to ensure the glitter reaches all areas. Allow the ornament to dry, and then replace the hanger or top.
Customise Further:
You can further customise your ornament by adding decals, bows, or other decorations. Get creative and use paint pens, vinyl stickers, or ribbons to make each ornament unique.
Remember, when working with acrylic paint, less is more. Using too many colours can result in a muddy look, so consider choosing just two colours and a white base to make your colours pop. Enjoy the process and embrace the magic of the season with these handmade, glittery creations!
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Drying and reassembling
After you have coated the inside of your plastic ornament with glitter, you will need to let it dry. Place the ornament upright and allow it to dry for about an hour. You can determine if it is dry by checking if the ornament has gone from slightly cloudy to clear and shiny. Some people prefer to wait a little longer to be sure.
Once the ornament is dry, you can start the reassembly process. Carefully insert the prongs of the metal top into the neck of the ornament. Be gentle and avoid letting the prongs scratch the inside of the ornament. Longer prongs are more likely to chip the glitter, so you may want to trim them shorter.
If you notice any gaps in the glitter once the ornament is dry, you can add more polycrylic and glitter to fill them. However, it is important to wait until the ornament is completely dry before attempting to do this. If you add more polycrylic and glitter while it is still wet, it may drip and run, creating an uneven finish.
If you want to permanently seal the top of the ornament, you can run a small amount of hot glue around the seam before closing it. Alternatively, you can use plastic wrap for a temporary seal.
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Frequently asked questions
Using glitter glue is the easiest way to add glitter inside plastic ornaments. Squirt a generous amount of glitter glue inside the ornament, let it dry for 24 hours, and repeat the process until you are happy with the glitter design.
Glitter-It! is a good choice for adding glitter inside plastic ornaments. It works with a variety of glitter sizes and provides smooth and full coverage. However, it is more expensive than other options.
You can use polycrylic or floor polish as an adhesive for loose glitter. If you use floor polish, you can add the glitter immediately. If you use polycrylic, make sure to let it drip out and dry before adding the glitter.
Each plastic ornament takes about a teaspoon of glitter.
It takes about an hour for the glitter to dry inside a plastic ornament.
