Chloe Zhang
Making plastic glitter ornaments is a fun and easy craft that can be done by people of all ages. The ornaments can be decorated in many ways, such as by painting cute designs, adding vinyl stickers, or using paint pens for intricate designs. The best glue for glitter ornaments is polycrylic, which can be found at local home improvement stores and is inexpensive. To make the ornaments, simply fill a syringe with 5ml of polycrylic and dispense it inside the ornament. Rotate the ornament to spread the polycrylic, and then flip it upside down to drain the excess liquid. Pour in the glitter and swirl it around to coat the inside of the ornament. You can add more glitter by shaking it around or using a funnel. Allow the ornament to dry for at least 24 hours before putting the cap back on.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materials | Plastic ornaments, polycrylic, glitter, medicine dropper/syringe, small cups, funnel, paper, vinyl, paint pens, acrylic paint |
| Polycrylic Finish | Satin or glossier |
| Polycrylic Amount | 3.75 mL to 5 mL |
| Glitter Type | Extra-fine or fine glitter |
| Glitter Amount | Far more than expected |
| Drying Time | 24 hours |
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What You'll Learn
Using polycrylic to coat the ornament
Once you have enough polycrylic inside the ornament, gently swirl the ornament around so that the liquid coats the entire inside. Then, tip the ornament upside down and let it drain over a disposable cup to remove the excess. You can also use the ornament's holder placed over some cardboard to catch the drips.
Let the polycrylic sit for no longer than 1 minute before proceeding to the next step. This is important for an even coat of glitter without gaps. If you wait too long, the glitter won't stick as well because the polycrylic will start to dry. Make sure the ornament is sitting balanced upside down so that the polycrylic drains out evenly.
Now, you can add the glitter. Pour a generous amount of glitter into the ornament using a flexible disposable cup or a small funnel that fits into the mouth of the ornament. You can also create a paper funnel by rolling up a triangle of paper into a funnel shape and taping it. If using extra fine glitter, you can fold a piece of paper and use it to funnel the glitter into the ornament. For a standard-sized ornament, about a tablespoon or a teaspoon of glitter is enough.
Once you've added the glitter, cover the hole of the ornament with your thumb and carefully shake it until the inside is fully coated. If you didn't get enough glitter in, add a little more and repeat the process until it's fully coated. Then, tip the ornament upside down and gently tap it to remove any excess glitter.
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Filling the ornament with glitter
Filling your ornament with glitter is an easy process, but it can be messy, so be sure to prepare your workspace before you begin. You will need your chosen glitter, polycrylic, a syringe or medicine dropper, a small funnel, a small cup, and a piece of paper.
First, remove the top of your ornament. Next, fill your syringe or medicine dropper with 5ml of polycrylic and squeeze or pour it into the ornament. Swirl the liquid around the entire ornament until it is completely coated. Turn over the ornament and let the excess liquid drain into a small cup. You can reuse this excess polycrylic for your next ornament or pour it back into the can.
Using a funnel, or a small piece of paper folded to make a funnel, fill the ornament with glitter. You will need more glitter than you think to coat the inside evenly. Gently swirl the glitter inside your ornament so that it coats the entire thing. If you are using extra-fine glitter, you can skip the funnel and simply fold a piece of paper and use it to funnel the glitter into the ornament. If you are using a chunky glitter, you may need to use a popsicle stick to help mix the glitter first in a cup before pouring it into the ornament.
If you still have gaps without glitter, add a little bit more glitter and gently shake the ornament to distribute it. You can place a scrap of paper over the ornament's opening to do this. Turn the ornament upside down to dump out the excess glitter, either over a cup or a small piece of paper.
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Draining excess polycrylic and glitter
To drain excess polycrylic and glitter, you need to work quickly to avoid the polycrylic drying and forming gaps. First, let the polycrylic sit for no longer than one minute. Then, tip the ornament upside down and let the excess polycrylic drain out over a disposable cup. You can also use a small funnel that fits into the mouth of the ornament.
Once the excess polycrylic has been drained, it's time to add the glitter. Pour a generous amount of glitter into the ornament. You will need more glitter than you think to coat the inside evenly. You can also mix custom glitter mixes in the cup before pouring it into the ornament. If you are using extra fine glitter, you can fold a piece of paper and use it to funnel the glitter into the ornament.
Swirl the glitter inside the ornament, working up to the mouth. Then, tap the ornament upside down to remove excess glitter.
Finally, let the ornament dry upright for about an hour. If you notice gaps in the glitter, do not add more polycrylic and glitter while it is still wet. Wait a few hours until the ornament is completely dry before filling in any gaps.
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Decorating the outside of the ornament
Once you've filled your ornament with glitter, you can decorate the outside to make it even more festive. Here are some ideas:
Using vinyl
You can cut out decorations from vinyl and stick them on top of your glittered ornament. You can use a Cricut Cutting machine to cut out vinyl shapes, or you can cut them by hand. Vinyl is a great way to add intricate designs or cute animal faces to your ornaments. You can also use vinyl to add ears and flowers made from felt to your ornaments, as vinyl provides a good base for other materials.
Paint pens
You can use paint pens to draw intricate designs on your glitter ornaments. This is a good option if you want to add detailed patterns or illustrations to your ornaments.
Acrylic paint
You can also use acrylic paint to decorate your ornaments. This is a good option if you want to add larger areas of colour or create more abstract designs.
Decals
You can also decorate your ornaments with indoor or outdoor vinyl decals. First, spray floating liquid onto the ornament. Then, remove the backing on the decal and smooth out any bubbles with your fingers. This method is usually used for applying decals to vehicles, but it can also be used for ornaments.
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Allowing the ornament to dry
After swirling the ornament to ensure the glitter coats the entire inside, it's time to let the excess glitter out. Turn the ornament upside down and gently tap it to remove any extra glitter. You can do this over a cup or a small piece of paper. If you used paper, you can then form a funnel with it to pour the leftover glitter back into its container.
Now, it's essential to give your glitter ornament ample time to dry. Place your finished ornaments in cupcake liners or small cups to catch any residual glitter as they dry. You can also use an empty egg carton to hold your ornaments while they dry, especially if you're making disc ornaments. Alternatively, keep the original packaging for round ornaments and let them rest in it while drying.
Allow the ornaments to dry for at least 24 hours before putting the caps back on. This extended drying time ensures that the glitter adheres well and that your ornaments will last through years of use and storage. If you're in a hurry, you can let the ornament dry for a few hours or even overnight, but the longer you can wait, the better.
During the drying process, you can also decorate the outside of your ornaments to make them even more festive. You can use paint pens, acrylic paint, vinyl, or other craft materials to add cute designs or intricate details. However, if you plan to add vinyl, it's best to do so before the 24-hour drying period ends.
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Frequently asked questions
Polycrylic is the most popular glue for glitter ornaments and is easily found at your local home improvement store. It is inexpensive, easy to work with, and gives great coverage.
Extra-fine or fine glitter is best for coating the ornament. You can experiment with mixing different glitter colours.
You can use a funnel, a syringe, or a small piece of paper folded to make a funnel. You will need more glitter than you think to coat the inside evenly.
The ornaments should be left to dry for about 24 hours before putting the caps back on.
