Maya Ellison
There are many ways to touch up plastic Christmas ornaments, whether they are vintage, clear, or in need of a simple clean. A soft brush or damp cloth can be used to remove dust and dirt, and a mild silver polish can restore shine to vintage ornaments. Clear plastic ornaments can be decorated with glitter, paint, or twine, and filled with items such as photos, fabric, or felt balls. Spray paint can be used to add colour or texture, and a primer can be applied first to improve coverage. Plastic ornaments can also be sealed with a clear adhesive to prevent breakage.
Characteristics and Values Table for Touching up Plastic Christmas Ornaments
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cleaning | Use a damp cloth to wipe down the ornament to remove dirt and dust. |
| Restoring Shine | Use a soft brush to remove dust and dirt. For heavily tarnished ornaments, use a mild silver polish. |
| Painting | Use spray paint or a paintbrush to paint the ornament. For spray paint, use plastic-friendly paint and apply a thin, even coat with a steady side-to-side sweeping motion. For paintbrushes, lightly paint over worn or faded areas. |
| Glitter | Add glitter to the inside of clear plastic ornaments using a syringe to inject polycrylic or Mod Podge, then add glitter and shake. Seal with Glitter Blast clear sealer to prevent glitter from falling off. |
| Adhesives | For clear glass ornaments, use a clear adhesive. Place on one side for a few minutes, then gently rub it in place. Allow it to sit for several days before hanging. |
| Filling | Fill clear plastic ornaments with various materials such as photos, ribbons, embellishments, and small objects like twigs with holly berries. |
| Ribbon | Add a ribbon to hang the ornament on the tree. |
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What You'll Learn
Cleaning and restoring vintage ornaments
Glass Ornaments
To clean glass ornaments, use a soft, lint-free cotton cloth to wipe them down. If there are spots or stains, use a glass cleaner to remove them. For stubborn film, rub a paste wax, such as Turtle Wax, onto the surface and carefully buff until it shines. Use cotton swabs to clean small crevices. If the ornament is chipped or broken, you can still display it by hanging it by the unbroken side, arranging it in a bowl or vase as a centerpiece, or creating a decorative glass box or mural out of salvageable pieces.
Plastic Ornaments
To clean plastic ornaments, use a soft, lint-free cotton cloth to wipe them down. Avoid using water or detergent, as this can remove paint or cause warping. If you want to add glitter to the inside of a clear plastic ornament, remove the top cover and use a plastic syringe to gently push a small amount of polycrylic inside. Rotate the ornament so that the polycrylic covers the entire inside surface, then add glitter. Seal the ornament with a clear sealer to prevent the glitter from ending up all over your house.
Silver and Gold-Plated Ornaments
To clean silver or gold-plated ornaments, wipe them down with a dry cotton cloth in a circular motion. Use a domestic silver, copper, brass, and bronze polishing cream, or a condiment such as ketchup, to restore shine.
Metal Ornaments
To clean metal ornaments, use a microfiber cloth and jewellery polish to remove dust and fingerprints.
General Tips
Before cleaning vintage ornaments, use a magnifying glass or hold the ornament up to the light to check for cracks, nicks, and scrapes. When handling fragile ornaments, it is best to wear gloves to prevent natural oils from your hands from damaging the paint or adding grime to the ornament. Keep ornaments away from direct sunlight and store them properly in acid-free tissue paper and clean, dry containers to reduce the need for frequent cleaning.
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Using glitter and spray paint
Spray paint is a quick and easy way to update your plastic Christmas ornaments. It dries faster than traditional paint and will give you a smooth finish.
If you want to add glitter to your ornaments, there are a few ways to do so. One option is to use a product like Glitter-It! or Polycrylic, which will help the glitter coat your ornaments evenly and thoroughly. First, remove the top hanger piece of the ornament. Then, use a syringe or a small funnel to pour the product into the ornament. Swirl it around so that the inside is completely coated, and then drain out the excess liquid. Next, pour in your glitter, swirling it around the inside of the ornament and working up to the mouth. Tap the ornament upside down to remove any excess glitter, and then leave it to dry upright for about an hour. Finally, reassemble the ornament by inserting the metal top prongs into the neck.
You can also use spray paint to create a glittery effect. First, apply a coat of metallic spray paint to the ornament. Then, apply 1-2 coats of glitter spray paint. You can seal the glitter with a clear sealer to prevent it from ending up all over your house.
If you want to add extra sparkle to your ornaments, you can use paint pens to add designs, words, or names.
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Filling clear plastic ornaments
Clear plastic ornaments are a fun, creative, and inexpensive way to decorate your Christmas tree or to give as gifts. They can be filled with a variety of items, and there are two main styles: those that are only open at the top and those that open in half. The latter is useful if you want to add something bigger than the half-inch opening of the first style.
If you want to add a personal touch, you can place a piece of paper with the ornament maker's name and the date inside the ornament. You can also fill them with mementos, such as dried flowers, sand and shells from a trip to the beach, or small items from a nature walk, such as leaves, acorns, and pebbles. You can also fill them with toys, art supplies, or other small items, such as beads, buttons, or ribbons.
For a festive touch, you can fill the ornaments with "snow" glitter or create a snow globe effect with kinetic sand. You can also add glow-in-the-dark paint, glitter, or small trinkets like snowman charms. If you want to add a photo, cut it to size and use fishing line to secure it through the wire holes in the ornament top.
For a more durable ornament, you can seal the opening with hot glue. Alternatively, you can use plastic wrap for a temporary seal. If you want to add paint to your ornament, acrylic paint is a cheap and easy option, and you can add a few drops of rubbing alcohol to the inside to prevent the paint from cracking. Spray paint is another option, and you can use a primer to help the paint adhere to the plastic and provide a solid base coat.
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Painting plastic ornaments
Painting plastic Christmas ornaments is a fun and creative way to add a personal touch to your holiday decorations. Whether you're working with clear plastic ornaments or want to refresh old coloured ones, a new coat of paint can make them look as good as new. Here's a step-by-step guide to painting plastic ornaments:
Preparation:
Start by gathering your ornaments and separating them by size, as different sizes may require different treatments. Remove the caps from the ornaments and set them aside, as you'll only be painting the plastic orb. If you want to change the colour of the caps as well, place them on a cardboard board and spray paint them with a suitable paint, such as Krylon Brillant Metallic in Gold Leaf.
Priming:
To ensure the paint adheres well to the plastic surface, it's recommended to use a primer. Spray a light coat of primer onto each ornament, holding the ornament on a stick and rotating it while spraying for an even coat. Allow the primer to dry for about 15 minutes before proceeding to the next step.
Painting:
Choose your desired spray paint colour and apply it using light, thin coats. Rotate the ornament while spraying to ensure an even coverage. Allow the paint to dry for a few minutes between coats, and apply as many coats as necessary for your desired finish. Remember, textured spray paints may require more coats to achieve full coverage.
Finishing:
Once the paint is completely dry, reattach the caps and add any desired embellishments, such as ribbons or glitter. If you wish to seal in the glitter and prevent it from falling off, use a clear sealer, such as Glitter Blast clear sealer.
Additional Tips:
- If you want a velvet-like texture for your ornaments, use the flocking method with flocking powder, mod podge, and paint.
- To prevent paint from cracking inside the ornament, add a few drops of rubbing alcohol, swirl it around, and let it dry before painting.
- If you're painting clear plastic ornaments, you can fill them with glitter or other decorative items for a unique look.
- To refresh vintage ornaments, use a mild silver polish to restore their shine.
With these simple steps, you can transform plain plastic ornaments into beautiful, personalised decorations that will brighten up your Christmas tree.
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Adding photos and embellishments
Clear plastic Christmas ornaments are a fun and creative way to decorate your home during the holidays. They can be filled with various embellishments to create unique and personalised designs.
One way to add photos to your plastic ornaments is to cut out a circle from your chosen photo that will fit inside the ornament. You can then attach strips of double-sided tape to the back of the photo and stick it to a circle of card stock. Cut a piece of fishing line and thread it through the wire holes in the ornament top, tying the ends off several times to secure the photo in place. You can then add ribbon or any other embellishments to finish off your ornament.
If you want to add glitter to your plastic ornaments, you can use a plastic syringe to fill the ornament with polycrylic. Hold the ornament in one hand and gently push the polycrylic inside, rotating the ornament to ensure that the entire inside surface is covered. Place the ornament in a small plastic cup to hold it in place and add your glitter. You can also add a few drops of rubbing alcohol to the inside of the ornament to prevent the paint from cracking.
For a velvet texture, you can use flocking powder, mod podge, and paint. Paint the base of the ornament first, and then apply the flocking powder. You can also use a hot glue gun to create designs on your ornaments. Set the gun to low heat and hold the ornament at the base, working down and around the ball. Sprinkle the hot glue with glitter before it dries and hold the ornament over a paper plate to catch any excess.
There are many ways to get creative with clear plastic ornaments and add your own personal touches.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use spray paint or a paintbrush to add colour to your plastic Christmas ornaments. If you're using spray paint, cover the parts of the ornament you don't want to paint with masking tape and a precision knife. Then, spray a light coat of primer on the ornament and let it dry for about 15 minutes. If you're using a paintbrush, simply paint over any areas that are looking worn or faded.
There are a few ways to add glitter to your plastic ornaments. One way is to use a syringe to add polycrylic to the inside of the ornament. Then, add glitter and gently rotate the ornament so that the entire inside surface is covered. Another way is to pour polycrylic into the ornament, swirl it around, dump out the excess, and then add glitter. Seal the ornament with a clear sealer to prevent glitter from falling off.
To clean your plastic Christmas ornaments, gently wipe them down with a soft, damp cloth or use a soft brush to remove dust and dirt. If the ornaments are very tarnished, you can use a mild silver polish to restore their shine.
There are many ways to decorate your plastic Christmas ornaments. You can wrap twine around the ornament, add ribbon or a bow, or place items like holly berries, felt balls, or snowflakes inside. You can also use Mod Podge to decorate the outside of the ornament or add items like glitter or crystals.
