These ornaments are very lovely, but they are very time AND space consuming. Plan on at least two weeks for them to properly dry.

Materials Needed:

* Several colors of acrylic craft paint including metalic colors

* Paper Dixie Cups

* Craft Sticks

* Plenty of containers to set the ornaments in while working and draining

* Clear glass ornament balls either purchased that way, or bleached

You will also need to have plenty of space to set the draining and drying ornaments.

Note: Please keep in mind that the colors you chose to use MAY not end up the colors in the actual finished ornament. This is due to the fact that you will be mixing the colors as you work. Just remember, if you do NOT like the finished product, you can always bleach the color back out and try again (Been there, done that)

For each ornament:

1) Squeeze a generous amount of acrylic paint in the color you wish to be your 'main' base color into a Dixie cup.

2) Carefully squeeze several drops of different colors onto the top of the base color.

3) Gently swirl the colors together using a craft stick or toothpick. Do NOT mix to hard or else you will end up with one muddy color.

4) Squeeze one edge of the cup to form a pour spout.

5) Holding the ball in one hand, slowly pour the paint into the opening of the ball, turning it slowly as you go. You will begin to see the colors moving down the inside of the ball, swirling and mixing as it goes.

6) Gently turn the ball to allow the paint to move across all of the inside surfaces. If there are some areas that do not seem to be getting paint coverage, drop a small amount of paint from the container onto the EDGE of the opening. This will push some of the excess paint on the top down the side to fill in some holes.

7) When all of the inside surface is covered with paint, set the ball, opening edge down into a container that is large enough to hold the opening neck off the bottom of the container. Allow the excess paint to drain for about 24 hours.

8) When excess paint has drained, move to another container to dry, open side up or to the side for 1 to 2 weeks.

What you first see is not always what you will end up with, so don't be too disappointed if you do not really like what you see at first. Unless the colors end up so hideous you can't stand to look at them, don't give up and chuck them into a bleach bath. As the paint dries it will continue to marbelize and the colors will become more vivid.

Experiment with colors you would never have thought to try together. It's amazing what some of these colors can do when they are swirled together. I've done green and purple, pink and blue and it's turned out gorgeous. I've also done green, red, white and gold and had it turn out looking like something the cat dragged in.

Metalic colors such as gold, silver, bronze and copper give a really nice glimmer effect, but they are not absolutely necessary. The effect is just as lovely without the glimmer.

updated January 19, 2004 ... All graphics on this page are designed by GossamerWing