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I Tried Making DIY Clear Ball Ornaments and These Supplies Actually Worked
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items Every December I'd scroll Pinterest, see those gorgeous swirled paint ornaments, then buy random supplies and end up with a sticky mess on my kitchen table. This year I finally nailed it. If you're the person who wants a tree full of custom ornaments...
Sections
5
Clear Ornament Balls That Don't Crack or Cloud Up
Acrylic Paint That Actually Swirls Inside the Ball
Glitter and Mix-Ins That Stay Put Inside
Finishing Touches and Ribbon for Hanging
Tools That Keep the Process From Getting Messy
Clear Ornament Balls That Don't Crack or Cloud Up
I went through two packs of flimsy ornaments that shattered the second I tried to pop the cap off. These ones held up through paint swirling, glitter dumping, and a toddler grabbing one off the counter.
Grab these if you want a standard size that fits any tree. They pop open clean and the plastic is thick enough to survive paint pouring without warping. Bought four packs and not a single one cracked on me.
Darice Plastic Ball Ornament, 70mm, Clear -1 Ball
Use these for bigger statement ornaments. My sister wanted oversized ones for her mantle and these looked like glass but weighed nothing. Stock up because they sell out fast around November.
Clear Plastic Ball Ornaments (3.15inch/80 mm, 12 Set of)
Switch to glass if you want that real weight and shine. The paint clings differently to glass and the swirl patterns come out way more defined. Just keep them away from tile floors, obviously.
Darice Fillable Clear Glass Ornaments: 3.125-inch Discs
Perfect for the person who wants to stuff dried flowers or mini photos inside instead of paint. The seam is nearly invisible once you hang them. I made five for teacher gifts in about twenty minutes.
Himaly 100mm Clear Plastic DIY Craft Ball Ornament
Try this larger size if you're doing a themed tree. I filled one with fake snow and a tiny bottle brush tree and my neighbor thought I bought it from a boutique. That felt pretty good.
Milisten Clear 4 Inch Fillable Acrylic Ornaments
Acrylic Paint That Actually Swirls Inside the Ball
Not all paint works for this. I ruined my first batch with craft paint that just sat in a blob at the bottom. These flow the right way and dry without peeling off the inside.
Grab this set first because the colors are already curated and the consistency is thin enough to swirl without adding water. I've used this brand for years and at this price you won't stress if you mess up a few.
Apple Barrel, Multi-Surface Acrylic Craft Paint Set, 2 fl oz
Pour a tiny amount of this into a clear ball, rotate it slowly, and it looks like liquid gold. My mom called them ‘fancy’ which is the highest compliment she gives. Worth having one metallic in your lineup.
FolkArt, Metallic Acrylic Craft Paint, 8 fl oz, Pure Gold
Keep this around for when you want bold primary colors. The red in this pack is a true red, not that weird orange-red you get from cheaper sets. For anyone making ornaments with kids, these wash out of clothes too.
DecoArt Crafter's Acrylic Paint, Christmas Value Pack
Use this if you want ornaments that change color depending on the angle. My daughter said they looked ‘magic’ and honestly she was right. One coat inside the ball is all you need, don't overdo it.
Customer reviews for FolkArt Color Shift Acrylic Craft Paint
Pair white with any metallic for a marble effect that looks expensive. Swirl white first, then add gold or silver, and rotate the ball gently. Took me three tries to get the technique but now I can do it in my sleep.
Apple Barrel Acrylic Craft Paint, Gloss Finish, White, 8 fl oz
Glitter and Mix-Ins That Stay Put Inside
The first time I added glitter it clumped into one sad pile at the bottom. These actually distribute evenly and stick to the wet paint so the sparkle stays where you want it.
Toss a pinch of this in right after you pour the paint and it catches the light from every angle. Extra fine is the move here. Chunky glitter just looks like sand stuck to paint, trust me on this one.
Sulyn Extra Fine Glitter for Crafts, Champagne Gold, 2.5 oz
Snag this variety pack if you're making ornaments for different people. Each jar is a different color and the shaker top gives you way more control than dumping from a bag. Saved me from at least three glitter explosions.
Horizon Group USA Assorted Glitter Pack
Try stuffing a few tiny pom poms inside a clear ball with some loose glitter for a textured look. My friend called it ‘snow globe vibes’ and now she wants me to make her an entire set. They photograph really well too.
Darice Assorted Craft Pom Poms, 2 Pieces
Perfect for the person who thinks glitter alone is too subtle. Sprinkle confetti shapes inside and they catch light differently than fine glitter. I mixed stars with holographic flakes and the result was ridiculous in the best way.
Crafter's Square Tube Confetti, 3-ct. Packs
Get the big bag if you're making more than ten ornaments. I ran out halfway through last year and had to pause everything for a store run. One pound sounds like a lot but it goes faster than you think.
(Silver) Craft Glitter 1.10 Pound (500 Gram) Bottle
Finishing Touches and Ribbon for Hanging
I spent all this time making pretty ornaments then hung them with bent paperclips. Never again. These finishing supplies made everything look intentional and polished.
Swap out the metal hooks for satin ribbon loops and suddenly your ornaments look like they came from a catalog. Gold goes with everything and this ribbon doesn't fray when you cut it, which is rare.
Offray Ribbon, Red 5/8 inch Double Face Satin Polyester
Use a tiny dot of this to seal the ornament cap so paint doesn't leak when you hang them. Learned this the hard way when a red ornament dripped down my white wall. Dries completely clear and holds forever.
Gorilla Dries Clear Wood Glue, 4 oz
Write names or dates on the outside of finished ornaments. The oil-based ink sticks to plastic and glass without smearing. I personalized fifteen ornaments for a family dinner and people actually got emotional about them.
Sharpie Fine Point Oil-Based Paint Marker, 12 Pack
Tie a few strands of curling ribbon to each ornament cap for that extra pop. Takes ten seconds and makes even your messiest paint job look deliberate. My seven year old's ornaments went from ‘cute try’ to ‘wow’ with this trick.
2-pack - Berwick Splendorette Crimped Curling Ribbon 3
Stick a few gems around the cap area for ornaments you're giving as gifts. They add just enough sparkle without looking overdone. For anyone who wants to skip glitter cleanup, these are a solid alternative.
Gem Stickers For Kids Baker Ross Self Adhesive Craft Gems
Tools That Keep the Process From Getting Messy
My first attempt ended with paint on the ceiling and glitter in the dog's fur for a week. These tools kept everything contained and made the whole process actually fun instead of stressful.
Keep a stack of these under your ornaments while they dry. So much easier to toss a paper plate than scrub dried acrylic off your table. I go through about ten per session and regret nothing.
Hygloss Paper Plates 9", White, Pack of 100
Pour your paint into these first instead of trying to drip it straight from the bottle. The narrow tip gives you way more control and you waste less paint. Wish someone had told me this before I ruined my first batch.
(6 pack) 6 fl oz, Clear Plastic Squeeze Bottle, by Way
Use strips of this to hold ornament caps in place while the paint dries upside down. Also great for taping off sections if you want a clean color-block look. Peels off without leaving residue on the plastic.
Customer reviews for Scotch Blue Painter's Tape
Flip this upside down and set your ornaments between the cups to dry. Keeps them from rolling around and smearing. I saw this hack on TikTok and it honestly changed my whole setup. Already had one in my kitchen.
Mainstays 12-Cup Muffin Pan with Covered Carrier
Wear these unless you want metallic gold fingers for three days. Acrylic paint stains worse than you think, especially the darker colors. Toss a pair on before each session and your hands will thank you later.
Great Value Nitrile Disposable Gloves, One Size, 100 Count