DIY Ornament Ideas – How to make Alcohol Ink Ornaments

How to Paint Glass Ornaments with Adirondack Alcohol Inks

Here is a super cool way to make DIY Glass Ornaments by painting them with my favorite Adirondack Alcohol Inks. I have been searching around for some new and fun DIY Ornament Ideas and after experimenting with Alcohol Inks, I want to show you how easy it is to paint colorful, unique glass ornaments.

In This Article

• Supplies for Alcohol Ink Ornaments
• Prepare the Glass Ornament
• Paint the Ornament with Alcohol Ink
• Finish the Painted Ornament
• How to Seal Alcohol Ink on Glass

Not sure if you have noticed, but I’m sort of obsessed with Alcohol Inks lately. The colors are amazing!

You can create such gorgeous, painterly effects with alcohol ink. Honestly, they’re very much like watercolor paints but better somehow, brighter.

Plus, once again Christmas is right around the corner so it’s the perfect time to make some hand painted ornaments.

Also, if you’re looking for ideas for Christmas ornaments to make and sell, these little beauties would do really well at a Christmas Bazaar or Craft Show.

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My kids and I used to decorate glass ornaments by pouring different color paints inside and letting them swirl.

Really, those are still some of my absolute favorite Christmas tree ornaments. As the paints blend together, the ornaments end up with a marbled look.

This time, I decided to try painting the glass ornaments with Ranger Adirondack alcohol inks. The first ornament I painted with only alcohol ink and while it was pretty, the colors didn’t stand out on the clear glass.

After some pondering, I decided to try painting a white background with acrylic paint first. But, instead of painting the outside of the globe, I poured the white paint inside the globe and now the alcohol colors pop!

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For more Christmas crafting fun, you may like Making a Christmas Wreath with Ball Ornaments, DIY Christmas Wreath with Wool and 31 Creative Handmade Gift Ideas for Christmas or Birthdays. 14 DIY Christmas Wreath Ideas.

Love Alcohol Inks? You’ll also love my Alcohol Ink Switch Plate Covers

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Supplies for Alcohol Ink Ornaments:

Prepare the Glass Ornament

First, you need to remove the hanger from a glass ornament and set aside. Now, open your bottle of white acrylic paint. Carefully, squeeze a small amount of white paint into the globe.

Gently, turn the globe to distribute the paint evenly inside the globe. Add more paint, if needed, a little bit at a time and continue turning the ornament.

You want to make sure and cover the entire inside of the glove with white paint.

Once the entire inside of the ornament is covered with white paint, you will need to remove the excess. (Otherwise, the paint will take too long to dry)

The easiest that way I have found to remove the extra paint is to turn the glass ornament upside down on an old container where the opening is smaller than the globe such as an old tomato paste can or similar. The extra paint will drip out into the can.

Painting the Ornaments with Alcohol Ink

Before you begin, cover your work surface. Then, pour some rubbing alcohol in the disposable cup. Since these inks dry quickly go ahead and open all of your alcohol ink bottles.

Now you want to dip a paint brush in the rubbing alcohol and wipe on a part of the ornament. Next, pick up one of the bottles of alcohol ink and drip a small amount onto the rubbing alcohol. Less is more here!

Slowly turn your glass ornament and watch the ink flow. You can also blow on the ink to make it move. Give it a minute or two before adding more ink. These inks are hard to control but there’s really no wrong way here.

Pick a second color of alcohol ink and drip onto the ornament. Let the colors flow together and blend.

Now, add a third color of ink and repeat.

Isn’t it cool how the colors are swirling and blending to make new colors? Continue adding color until you are happy with your ornament.

Note, it does not have to be completely covered with alcohol inks. The white paint can show through here and there to highlight the other colors.

Finish the Painted Christmas Ornament

Once you are happy with your alcohol ink ornament, carefully re-insert the metal hanger. Take an old paint brush (or similar) and thread it through the hook and hang your ornament to dry.

For best results, let your ornament dry overnight. You don’t want to seal the ornament until the inks are as dry as possible.

How Do You Seal Alcohol Ink on Glass?

Now, the only thing left to do add two or three coats of the Acrylic Spray Sealer to protect the paint.

While all of these colors coordinate beautifully, I have found it best to use no more than 3 per piece. Otherwise, they tend to combine too much and become muddy.

And the really cool part is, if you are not completely happy with your alcohol ink ornament, you can simply wipe off the inks with the rubbing alcohol and start over. Obviously, that has to be done before sealing it.

This painting technique works great on all different glass objects from the various Christmas ornament shapes to picture frames.

Does Alcohol Ink Wash Off Glass?

The alcohol ink will not wash off, once it has been sealed properly. That is why I recommend you spray on more than one coat of sealer.

Just keep in mind that the paint won’t hold up to rigorous handling. And, even though we sealed the alcohol ink ornament, the paint can still be scratched.

Want more DIY ornament ideas for decorating glass globes? Here is a great article with loads of clever projects from HGTV.

Enjoy! And if you try this project, please send me a photo of your creation. Make sure and stay tuned … I have an entire post on great DIY ornament ideas coming up soon.
Peace,
Annette

For more Christmas crafting fun, I show you how to make a Make Your Own Christmas Wreath with Wool and 31 Creative Handmade Gift Ideas for Christmas or Birthdays. 14 DIY Christmas Wreath Ideas.

Plus, for more craft ideas with Tim Holtz Ranger Alcohol Inks, see how I made my DIY Alcohol Ink Switch Plate Covers

DIY Ornament Ideas – How to make Alcohol Ink Ornaments

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