Imzadi
♥ Saved by an angel in a trench coat!
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2004
You can make photo ornament balls like these (below) very easily. The photo is glued to the INSIDE of the ornament, not on the outside. Then the background is filled in with glitter. They look so pretty & professionally done, especially if you use ultra-fine glitters for the background. Of course, use your Disney trip photos inside or any photos really special to you for keepsakes. 
Photo glued INSIDE ornament.
Then glitter added on (after photo is adhered.) NOT shown in pics below, which would be in between steps 2 and 3.)
Here are the full directions for the ornament:
Photo Ornament
Materials:
Instructions:
Step One: Carefully remove the metal cap from the top of your glass ornament carefully by squeezing the wire at the sides where the they extend down into the ornament. If the wire is just pulled out quickly, a glass ball may crack. Rinse the ornament with a solution of bleach and water (this helps prevent mold growth on the finished ornament). Place upside down on paper towels to drain. Let dry thoroughly.
Step Two: Select a photograph for your photo ornament. Resize the image size to fit the center of your ornament and print a copy of the photo on regular printer paper. (Do NOT use glossy photo paper - it won't conform to the glass ball very well.) Make sure you use a photocopy of your picture (not the original.)
The image MUST be printed with a powder ink, as with a color LASER printer, or from a copier store. NOT an inkjet printer. The powder ink copies are more permanent than the water-soluble dyes in inkjet printers. They won't fade & will last for years.
Step Three: Carefully cut around the copied photo, leaving about a 1/4-inch border. Next, cut into the edge of the image about ½ inch, all around the whole image every 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch. This allows the paper to fit smoothly on the rounded ball instead of creasing in areas. These cuts will not show on the finished ornament.
Then, use a straight sewing pin, prick the image in several places that will not be noticeable: such as a corner of an eye, or the edge of an object in the image. This will help release trapped air bubbles while adhering the ornament.
Step Four: Pour some adhesive (about a quarter teaspoon) into the ornament, being careful not to get it on the neck. Tilt the ball to let the adhesive run until it covers the glass where the image will be placed.
Step Five: Roll the copied photo (image side out) into a roll small enough to fit into the ornament and carefully insert. Slightly bend the mascara wand brush into a gentle curve and angle it so it fits against the inner curve of the ornament. Use the mascara wand to gently unfold the photo & position the photo against the inside of the ornament where you want it and carefully brush over the back of the entire photo with the curved wand until it is smoothly adhered to the glass. Work slowly and be patient - this can be tricky with larger photos and round ball ornaments.
Step Six: If using glitter, pour more adhesive into the ornament, and tilt the ornament to cover the inside completely. Pour out any excess into a disposable cup. Pour glitter into the ornament and roll the ball until the entire inside of the ornament is covered. You can use multiple colors. If you find you've missed a spot with the adhesive, you can use the mascara wand to dab more adhesive to that spot. Shake out any excess glitter to avoid clumping.
Step Seven: Turn the ball upside down onto a disposable cup and allow the excess adhesive to drain out. Allow the photo ornament to thoroughly dry. If you did not use glitter on the ball, you can now add shredded Mylar angel hair, decorative paper shreds, confetti, punched paper snowflakes, feathers, or other decorative items to fill the inside of the ball. Once the ornament is completed, carefully put the metal cap back on, pinching the wires to avoid damaging the ornament opening.
TIP: If you make a mistake, tear a photo, etc. you can always start over. Pour in some bleach to loosen and remove everything. Rinse out the ornament, then let the inside dry and start over.
Enjoy your special keepsake ornament!
Original directions adapted from “The Magic Bubble ornament." A technique by Anita Adams White.
http://genealogy.about.com/cs/holidays/p/ornament.htm
Alternate ornament with no photo:
Glittery Ornament Balls:
If you just want to make glittery ornament balls with the kids, no photo inside, follow the steps above in the illustrated pics. If you prefer the ornament to be assorted colors, after you've poured out the excess adhesive, just sprinkle one colored glitter in on one side. Shake out excess. Then sprinkle in the next color glitter on another side & swirl around filling in empty spots. If you rotate & tip the ball so the glitter adheres to different places of the varnish, you'll get something like this:
Or, skip the adhesive & glitter & dribble in pearlized/metallic acrylic paints (slightly watered down so they move & flow a bit,) and you can get this effect. Just put a few drops of paint inside and swirl in different directions. Then add another color & repeat.
Photo glued INSIDE ornament.
Then glitter added on (after photo is adhered.) NOT shown in pics below, which would be in between steps 2 and 3.)
Here are the full directions for the ornament:
Photo Ornament
Materials:
- Clear glass or plastic ornament (any shape & size.) Michaels Crafts usually has them.
- A clear adhesive such as clear acrylic varnish by Liquitex, FolkArt, or Ceramcoat. These can be found in craft paint department. OR a craft glue such as Mod Podge that dries CLEAR, (mix two parts glue to one part water.) OR pictured is Pledge Floor Care Finish.
- A disposable mascara applicator or a Q-tip cotton swab. Securely tape the applicator onto a long thin stick like a wooden shish kebab skewer. The thinner the better for maneuverability inside the neck of the ornament. **
- Crystal glitter (very fine or ultra-fine), OR powdered paint pigments (such as Pearl Ex.) OR shredded Mylar angel hair to stuff into the ball.
Instructions:
Step One: Carefully remove the metal cap from the top of your glass ornament carefully by squeezing the wire at the sides where the they extend down into the ornament. If the wire is just pulled out quickly, a glass ball may crack. Rinse the ornament with a solution of bleach and water (this helps prevent mold growth on the finished ornament). Place upside down on paper towels to drain. Let dry thoroughly.
Step Two: Select a photograph for your photo ornament. Resize the image size to fit the center of your ornament and print a copy of the photo on regular printer paper. (Do NOT use glossy photo paper - it won't conform to the glass ball very well.) Make sure you use a photocopy of your picture (not the original.)
The image MUST be printed with a powder ink, as with a color LASER printer, or from a copier store. NOT an inkjet printer. The powder ink copies are more permanent than the water-soluble dyes in inkjet printers. They won't fade & will last for years.
Step Three: Carefully cut around the copied photo, leaving about a 1/4-inch border. Next, cut into the edge of the image about ½ inch, all around the whole image every 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch. This allows the paper to fit smoothly on the rounded ball instead of creasing in areas. These cuts will not show on the finished ornament.
Then, use a straight sewing pin, prick the image in several places that will not be noticeable: such as a corner of an eye, or the edge of an object in the image. This will help release trapped air bubbles while adhering the ornament.
Step Four: Pour some adhesive (about a quarter teaspoon) into the ornament, being careful not to get it on the neck. Tilt the ball to let the adhesive run until it covers the glass where the image will be placed.
Step Five: Roll the copied photo (image side out) into a roll small enough to fit into the ornament and carefully insert. Slightly bend the mascara wand brush into a gentle curve and angle it so it fits against the inner curve of the ornament. Use the mascara wand to gently unfold the photo & position the photo against the inside of the ornament where you want it and carefully brush over the back of the entire photo with the curved wand until it is smoothly adhered to the glass. Work slowly and be patient - this can be tricky with larger photos and round ball ornaments.
Step Six: If using glitter, pour more adhesive into the ornament, and tilt the ornament to cover the inside completely. Pour out any excess into a disposable cup. Pour glitter into the ornament and roll the ball until the entire inside of the ornament is covered. You can use multiple colors. If you find you've missed a spot with the adhesive, you can use the mascara wand to dab more adhesive to that spot. Shake out any excess glitter to avoid clumping.
Step Seven: Turn the ball upside down onto a disposable cup and allow the excess adhesive to drain out. Allow the photo ornament to thoroughly dry. If you did not use glitter on the ball, you can now add shredded Mylar angel hair, decorative paper shreds, confetti, punched paper snowflakes, feathers, or other decorative items to fill the inside of the ball. Once the ornament is completed, carefully put the metal cap back on, pinching the wires to avoid damaging the ornament opening.
TIP: If you make a mistake, tear a photo, etc. you can always start over. Pour in some bleach to loosen and remove everything. Rinse out the ornament, then let the inside dry and start over.
Enjoy your special keepsake ornament!
Original directions adapted from “The Magic Bubble ornament." A technique by Anita Adams White.
http://genealogy.about.com/cs/holidays/p/ornament.htm
Alternate ornament with no photo:
Glittery Ornament Balls:
If you just want to make glittery ornament balls with the kids, no photo inside, follow the steps above in the illustrated pics. If you prefer the ornament to be assorted colors, after you've poured out the excess adhesive, just sprinkle one colored glitter in on one side. Shake out excess. Then sprinkle in the next color glitter on another side & swirl around filling in empty spots. If you rotate & tip the ball so the glitter adheres to different places of the varnish, you'll get something like this:
Or, skip the adhesive & glitter & dribble in pearlized/metallic acrylic paints (slightly watered down so they move & flow a bit,) and you can get this effect. Just put a few drops of paint inside and swirl in different directions. Then add another color & repeat.
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