Altered Christmas Baubles (Ornaments)

Sanna show us how to create, repurpose or redesign baubles (ornaments) for the Christmas Tree. Before you throw away an old or outdated ornament, consider giving it a quick makeover with a design that fits right into your holiday decor. If you don’t have any to repurpose, you can purchase blank paper mache’, wooden or plastic ornaments. You will be covering most of them, so what is underneath doesn’t really matter. Sanna created her collection of baubles in reds, whites and natural colors. But, you can create them in colors that match your tree, your home decor colors or a fun assortment that is new and fresh for you.

Sanna here!!! I have several sets of white and red Christmas baubles, but every year one or two break. A decoupage bauble is more robust and when altered, also a very personal Christmas tree decoration.

What you will need:

1. Gesso, white
2. Glimmer Mist: Marmalade
3. Simply Sheer: Starfish
4. High Impact: Metallic White paint
5. Red and White Dot Reverse Paper
6. Texture Paste
7. Twine, Ribbon, Chipboard pieces, Wooden Pearls, Half Pearls, Buttons
8. Jute Rope Light Natural Hank
9. Embossing Enamel – Shabby White
10. Loose Multi Crystal Glitter Mix
11. Serviette Varnish
12. Decoupage Baubles (kraft), Old Baubles or Plastic Baubles

Tools: Heat gun; Paper glue; Palette knife; Paint brushes; Spraying box; Scissors

Ornament #1: Mixed Media Ornament Makeover

Add layers of ribbon, lace, chipboard pieces, pearls, leftover holiday trims, etc onto your ornament with gesso or glue to hold them into place and let dry. Don’t worry about the color – you will be covering them all up so just look for items with texture and dimension. Mist with your favorite Glimmer Mist or Simply Sheer and let dry. Then add Tattered Angels High Impact Metallic Paint (white) in droplets here and there onto the misted ornament. Finally apply Embossing Enamel (will need to be heat set) and add some white half pearls.

Ornament #2: Natural Cord Ornament (perfect for natural and nautical trees)

For the next bauble, cover the whole gessoed bauble with serviette varnish and add the jute rope around the bauble. Let dry and the second altered bauble is finished.

Ornament #3 – Paper and Glitter Ornament

For the next one, rip pieces of paper (Canvas Corp Red & White Dot Rev.) and adhere them with Seviette Varnish or your favorite decoupage medium. Repeat with a second layer and let dry. Add the ribbon with paper glue, add bigger half pearls around the center of the ornament and then cover the top half of the ornament (except the ribbon!) with High Impact Metallic Paint. While the paint is still wet, add Multi Crystal Glitter Mix over it and let dry. Finish by adding tiny pearls to the upper ribbon pieces and add a tiny button, tassel or bow to the bottom of the ornament.

Ornament #4: Lots Of Texture Ornament

Spray Glimmer Mist Marmalade onto the fourth gessoed bauble and let dry. Then, use a palette knife to apply some light texture paste onto the top of the bauble, to look like frosting. While the texture paste is still wet, apply red small beads and Multi Crystal Glitter Mix over the paste. Leave to dry overnight. The paste will soak some color from the bauble and turn light orange in the end.

Ornament #5 Twine-Wrapped Ornament

Wrap ribbon and twine around the upper part of the bauble and glue in place, if necessary. Then apply a thin layer of gesso over the whole bauble and let dry. Mist Glimmer Mist (Marmalade) over the bauble and let air dry. Finally, apply some glitter around the ribbon area and adhere some half pearls for additional decoration.

Ornament #6: Glitter Snow Ornament

Paint the entire ornament with Tattered Angels White High Impact Metallic paint and let dry. Then add some Shabby Embossing Enamel onto the surface and heat set it. Finally adhere a velvet ribbon (white) onto the middle of the bauble for decoration.

Happy Creating!!!!