What Paint would I use to paint a design on the outside of a satin painted glass christmas bulb?
We seen a christmas ornament at Walmart – it was a red satin glass ball ornament and had Santa’s belt (with glitter) and buckle (silver glitter) painted on it. We don’t have a lot of money so I told my autistic daughter we could make them for our tree – BUT – not telling her I do not know what kind of paint I would choose to use on an ornament and what glitter to use. Do they have glitter paint I could use and if so where would I purchase these paints? I promised her we would make them to decorate our tree with so I need all the help I can get from anyone who is craft and knows how to do this kind of project.
Thanks to all for your help and may you have a blessed Holiday Season.
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When you say “satin” I guess you mean satin-red color, not that the ball itself was a “satin ball ornament” since those are not glass but polyester threads or something. (The only way I’d know to really paint those would be to coat first with gesso –white or clear– or other clear acrylic finishes, or perhaps a few coats of clear acrylic spray, THEN paint on top of that.)
If you are talking about glass ball ornaments though (which have been pre-coated with color), you’ll probably want to use acrylic paints. Two coats may need to be used, or you could use a base coat of gesso or white acrylic paint as the bottom coat.
Be sure and wipe the ornament down with alcohol first to remove any dirt or hand oils that could act as resists for the paint.
I think the paint will stick reasonably well after drying as long as there isn’t much stress on the balls. Roughing up the exact surface to be painted a little bit with sandpaper or even an emery board could help too, but not sure if that’s necessary.
Some people may also coat the whole finished painted ball with clear polyurethane (or perhaps even Elmer’s GlueAll thinned down 3 or 4 to 1 with water, which will dry clear) to act as a protective coat that would also encapsulate all the paint and ball.
Polyurethanes are sold at hardware stores for sealing bare wood… I’d suggest a water-based one for ease of clean up, and you can choose gloss, satin, or matte (if you want no glossiness at all –though apply your glittery stuff after using a matte if you choose that).
As for the glitter, you can buy “glitter paints” (the permanent ones are acrylics usually sold in squeeze bottles for decorating fabric), and I think there are non-permanent (non-waterproof) ones sold for use on paper too.
Or you could drop the glitter onto any paint or clear sealer while it’s still wet and it should hold.
Or you could wait till the ball is all painted with the colors, then brush on a bit of clear fingernail polish, polyurethane, or acrylic medium etc., and drop the glitter onto that.
Or you could mix the glitter into a clear finish, then use that as a paint (with a brush, regular or foam).
You don’t say though if you want to use the large “craft” glitter that often comes as silver, gold, red, etc, and is made from aluminum… or if you want to use the fine-grain polyester glitters that aren’t metal (often called microfine glitters, sold in fabric decorating or rubberstamping departments –those aren’t the same as “embossing” powders though!).
That first one will give a different look than the second one (which would more sparkley and easier to use because it’s smaller grain bits).
Try some of the links in this google search for more instructions and ideas:
http://www.google.com/search?q=glass+ball+ornament+outside+paint+Santa+glitter+-shop+-sales
(be aware that some people will be “painting” clear glass balls from the *inside* –that could be fun for your daughter too, but takes several days to dry).
HTH, and have fun!
Diane B.
A very easy (and cheap) way to do it is to buy black glitter for the belt and silver for the buckle, and some tacky glue. You can get some cheap red ornaments for the base, maybe even from the dollar store.
Paint on the buckle with glue, making sure it is nice and thick. Then, over a paper plate, dump the silver glitter on the glue and shake off the extra. Let it dry, and then paint on the belt and do the same with the black glitter.