Project Sheet

“Looks Great! Little Full. Lotta Sap!” - Christmas Vacation

Difficulty Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Completion Time: 1-2 hours

Watch a video overview:

'Tis the Season to crank up the DIY’s!

This particular tutorial will make your Christmas merry & bright while keeping the kids occupied so you can focus on that never-ending checklist.

Marbled everything was a huge trend this year, so why not create that modern Christmas tree vibe you’ve been longing for, but just haven’t had the time or creativity or patience… or…. You get it! Grab the simple materials below & get to marbling!

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays 🎅🎄🎁

From Your MisterArt.com Family

What You'll Need

marbled-ornament-supplies

Heavy Glass Ornaments (Clear or Iridescent)
Smooth Foam Balls (2 in. Pack of 12)
Easy Marble Set by Marabu Also Available in Individual Colors
Plastic Container - approximately 6.5 in. diameter and 4.5 in. tall (size will vary based on the object being dipped)
Wood Burnisher (or wood skewer for holding ornament & stirring)
3-in-1 Craft and Jewelry Tool (or S shaped ornament hooks)
Hemp Cord Cards (to hang your beautiful creation!)
Clear Fixative (Glass version may scratch easier without a protective coat)
Clothespins (To help you dip your ornament)
White Lintless Cotton Gloves (or latex gloves)

ARTISTIC TIP: For a clean & more vibrant coverage, use the smooth styrofoam© balls instead of the standard open-cell styrofoam©. While both can be used, the smooth foam offers a glossy look with less texture and higher color density.

1. Set Up Shop

marbled-ornament1 Fill your plastic container with about ⅔ cold water so it doesn’t overflow when the object is dipped, but make sure it’s deep enough to fully immerse the object. Try a test dip to be sure. Gently shake and then open your intended colors in preparation - as there is a short window for working with the colors before you’ll need to dip. Select 2-3 colors in each color scheme.

ARTISTIC TIP: If you don’t want color-stained hands, we recommend using some latex gloves! You can also grab these White Lintless Cotton Gloves from our website to avoid latex!

2. Prep Object for Dipping

marbled-ornament2 The Smooth Foam Balls have a premade hole into which you can place a wooden skewer for dipping.

If you’re creating the glass version instead, gently remove the ornament cap and filigree (the wire inside the ornament holding the cap). Grab a clothespin and carefully attach it to the opening hole on the ornament. You may have to attempt this multiple times until you find the right angle to ensure the clothespin doesn’t snap off. Ensure you have a good grip as the dipping will require steady pressure.

3. Drip In Color Layers

marbled-ornament4 Begin to drop the first Easy Marble color into the plastic container until the water surface is covered. Drip additional colors into the first.

ARTISTIC TIP: The white Easy Marble color dries clear, allowing for transparent spacing to bring out the objects original colors.

4. Stir & Swirl

marbled-ornament5 Once the surface of the water is covered with color, use the wooden stick or skewer to stir or swirl the colors as desired. Visualize the ornaments final design but work quickly as the marbling will begin to become tacky and stick to the wood skewer.

5. Time to Dip!

marbled-ornament6 Slowly dip the ball into the center of the colored film. The film will wrap around the object. Submerge the object fully and continue to hold the ornament underwater.

6. Clear the Film

marbled-ornament7 Before lifting the object, clear the remaining film out of the way with scrap paper or thin cardboard. (We just used a piece of cardboard from the ornament packaging.)

TIP: The dunking stage takes some strength and pressure, especially if using glass, so supervise your kids during this step.

7. Reveal & Dry

marbled-ornament8 Carefully pull the ornament out of the water and ta-da! Set your newly-marbled ornament aside to dry. The wooden skewer can be pressed into a scrap block of styrofoam©, pinned to a hanging string, or balanced in a cup of marbles. We used a clothespin to attach the glass ornaments to the edge of the plastic tray from the original packaging.

8. Add Hanging Element

marbled-ornament9 Once the ornament is completely dry, it’s time to hang it for display. We unwrapped a paper clip and curled the end with the jewelry tool to press it into the pre-existing hole in the styrofoam©. For the glass ornament, re-attach the cap & filigree to the top. Tie the hemp craft cord onto the cap - a crafty alternative to the original S wire ornament hooks.

ARTISTIC TIP: A clear fixative may be used to protect the color and to avoid any scratches. The glass version is more susceptible to abrasions.