Make a Hand-Painted Ornament

• Red and white round glass ornaments
• Red and white spray paint
• Ultra-fine-point permanent marking pen
• Cotton swabs
• Rubbing alcohol
• Plaid Tip-Pen set
• Dowel stick or pencil
• Coffee cup or paper cup
• Small items, such as marbles, to weight the cup
• Folk Art Enamels paint

Note: Ornaments with an outer glaze or frost matte finish are not suitable for this technique.

1. To determine the finish on your ornament, remove the metal top and brush the exposed top of the ornament with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. If the finish is not altered, the ornament has an acceptable finish.
2. Spray-paint the metal top white for red ornaments and red for the white ones.
3. Using the marking pen, mark four equally spaced dots around the neck of the ornament.
4. Making light marks with the marking pen, follow each dot down the sides of the ornament, stopping three-quarters of the way. Use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol to erase and redraw the lines, if necessary.
5. Referring to the photograph, randomly draw swirls, circles, lines, dots, and squiggles with the marking pen within the quadrants.
6. Follow the manufacturer's instructions with the Tip-Pen set to prepare the paint bottles.
7. Use the second largest micro tip from the set.
8. Prepare a drying area for your ornament by placing a dowel stick in a weighted cup.
9. Hold the ornament in your hand, supporting it with your thumb and fingertips, and begin painting the design.
10. Do not touch the micro tip to the ornament; let the paint flow onto the drawn lines.
11. Turn the ornament as you paint your way around the design.
12. Paint the top section of the ornament first; allow it to dry on the dowel for 2 to 3 hours.
13. Paint the bottom section in the same way.
14. When dry, replace the metal top.