Tszuj it Up!

I, like many before me, have just had to google the spelling for a word that may not in fact exist.  I use it all the time - as I do it all the time - but I didn`t have a clue how to spell "juj?" it up.  I'm still not certain it is an actual word but I have certainly chosen my favourite spelling. Tszuj.  What a great word.  Scrabble, anyone?

Painted Glass Balls with Diamond Gem Embellishments

I'm working to catch up with my craft photography for posting, and top of the agenda for this weekend is the painted glass Christmas balls.  They're 'painted' on the inside by swirling paint inside and it's super fun to see all the different patterns that it will make.  It's like those twirling paint art works - inside a Christmas ball.

Different from every angle, they're a lovely addition to the Christmas tree. I hadn't made any in ages, after making tons of them a few decades ago, but when I came across these slightly larger versions embellished with silver gem stones I just couldn't resist.

Simple and easy to make, the only thing is you'll need ample space to set them out for occasional rotating while they completely dry.  I use plastic or styrofoam cups for the balls to sit in while the paint drips out, and it's a good idea to cover the surface below for any spills.

Have a go, they're lots of fun, or if you want to take a look at mine, they're gradually making their way to the Christmas is Magical shop

Glitter Balls with Santa Hats

This is my latest little 'upcycling' project with a Dollar Store ornament. I love poking around the aisles for things that can be transformed into something else.



When I spotted these I was very excited. My initial plan was to paint them with little faces, but after many layers of attempt, it wasn't really working out. When I tried painting the red balls, in particular, I was up to 6 layers of white paint and still getting pink. The finish on the glass ball was actually turning the paint into a Pepto Bismo pink. It was rather fascinating, but not at all Christmasy.

So .... glitter came to the rescue and saved the day. Yay for glitter. Snowballs with Santa hats - I instantly loved them. I used a layer of Twinkles Glitter Paint and then - as this wasn't enough - some actual glitter.

I'm looking forward to trying some more, as the steps necessary are far less than I went through in the experimenting process. Paint, twinkle glaze/paint and glitter should do the trick. I also added some glitter glaze to the holly (green) and berries (red). No doubt it would also be pretty with just a crystal glaze, but I happened to have the colours.

They look pretty on the tree don't you think? One could go to town with sequins and other trim bits on the hat, but I am keeping it simple.

The garland on this tree is another recent experiment, but I shall have to tell you more about that - still in development!

Painted Glass Balls

Painted Glass Balls on my wire Christmas Tree

This is a fun little ornament you can make in a variety of styles just by experimenting with colour combinations. They take very little work, you'll just need space to lay them out for a while (days) to dry. Small yoghurt containers or styrofoam cups which you can cut down to size are excellent for draining the paint while the ornament dries.