Ink Stains: 25 Ideas for the Holidays - #2 Chipboard Faux Glass Ornaments

Today I wanted to share a fun way to make faux glass ornaments to send in the mail...they look great and won't break!

Chipboard Faux Glass Ornaments

Supplies:

Chipboard
Stamps (Stampers Best)
Ink
Markers
Embossing Ink
UTEE
Heat Tool
Metal Leafing Flakes, Glass Glitter, Leafing Pen
Stretch Cord
Ornament Die or Circle pattern

Instructions:

1. Stamp desired images onto the chipboard using permanent ink. I started off by stamping music over the entire sheet then I went back and stamped various Christmasy images. All of the images I used for these ornaments are from Stampers Best.

2. Color the images with markers.

3. Hand cut or die-cut desired shapes for your ornaments. I have a die that cuts large ornaments but I also cut one that is just a plain circle by hand. You don't have to use just circles...your ornaments can be any shape you desire. Let your imagination run wild.

4. Now pounce the clear embossing ink over the entire ornament.

5. Sprinkle with UTEE and begin heating with a heat tool. I like to work in a shallow box which has been lined with aluminum foil. This helps protect my work surface from those tiny bits of UTEE that always manage to fly away.

6. Continue alternating between adding more UTEE and heating.

TIP - When I'm working on a project like this I like to fill an old pepper shaker (salt shaker holes are usually too small) with the UTEE. This is such a time saver!!! I just shake on what I need and don't have to mess with the jar, tiny spoons, etc. By having the shaker in one hand and the heat tool in the other I can really add many layers of UTEE without having to stop or slow down. I can finish an ornament in no time using this method.

Here is what the ornaments look like at this point.....

7. You can add a faux hanger to your ornaments in any number of ways. My favorite is to use metal leafing flakes. Simply add a dab of glue, layer on the flakes, let it dry a bit then brush away the excess leafing flakes. Makes for an awesome finished look....

You can always use a Metallic Paint Pen - I like Krylon's. They just paint right over everything.

Or if you've hand cut a shape that doesn't have a built in hanger you can always add a mat to your shape to add the hanger to. Here I have die-cut a mat with holes around the edges, covered with glitter then I mounted the circle on the mat.

8. The final step is to at a bit of stretch cord to each ornament for hanging and your ornament is ready to be given!

NOTE: this is for a one sided ornament. This leaves room on the back for a special little note to the person receiving the ornament. You could always add a second ornament to the back of the first for a double sided ornament. Just remember to add a bit of trim, glitter glue or other medium to cover the seam.