Creating a painted glass ornament craft is a fun and memorable Christmas activity for kids, even if it can get a little messy! Children can design beautiful homemade decorations to hang on the tree by using clear glass ball ornaments and a variety of bright paints. My own little ones loved this project, and even my busy toddler surprised me with how well she handled the delicate ornaments. With a little prep and plenty of imagination, these painted ornaments will quickly become a family favorite.

Be forewarned: Making painted glass ornaments is messy and requires some time – and patience! But it is well worth the effort! This was by far my children’s favorite Christmas Craft and they are so sparkly and beautiful!

Don’t be scared of the glass component of this. My very-busy-2 1/2 year old surprised me beyond belief while doing this craft. She could completely do the whole thing by herself and never dropped her ornament, not even one time.

I can’t say the same about her mother. Sigh.

🎄Looking for more Christmas Ideas? Browse through my large selection of Christmas Worksheets and Printables! You will find book suggestions, more craft ideas, and a plethora of printable worksheets and activities for your young learners.

What You Will Need for the Glass Ornament Craft

Note: At the time of this writing almost 15 (!) years ago, only glass ball ornaments were available. In recent years, you can easily find plastic clear ornaments, however, I would still encourage you to use glass ones. The plastic ornaments do not pick up paint as well as the glass and the end result is not nearly as exciting.

So be brave and choose glass! ❤️

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Items You’ll Need for the Glass Ornament Christmas Craft:
– Clear Glass ball ornaments – 3″ to 4″ in diameter works best
– Acrylic craft paint of your choice – We used matte green, a deep matte red, and a green and red glitter glue (the glitter glue was the favorite!)
– Paint brushes
– Q-tips
– Rubbing alcohol and cotton balls
– Christmas Ribbon – 1/2″ works best
– Coat hanger

How to Make the Painted Glass Ornament Craft

Follow these step-by-step instructions and your glass Christmas ornaments will turn out beautifully!

Prep the ornaments.
Wipe each glass ornament with rubbing alcohol using a cotton ball. This removes any residue and helps the paint adhere smoothly. They dry in just a few seconds.

The label on the glittery paint suggested I do that and I am so glad I took the extra few minutes to clean them. They were filthy even thought they were packaged! They dry in seconds, so make sure you take the time to do this step.

2. Apply the base coat.
Pour a small amount of paint onto a paper plate. Holding the ornament upside down by the hanger, completely cover it with an even base coat

3. Let the first coat dry.
Most ornaments need a second coat, whether you use matte or glitter paint. Allow about an hour of drying time between coats.
Regardless of the paint that was used – matte or glittery – both types needed a second coat.

4. Create a drying rack.
Hang your ornaments from a coat hanger using string. This keeps them elevated and prevents smudges while drying.

I racked my brain trying to decide how we could dry them without laying them on a hard surface. I thought up this idea where I hung them with string on an old coat hanger. It worked well!

5. Decorate the ornaments.
After the second coat is dry, dip Q-tips into different paint colors and add polka dots, stripes, swirls, or any designs your children imagine.

My kiddos wanted to create little polka dots and stripes. You can certainly create anything your mind can imagine!

6. Dry completely.
Hang the ornaments again and allow them to dry overnight. They typically need 24–48 hours to cure fully and lose the tacky feel.

7. Display or gift the ornaments.
Hang your finished ornaments on the tree or send them to grandparents for a nice homemade gift.

Notes and Tips for Painted Glass Ornament Craft

Here are a few helpful tips to think about before you get started painting your ornaments this Christmas Season.

Plastic ornaments work too.
If the glass worries you, clear plastic ornaments are a safe substitute. As I said earlier in the post, the paint doesn’t adhere as well to the plastic, but it does work with many coats.
Keep paint layers smooth.
Thick paint layers are fine, but they do tend to clump easily. A smooth, thin coat of paint usually works best.
Let kids choose their colors.
Glitter paints, metallics, and pastels all make beautiful ornaments. Give your children options to make their ornaments unique! Find craft paint that is sold in a set of colors and finishes.
Work over a tray.
Working over a craft tray or tinfoil-lined sheet pan with a lip helps contain drips and makes cleanup much easier.
Makes a great keepsake.
Write your child’s name and the year on the hanger or bottom with a paint pen. You could also write it on the ribbon that you use to hang the ornament. Whatever you do, make sure the date is on it, because the years fly by and you will forget! Believe me!

Edited to add in 2025: At the time of this original writing, my children were 6, 4, 2, and the baby was taking a nap! Now my children are 20, 18, 16, 15 (the baby at the time), and 8. Each year, we look at the two glass ornaments that are left and reminisce. One sadly broke a few years later, so we are left with 2. Take the time to make great memories with your children, Mamas. The time goes by quickly! ❤️