Airbrushed Glass Ornaments

Materials

3'' clear glass ornament
Badger Anthem Airbrush
hose and compressor
Pinata Alcohol Paints
Pebeo gold glass paint
bottle and fine tip
acrylic paint: gold, white
alcohol and airbrush cleaner
cotton swabs taped to a small skewer

1. Remove ornament collar. Drop a few beads of red paint inside the neck on one side of the ornaments (figure A).

2. Working quickly because the paint dries fast, turn the ornament with one hand and begin blowing the paint around inside the ornament with the airbrush (figure B).

3. Take another color (blue) and repeat the step above. This time drop the blue on the opposite side of the red (figure C). Several colors can be used, just be careful to use colors that either make a new color (like red and blue together makes purple) or analogous colors (red, yellow and orange). When blown, the colors will mingle and blend.

4. When you're satisfied with the amount of color and pattern, dip the cotton swab taped to a skewer in the paint and begin dabbing the inside of the ornament in various places (figure D). This will create rings in the design already blown because the alcohol paint repels like salt in watercolors (figure E). These produce wonderful patterns and textures. If you bend the swab near the tip, you will be able to reach all areas of the ornament.

5. Insert the airbrush nozzle, filled with white or gold acrylic paint, into the ball and begin spraying lightly to form a background (figure F).

6. This is when the fun part really begins! Either color acts as an accent that reveals wonderfully bright color. Do not over spray as it will take a long time to dry.

7. You can either leave the ornament as is or add a design on the outside, following the inside design, with glass paint in a bottle with a fine tip (figure G). The end result is a beautiful, bright, unique ornament that is truly one of a kind and great for the holidays!