Paper Christmas Ornaments - Cheap and Easy
Backstory:
I bought a small Christmas tree while still in college, but couldn't afford many ornaments. I wanted to create a "modern Victorian" look. A few bucks and a trip to Michael's later, these inexpensive, easy, and cat-proof baubles were born. The muted metallic on matte color looks rich without being fussy. Over the years, they've become a staple both as small gifts and on our tree (though more were destined to be the former!).

You'll need:
¤ Marvy® Uchida Liquid Gold/Silver/Copper fine line paint markers
¤ Plaid® Apple Barrel® craft paints (Royal Violet, Hunter Green, Victorian Red, True Navy)
¤ Foam craft brushes
¤ Unfinished paper mâché ornaments
¤ Wire hanger
¤ Sequins/beads/jewels as you wish



Now you:
1. Make your wire hanger into a drying rack. First, make the triangular part into an oblong diamond by bending the longest side and pulling away from the hook. Bend the hook towards the bottom corner until you've made a 45º angle (more or less). Bend the hook back and downwards. It should now be able to support one ornament while keeping it from touching your work surface.

2. Apply a thin coat of paint to the ornament. It's less frustrating to apply many thin coats than a few heavy coats - less drying time. If you make several drying racks, you can have a bunch going at once.

3. Paint completely dry? Let the fun begin! Pump and test your paint marker on a scrap surface until you get the flow going evenly. I've found that curlicues are quite forgiving; it's difficult to screw up badly enough for anyone to notice. I tend to make mine small, but you can vary them to your heart's content. My favorite color combinations are silver/blue, gold/red, and copper/green. Purple is new for me this year.

I like to keep mine simple, but you could experiment with glossy or sparkly paints, jewel embellishments Tacky® glued among the swirls, or a beaded hang cord. And there are other ornament shapes - I've done stars, photo frames, and hearts. You can also find paper mâché boxes, which, when similarly painted, can make a nice coordinating box for a gift set.

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