Alcohol Ink Decorative Ceramic Tile Christmas Ornaments


I love making Christmas Ornaments. I have more than I need, but, I just can't help myself. So, when I was at the hardware store and saw these tiles, I knew I had to get them to make ornaments.


They sell these "arabesque tiles" in sheets that are roughly 1 square foot. The sheet includes 18 tiles attached to a mesh backing.


I opened the package and peeled the tiles from the backing, so I could work with them individually.


Then I got out my alcohol inks, a craft mat, and a can of air. I knew I wanted to use the metallic inks (Ranger calls theirs mixatives) to give them a nice shimmer and shine. It felt like a festive choice.


I decided since I was adding the bling with metallics, that I'd stick with similar color shades as a base. So my first one was red. I chose a few shades of red and dripped them on the tile and blew them with the canned air.


I layered lighter and darker shades of red and gold ink until the tile was completely covered.


Next I tried some greens. I layered some lighter and darker shades and then blew them around with the canned air.


This time I tried some copper ink with my greens and blew that around, then I layered more green ink over top until I liked the mix and had covered the tile.


Next up were blues and silver. I repeated the same process with several other colors. I even used a foam paint brush to make sure the edges of the tiles got covered (I just squeezed a bit of the metallic ink color I used for that tile onto the foam brush and covered any white on the edges).


It would probably be a good idea to seal these with some kamar varnish or acrylic sealer, but I was impatient and knew that they wouldn't get handled too much since they are Christmas ornaments. So I threw caution to the wind and decided to work on the backs as soon as they dried. I pulled out my felt stash and amazingly had coordinating colors for all of my ornaments. I traced the ornament shape onto the felt and cut it out with a scissors.


I used a hot glue gun to attach a ribbon and then cover the backs of the tile in the felt I had cut out. The hot glue is a bit lumpy and difficult to work with, so it might work better to glue the ribbon with the hot glue and then glue the felt on with tacky glue (which I know works well on the backs of ceramic tiles from making coasters). I ended up using tacky glue to get the edges of the felt all glued down anywhere the hot glue didn't quite get.


After the glue had all dried, I trimmed any excess felt that was hanging over the edges of the ornaments.


These turned out so colorful and cute! Even if I was swearing at the hot glue gun a bit, I'm still happy with the finished product--they look great on my Christmas tree!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Plastic Wrap Alcohol Ink on Small Ceramic Bowl

Image
A while back I picked up some small white bowls from Big Lots ( these look similar ) with a nice satin finish. I already inked one bowl using the flame method , but I still have a few bowls left, so I decided to give one the plastic wrap treatment. I got out my craft mat and some alcohol inks . Then I cleaned my bowl with rubbing alcohol on a paper towel and removed the sale sticker from the bottom. I tore a piece of plastic wrap off the roll that was large enough to cover my bowl, and I set it down on my craft mat, being sure not to smooth it out. Then I dripped ink on the plastic wrap until I liked the combination of colors and the plastic was mostly full of color. Then I placed my bowl in the center of the plastic wrap and carefully applied the plastic wrap to the sides without smoothing it out too much (so it keeps the wrinkled pattern). Then I flipped it over to dry. I ended up using 7 colors on the bowl. I wanted something bright and fun so I we
Read more

Splatter Resist Alcohol Ink Tile

Image
I still have some ceramic tiles left from my last run to the hardware store, so when I remembered I had saved the contact paper heart from my Valentine's Day Glass Etching project, I knew exactly what I wanted to try. I grabbed some bright alcohol inks , canned air , a 6 inch ceramic tile , and my contact paper heart. I originally cut it out free hand by folding the contact paper, so it doesn't have to be perfect, but I'm sure if you have a cutting machine you could use that to make whatever shape you'd like in contact paper or vinyl. I peeled back the paper backing and applied the heart to the middle of the tile (as best as I could eyeball it). Then I rubbed down the edges of the contact paper. I squeezed out a drop of alcohol ink near the edge of the heart and used canned air to blow the drop out from the center of the tile. I usually hold the can with my right hand and a plastic lid with my left (I use the lid from the small plastic box I keep
Read more

Alcohol Ink Washer Necklaces

Image
I received a package of alcohol inks for Christmas and then bought a second set with a 50% off coupon at Michael's.  I've used them now to make coasters and to decorate some candle holders .  I was just getting my sea legs with these inks to begin with.  I applied the ink directly onto the surfaces and played around with rubbing alcohol as a blending solution.  But I thought it was high time that I used an applicator to use them the way they were intended.  Of course, the applicator is just a stamp with some velcro on it and it costs 6+ dollars....not to mention buying the pre-cut pieces of felt. So I figured I'd make my own.  I was very much in a use what you've got mentality, so I grabbed a scrap piece of wood and a couple of strips of velcro (hook and loop tape).  I used the hook side and lined two pieces up next to each other.  Luckily they were just the right width. I had the sew-on kind of velcro, so I spread some tacky glue thinly onto the surface
Read more