Easy Ways for Kids to fill Clear Christmas Ornament Balls
At The Budding Artists, we are always trying to find ways to make crafting and art activities simple enough for kids to do and easy enough for adults to facilitate. Clear ornament balls definitely provide a simple and easy Christmas craft that turns out looking great for years to come.
Here we list three ways to fill these clear plastic balls with increasing levels of difficulty, so you can pick the right craft for the age of kids you’re creating with.
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Filler #1: Pom-Poms
Recommended for ages 3 and up.
You could even do this craft with two-year-olds (we have), but only if they are past the mouthing phase.
Materials needed:
clear plastic ornament balls
pom-poms in a variety of colors (small 1/2 inch size)
permanent marker to label year and name
This is the quickest (and possibly most fun) way to fill clear ornament balls. Kids can use specific Christmas colors or choose their own favorite colors. This ornament will bring smiles to you and your crafter every year it comes out of storage ready to be put on the tree again. I know ours does. It’s fun for kids of all ages. We first did this craft when my daughter was 6 and her little cousins were 2 and 3. They had a blast. My now-preteen daughter found her pom-pom ornament the other day and wanted to make another one. Something about this craft is so satisfying. Thankfully, I always keep pom-poms on hand. (You never know when you’re going to need some. lol)
Steps to take:
Gather materials.
Remove the lid/plug of plastic ornament ball.
Stuff with pom-poms one at a time until full.
Replace lid/plug.
Label with name and year.
Filler #2: Yarn Scraps
Recommended for ages 5 and up.
This craft is similar to the previous one. If you’ve been saving yarn scraps, it’s even more economical. Filling the plastic ornament with bits of yarn requires a little more dexterity than pom-poms, so it’s not recommended for the very youngest crafters. Children who have already developed a good pencil grip should be able to do this craft without much difficulty.
Materials needed:
clear plastic ornament balls
bits of yarn in desired colors cut into 1-inch and 2-inch pieces (about a handful per ornament)
permanent marker to label year and name
Steps to take:
Gather materials. If you don’t already have scraps of yarn, have children cut yarn into 1-4 inch bits. Children can have fun mixing and matching colors or they can use one solid color in this craft.
Remove the lid from the clear plastic ornament ball.
Stuff with yarn bits (one at a time) as full as you want.
Replace the cap on the ornament and label it with the year and initials in permanent marker. (May require the help of an adult.)
Filler #3: Marbled Paint
Recommended for ages 10 and up.
This method for filling the clear plastic ornament balls uses acrylic paint (which is not washable), so it is not recommended for kids under ten.
Materials needed:
clear plastic ornament balls
acrylic paint in desired colors (two or three per ornament) consider using a metallic
disposable cups (to drain out excess paint)
items for covering and protecting surfaces from paint (disposable tablecloth, large cookie sheets, painter’s smocks, etc.)
permanent marker to label year and name
Steps to take:
Prep surfaces for painting. We like using disposable tablecloths and/or large cookie sheets. Wear painter’s smocks or paint clothes. Secure long hair.
Gather materials. Choose inexpensive acrylic paints in desired colors. Mixing two or three colors per ornament results in an-eye-catching effect especially if one color is gold or another metallic.
Remove the lid/plug of the ornament. Hold ornament at a slight angle, pour in a quarter-size glob of paint. Try to get the paint to run down the inside of the ornament, not just land on the bottom in one big blob. (Although, it’s okay if it does.)
Turn the ornament slightly and pour the second color of paint into the ornament trying to get it right next to the first color. (Accuracy is not crucial, you’re going to be mixing it around anyway.)
Add the third color in the same way (unless you only want two colors in your ornament).
Replace the lid/plug of the ornament ball.
Slowly turn the ornament around in your hands and watch the paint ooze around the insides of the clear ball. This requires patience. The paint moves slowly.
If the paint isn’t moving around enough, open the ornament and add more paint.
When the ornament is fully covered on the inside, open the plug again and turn the ornament upside down onto a small disposable cup so that the excess paint can drip out. (Leave in place to drain for about an hour.)
Replace cap and label with name and year.
And there you have 3 easy ways kids can fill clear plastic Christmas ornament balls. Happy crafting!
