Okay, so I’ve been seeing these red mercury glass Christmas ornaments everywhere lately, and I just had to try making some myself. I’m a sucker for anything vintage-looking, and these just screamed “classic Christmas” to me.
Getting Started
First things first, I gathered my supplies. I already had a bunch of plain glass ornaments from last year’s clearance sales (score!). Then I grabbed some:
- Red spray paint (I went with a glossy finish)
- Silver leafing (you can find this at most craft stores)
- Leafing adhesive
- Some cheap paintbrushes
- Rubbing alcohol and paper towels
The Messy (But Fun) Part
I started by cleaning the ornaments with rubbing alcohol. This is super important to get rid of any fingerprints or dust, so the paint sticks properly. I just dabbed some alcohol on a paper towel and wiped them down.
Next, I took the ornaments outside (spray paint fumes are no joke!) and gave them a couple of thin coats of red paint. I made sure to let each coat dry completely before adding the next. Patience is key here, or you’ll end up with drips.
Once the paint was totally dry (I waited overnight, just to be safe), it was time for the silver leafing. This part was a little tricky, but I figured it out. I brushed a thin layer of the leafing adhesive onto the ornament, wherever I wanted the silver to be. I went for a kind of random, mottled look.
Then, I carefully applied the silver leafing. It’s super delicate, so it can tear easily. I just pressed it on gently with my fingers and a dry paintbrush, smoothing it out as best as I could. It doesn’t have to be perfect – the imperfections add to the antique look, I think!
The Final Touches
After the leafing was on, I let everything dry for a few more * I gently remove extra silver leaf with my fingers,to make it vintage-looking.
And that’s it! They turned out pretty great, if I do say so myself. They have that lovely, old-fashioned mercury glass look, and they were way cheaper than buying them pre-made. Plus, it was a fun little project to do on a weekend afternoon. I need do my Christmas tree shopping!
