Tissue Decoupage - "Skating Around the Christmas Tree" Ornament

It's Christmas in August!!!   It's never too early to start making Christmas ornaments...

Hello, and thank you so much for your interest in this decoupage Christmas ornament tutorial.  I’m so happy that you’re here!

In this tutorial, we will be making a Christmas ornament just like the one pictured above using a print I made on a tissue.  What? A tissue??

 

Yes, a tissue!!!  I know it might sound silly, but regular tissue box tissues can be printed on very easily using my method.  You can also print on paper towels and peel them into two separate layers afterwards to get an extra thin pliable picture to decoupage with.

 

Thin paper like tracing paper or gift tissue wrap, or for this particular project, a tissue, is best for decoupage because it’s very pliable and soft and will mold to the ornament edges especially well if you are creating a glass ball or bauble with rounded sides..

 

Although this is a very simple project, it does not mean these ornaments aren’t valuable.  In fact, the opposite is true. 

 

You will be able to create gorgeous decoupage ornaments to give away as gifts or to enjoy for your own home, or to perhaps even sell in a handmade shop like Etsy.

 

Using the method I will outline here for you, the sky is the limit as to what you can create using free pictures you find on the Internet.  How exciting is that??  I will show you how step by step.

 

Each of the STEPS below will include a video that will be outlined with written directions from the video demonstration above the video.  The video will be at the end of each STEP and is included to give you a visual instruction in real time so you can see how the ornament was created.

 

Here is a screenshot of some of the pictures you can download onto your computer and print out onto a tissue box tissue, gift wrap tissue, or plain white napkin to create gorgeous Christmas ornaments.

Search results for "winter Christmas snow scenes" on Pinterest.
Any of these pictures can be printed onto a napkin or tissue
for use in decoupage.

So as you can see there are many choices.  The only problem you may or may not have at this point is deciding which image to choose for your ornament, LOL!

Fig. #1:  When you decide on a picture, left click on it to make it bigger. 
After that, right click on the picture and select 'Copy image'
from the menu as shown above.  Go over to your open WP document.
In the WP document select 'Paste' or Ctrl+V (Refer to Fig. #3 below)

Fig. #2:  After you left click over the picture you choose,
it will become bigger at the top of the Pinterest page as
pictured. Always use the largest picture you can get.

Fig. #3:  This is a picture of another ornament I made using a
 different image but the process is the same.  After selecting 'Copy image'
from the menu, paste the image into a word processing document.
This is what it will look like in the word processing document. 
Use the 'Format picture' commands at the top of the page
to resize and change your picture before printing.

I wanted to explain this before the directions below just to give you a general idea of how you will be able to get similar pictures (to the ones in the picture above) from your computer in STEP 2 below so please read on...

 

___________________________________________________________

  

Before you start anything, paint your glass ornament base with white acrylic paint and let it dry thoroughly.  Set it aside until you are ready to add your printed picture with Mod Podge.  You can also use white chalk paint.  Chalk paint adheres easily to glass or plastic so it's up to you.  If you decide on acrylic you many have to use two coats.

Chalk paint works great on glass and plastic

Sidenote:  This tutorial may seem to jump back and forth between STEPS.  You may just want to watch the videos in each step first and then go back and read the written directions before you start your first decoupage ornament project.

 

 

DIRECTIONS:

 

 STEP 1:

   "How to Print an Inkjet Image on a Tissue for Decoupaging"

 

1.  Secure a tissue to a piece of regular computer paper with scotch tape.  (Refer to video in STEP 1 below in this section for video instruction).

 

2.  Once the tissue is completely secured to the computer paper with scotch tape, place the computer paper into the rear tray of your inkjet printer.

 

3.  After you find the image you want to use for your ornament, you will copy and paste it into a WP document and resize it (refer to STEP 2 directions and video).   At that point, you will send your image to print to the rear tray (this will be explained there).

Decoupaged Christmas Ornament - PART 1 

"How to Print an Inkjet Image on a Napkin for Decoupaging"

 

STEP 2:

"How to Find an Image, Resize and Download it to Print"

 

1.   Go to Pinterest (or your favorite search engine).  I like Pinterest to find images for many reasons.  One reason is because you can type anything into the search bar on that site and you will get an abundance of results.

The other reason I like Pinterest for this is because once you click on an image you like, it will show “More Like This” below the image you initially selected and you will see pictures pop up that are very similar to the one you chose.  You will see so many, you might not know which one to choose!

In the picture below this paragraph, please notice the smaller pictures underneath the larger picture, and also notice the words 'More like this' above the smaller pictures.  This happens automatically in Pinterest... (so cool!)

Another picture of a 'winter Christmas scene' after
left clicking over the smaller version in the Search Results
Oh so many choices!

 

2.  Using this ornament as an example, in the search bar on Pinterest, type in “winter Christmas scenes”.  You can type in anything that you would like in a more specific sense, such as “winter ice skating snow scenes”, it’s really up to you.  The sky is the limit on Pinterest.

 

3.  Once you get the results after you hit ‘Enter’, scan the page and choose a picture you would like to make an ornament from.

 

4.  Hover over the picture you have chosen with your mouse.  ‘Right click’ over the picture.  Choose ‘Copy Image’ from the menu, it should look like this...

 

5.  In another window, open up a word processing document.  You may want to have it already open before this.

 

6.  Once in the word processing document, ‘Right click’ with your mouse again.  Select ‘Paste’ (or Ctrl+V) from the menu.  Your picture will appear in the WP document.  This is where you are going to resize your picture and print it out.

 

7.  ‘Right click’ once again as you hover over the picture in the WP document.  This is the first step in resizing your picture.  You should see a black outline appear around the picture.  With your mouse, grab the small circle on one of the corners and move your mouse up and down to get the proper size for whatever ornament you are going to be making (wood ornaments work beautifully for decoupage too).

Here is a screenshot of the picture I used for this ornament when it was in my WP document before I resized it and printed it out.  Notice the black line around the picture and the dots you can use to resize it with your mouse...

 

8.   If you are not sure how to do this or how big to make your picture, hold your ornament up to the screen next to the picture in the WP doc.  The picture on the screen is true to size so this will give you a good idea of how big to make your print.

 

(Insert picture of ornament held to screen)

 

9.  Referring to STEP 1 (above), you should have secured a piece of thin paper (tissue or gift tissue or napkin) to a regular piece of computer paper.  This should have been set aside until now.  Place that paper in the rear tray of your printer and using your print commands from your WP document that has your image, send the picture to print to the rear tray.

 

You should now have a beautiful picture printed on a very thin piece of paper!

Decoupaged Christmas Ornament - PART 2 

"How to Find an Image, Resize and Download it to Print"

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STEP 3:

"Trimming the Image and Applying the Mod Podge"

 

1.   Now that you have printed out your image onto the tissue (or whatever thin paper you used), take a small paint brush and dip it into your water jar and make a circle of water around the outside edges of your image with the wet brush.

 

2.  Pull the excess tissue away from the image.  The edges should be uneven and that’s okay.  Set the image aside and move over to your ornament.

 

3.  Now, with a different paint brush, dip it into your Mod Podge Matte Gel Medium (MPM) and coat the surface of your ornament (over the dried white paint base).  While the MPM is still wet, place your image (ink side up) on top of it.  Pat it gently with your fingers into the MPM.  Gently smooth out any bubbles with your fingertips so that it lays flat onto the surface of your ornament.

 

4.  Let the image dry overnight.  Once it is secure and dried, trim the edges of the picture that are hanging over the sides of the ornament.

 

5.  Take Mod Podge Gloss (MPG) and paint at least two or three coats over the image surface.  The MPG will look white upon application, but don’t worry because it will dry clear.

Decoupaged Christmas Ornament - PART 3 

"Trimming the Image and Applying Mod Podge"

 

 

Mod Podge Tool Kits

 

 

 

STEP 4:

"The Finishing Touches"

1.   After the image dries overnight, use Mod Podge to go over the surface of the image to seal it up and keep the tissue from tearing.  This will be your first coat.  It does not have to be the glossy Mod Podge, either matte or glossy will work for this step.

 

2.   After the surface of the ornament dries, take your paint brush and using either white glue or Mod Podge or even clear Elmer’s glue coat the sides of your ornament around the image.  Sprinkle glitter over it while it’s wet and let it dry.

 

3.  After the glitter dries, use Mod Podge to go over the surface of your image at least three times, letting it dry in between coats.  Make the final coat with Mod Podge Gloss Lustre because this is the coat that you want to shine.

 

4.  You may want to use Mod Podge once again to seal the glitter on the edges and keep them from falling off.  Use the glossy version of Mod Podge and once again don’t worry if the Mod Podge looks white upon application because it will dry clear.

 

5.  Attach a bow to the top of your ornament if you like.

Decoupaged Christmas Ornament - PART 4

"The Finishing Touches, Glitter and All That Fun Stuff"

 

SUPPLIES (You may need):

Glass Christmas Ornaments to Paint https://amzn.to/34rAdc0

Mod Podge Matte Gel Medium https://amzn.to/2Xh1idD

Mod Podge Gloss Lustre Medium https://amzn.to/3npb6NB

Glitter for Outside Edges of Ornament https://amzn.to/3mrAl1u

White Acrylic Paint https://amzn.to/3b4d00G

Paintbrushes https://amzn.to/3d6uScL

Inkjet Printer https://amzn.to/391bXx7

Arteza Paint Pens https://amzn.to/3cqpEYt

Sharpie Permanent Markers https://amzn.to/3eStQ4a

Sharpie Ultra Fine Black Marker (for outlines) https://amzn.to/2DOIkot

Deco Art White Paint Pen https://amzn.to/2DzQX6D

Paint Markers https://amzn.to/2XGYzep

White Chalk Paint https://amzn.to/3752uq0

Computer Paper https://amzn.to/3ir89L1

Scotch Tape Refills https://amzn.to/3n2j7bp

White Gift Tissue https://amzn.to/3mZSV0T

Tracing Paper https://amzn.to/3pypaWL

Tissue Box  https://amzn.to/3mVigsU

Large Clear Sparkly Glitter https://amzn.to/3hH9my

Tiffany Stained Glass Gift Tissue https://amzn.to/38UnErg

Tulip 3-Dimensional Metallic Paint https://amzn.to/3s3aj8V

 

See most of my PAINTED ROCK ART here:

https://www.pinterest.com/nancygirlrocks/hand-painted-rocks-by-nancymaggielee/

Learn How to Hand-Paint Flower & Fairy Garden Rocks

https://feltmagnet.com/painting/hand-painted-rocks

Looking for a fun gift for someone in your life? Check out my Zazzle store... https://www.zazzle.com/store/maggieleeflowers/products

I have t-shirts, coffee mugs, Christmas ornaments, phone cases, office accessories, just to name a few!

 

Here are some links to my ROCK PAINTING websites, I hope you will visit

Crafty Girls Rock https://www.craftygirlsrock.net

Hand-Painted Flower & Fairy Rocks https://handpaintedflowerandfairyrocks.blogspot.com/

Hand-Painted Rocks https://handpaintedrocks.craftygirlsrock.net/

Painting Rocks! https://rockpaintingrocks.craftygirlsrock.net/

 

As always, if you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the 'COMMENTS' section below a video that you have watched or on this blog post, and I will get back to you as soon as possible. I will check the comments on a regular basis

I hope you enjoyed this craft tutorial, please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more crafting videos!  Until then, remember to...

Be creative, and be happy!