A Sweet Snowman Ornament with Snow, Sparkle, and Gold
Can a plain red plastic heart ornament become a soft, snowy Christmas keepsake?
In this tutorial, Donna from Mason Creations etc. turns a Dollar Tree heart ornament into a sweet holiday piece using snowman rice paper, blended paint, molded clay details, metallic wax, ribbon, snow, and sparkle.
This project is especially helpful if you have ever struggled to blend paint around decoupage paper. Donna shows how to match the colors around the image and softly blend them into the ornament for a finished, hand-painted look.
Watch the video below to see Donna create the full Christmas ornament, then follow the steps to make your own.
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Materials You Can Shop Here
You can shop the featured finishes and supplies below, then use the tutorial steps to bring the project together.
- Polyvine Heavy Duty Varnish
- Polyvine Multi Surface Lacquer
- Winter Rice Paper
- Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral Paint
- Pentart Acrylic Paint
- Air Dry Clay
- Silicone Molds
- Aleene's True Snow
- Glitter Paint Maker
- Adhesives
- Antiquing & Metallic Wax Rub
- Brushes & Tools
Also Needed
Blank ornament, ribbon, greenery, pearl embellishments, ball chain, gold cord.
Step 1: Prime the Plastic Ornament
Start with a plain plastic heart ornament.
Brush on a coat of Polyvine Multi-Surface Lacquer. This helps remove the slick shine from the plastic and creates a gripping layer so the paint has something to hold onto.
Let the lacquer dry overnight.
Step 2: Glue the Ornament Together
Once the gripping layer is dry, glue both sides of the ornament together with Aleene’s Tacky Glue.
Allow the glue to set before painting.
Step 3: Paint the Ornament White
Paint the ornament with Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral Paint in Cotton.
Donna applies two coats because the original ornament is bright red and needs good coverage.
White is also important under rice paper or napkins because it keeps the printed colors looking bright and clear. Dark colors underneath can make the image look muddy.
Let the paint dry for about one hour.
Step 4: Prepare the Snowman Rice Paper
Choose the snowman image you want to use.
Use a water brush around the image, then gently tear the paper instead of cutting it. A torn edge blends into the background much better than a sharp cut edge.
Make small slits around the image, about half an inch long, so the rice paper can overlap slightly and lay flat over the curved ornament.
Step 5: Mist the Rice Paper
Some rice papers react to moisture more like a napkin.
Donna lightly mists the rice paper with water, then wipes away the excess with a paper towel before applying it to the ornament.
This helps the paper relax and curve more easily over the shape.
Step 6: Decoupage the Snowman Image
Use Polyvine Heavy Duty Varnish as the decoupage adhesive.
Place the snowman image on the ornament and press it down gently with a brush. The small slits around the paper will overlap slightly, helping prevent wrinkles on the curved surface.
Work carefully so the image stays smooth and centered.
Step 7: Smooth the Rice Paper
Mist a cut piece of plastic storage bag with water.
Lay the damp plastic over the snowman image and use a folded paper towel to smooth out any bubbles or wrinkles.
Let the decoupaged ornament dry for a couple of hours.
Step 8: Blend Paint Around the Image
To blend the rice paper into the ornament, use colors that match the edges of the image.
Donna uses Pentart paints in White Coffee, Hazelnut, Country Blue, and a light turquoise. She sprays the paints with water so they are easier to blend.
Rather than brushing long strokes, dab the paint around the image and outward onto the ornament. Then use a damp makeup sponge to blot and soften the color.
Blend the turquoise, beige, blue, and golden tan tones until the background has a soft mottled look.
Carry the same blended colors around to the back of the ornament so the whole piece feels finished.
Step 9: Paint Tiny Twig Details
Use dark brown paint and a fine nail art brush to add small twig details along the side of the ornament.
These tiny painted accents help connect the background to the winter scene.
Let the paint dry for about 10 minutes.
Step 10: Varnish to Protect the Paint
Apply a coat of varnish to the front and back of the ornament.
Donna often varnishes between stages so each finished layer is protected before the next technique is added.
Let the varnish dry for about one hour.
Step 11: Add Snow Splatters
Thin white paint with water until it is very runny.
Dip a fan brush into the paint and tap it with your finger to create small white splatters that look like falling snow.
Place paper under your work area first, because splatters can travel farther than expected.
Step 12: Create Molded Clay Embellishments
Press DAS air-dry clay into your molds and scrape away the excess with a palette knife.
Smooth the back of the clay with water, then place the mold in the freezer for about 20 minutes. Freezing makes the clay firm enough to release cleanly without breaking delicate details.
Remove the clay from the mold as soon as it comes out of the freezer and let it thaw for a few minutes.
Step 13: Glue the Clay While Damp
Use Aleene’s Tacky Glue to attach the molded clay pieces to the ornament while the clay is still damp.
Damp clay can bend and conform to the curved heart shape as it dries.
Wipe away any glue that seeps out with a clean, damp brush, and gently press the clay edges down so they make full contact with the ornament.
Let the clay dry overnight.
Step 14: Paint the Clay Details
Once the clay is dry, paint the embellishments.
Donna paints the wings white, the trim with Pentart Delicate Metallic Gold, and the poinsettias red.
Let the paint dry for about 30 minutes.
Step 15: Varnish Before Antiquing
Apply a coat of varnish to the ornament.
A shiny sealed surface helps antiquing medium wipe away from the high areas while staying in the cracks and crevices of the molded details.
Let the varnish dry before antiquing.
Step 16: Antique the Embellishments
Thin FolkArt Antiquing Medium in Wooden Bucket Brown with a little water.
Brush it over and around the embellishments in sections, then wipe it back right away with a soft, dry cloth.
The antique settles into the molded details and gives the clay pieces more depth and dimension.
Step 17: Dry Brush the Poinsettias
If the poinsettias look too dark after antiquing, dry brush them lightly.
Load a tiny amount of white paint on the brush, wipe most of it off, and skim the brush across the high points. Follow with a little red to bring back the flower color.
Keep the brush almost dry so the paint only touches the raised areas and does not fill the crevices.
Add small gold dots to the centers of the poinsettias.
Step 18: Add Metallic Wax Highlights
Apply Redesign Décor Wax in Eternal lightly to the edges of the flower petals and raised areas.
Rub a small amount between your finger and thumb first so too much wax does not land in one spot.
Then use Finnabair Metallic Wax in White Pearl on the wings to create a soft pearly shimmer.
Wax does not need to be sealed, so this step comes near the end of the project.
Step 19: Add Bronze Ball Chain
Glue bronze ball chain where the clay trim meets the heart ornament.
This helps hide any small gaps and adds a pretty finished border. Use a thin line of Aleene’s Tacky Glue, press the chain into place, and let it dry.
Donna completes one side first, lets it dry, then flips the ornament and adds chain to the other side.
Step 20: Make and Attach the Bows
Use a mini Bowdabra to create small layered bows.
Add a thin cord or ribbon through the vertical slits, layer ribbon through the horizontal slits, then tie the cord to secure the bow.
Donna makes two bows, one for the front and one for the back. She also adds a gold cord hanger through the top loop.
Step 21: Add Leaves and Sparkle
Trim crystal leaves to the right size and glue one below the bow on the front and one below the bow on the back.
Add a pearl and rhinestone embellishment to the center of each bow.
Step 22: Add True Snow
Use a palette knife to apply Aleene’s True Snow to the ornament.
While the snow is still wet, sprinkle on fine glitter or Glitter Paint Maker for a frosty sparkle.
Let the ornament dry completely before displaying.
A Sweet Snowman Ornament with Handmade Detail
This project turns a simple plastic heart into a keepsake-style Christmas ornament with soft winter color, dimensional clay, pearly wings, gold highlights, ribbon, snow, and sparkle.
The paint blending technique is the real lesson here. By matching the colors around the rice paper and softly dabbing them into the ornament background, the decoupage looks much more natural and finished.
A special thank-you to Donna from Mason Creations etc. for sharing this beautiful Christmas project and showing each step so clearly.
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