DIY Keepsake Ornament

The idea for Abby’s keepsake ornament came from my Aunt Cheryl, who has an incredible artistic eye and makes the most beautiful creations with her Cricut. A couple Christmases ago, she gave us a beautifully decorated ornament with a note tucked inside. I loved it so much I knew I’d incorporate it into a story one day.

Since not everyone has a Cricut—including myself—I thought I’d brainstorm a few different ways to replicate the idea. Abby used an unusual method that repurposes nail polish, but the options are endless! You can use paint, glitter glue, stickers, beads, sequins, gold leaf, or anything your creative heart desires! You can even use an ornament you already own and simply tuck a note inside.

But if you’d like to try Abby’s method, the instructions are below.

Supplies:

Clear plastic or glass fillable ornament with a minimum 0.78 inch opening at the top (if using a glass ornament, make sure your water isn’t so hot it cracks the glass)
Nail polish, any color (you can use multiple colors, if desired)
Toothpick
Bowl deep enough to dip the ornament up to the lid
Warm/hot water to fill the bowl
Something you can use to hang the ornament to dry (I used a wooden skewer propped on both ends by tall water glasses)
Small strip of paper
Pen, any color
Short piece of string or small sticker

Instructions:

1. Fill the bowl with warm/hot water (Important: If you use cold water the polish dries too quickly.)

2. Pour a small amount of nail polish on top of the water.

3. Swirl polish with the toothpick.

4. Immediately dip the ornament in the water then lift out of the water in a smooth motion (Note: If you take too long to dip the ornament, the polish will dry and become clumpy.) As you lift the ornament out of the water, the polish will adhere to the surface, wrapping around the entire exterior.

5. Hang the ornament to dry.

6. If using multiple colors, allow the first color to dry completely then repeat the steps with the second color.