Glass ball Christmas ornament DIY using Perler Beads

Yes, we individually glued Perler beads to clear glass ball ornaments to make these fabulously festive DIY Christmas ornaments. It takes way less time than you’d think.

In fact, this handmade glass ball Christmas ornament DIY is so easy that I made it together with my four-year-old daughter, Elise. Kids love Perler Beads, and this keepsake Christmas ornament DIY gives Perler Beads a fun twist — no ironing required!

This glass ball DIY Christmas ornament idea is easy to personalize for family members using your favorite colors and even a monogram. And this fun winter craft for kids takes just three items to make: glass ball ornament (or plastic ball ornaments), glue, and Perler beads.

JOANN Fabric & Craft Stores sponsored this #fabulouslyfestive project; all designs and opinions are my own. I’ve proud to have worked with JOANN on several DIY craft projects. Thanks so much, JOANN, for supporting Merriment Design!

Easy Christmas ornament DIY to make with kids

This DIY Christmas ornament idea is a fun and easy Christmas craft project to make with kids. Elise says that she loves her ornament, and I love the clever look. And I’m happy that E has a personalized Christmas ornament that we made together that she can someday put on her own tree.

I don’t know how I thought of this idea but somehow it occurred to me that Perler Beads would make a pretty ball handmade ornament, no ironing required. Elise and I discovered Perler Beads over the summer when we made these Fourth of July Perler Bead Coasters together. Since then, she’s enjoyed making lots of shapes – monkeys, flowers, hearts — and my favorite — a star-shaped keychain for my keys.

We got all of our supplies at JOANN Fabric & Craft Stores: Perler beads, clear glass ball ornaments, and craft glue.

We started them on a Chicago snowy day during one of Liam’s naps. And we decided to spread the project across a couple of days of his naps, gluing some rows and letting them dry to keep the beads from slipping around.

Watching it come together was really fun …and kind of reminded me of building the Death Star. Anyway, I’m hooked now, and we’ll be decorating more clear glass ball ornaments for Christmas using Perler Beads.

It may surprise you that I haven’t made many handmade ornaments in my life. Most of my adult-life Christmas trees have been filled with ornaments collected from my traveling. Now that we have kids I want that to change so we’ll be making at least a couple of handmade ornaments every year, starting now.

Be fabulously festive with JOANN

Walking into a JOANN store is my kind of Christmas! Check out tons of holiday craft ideas in JOANN’s 2013 Holiday Catalog. JOANN is even giving MerrimentDesign.com readers a 50% off coupon to create your own handmade holidays. Thanks again to JOANN for sponsoring this #fabulouslyfestive craft for Christmas, and also my Thanksgiving tepee snack cups and Halloween subtle spiderwebs door decoration. It’s been a very creative holiday season with JOANN Fabric & Craft Stores!

Merriment Design is supported by readers like you. If you buy products that I recommend, I may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks – your clicks help me make more free DIYs!

++++++

Supplies to decorate clear glass ball Christmas ornaments with Perler beads:

Clear glass ball ornaments or clear plastic ball ornaments
Perler beads
Craft glue (I used the Elmer’s Dual Tip Glue Pen)

—

How to make this glass ball Christmas ornament DIY with Perler beads:

Step 1: Spread glue on a section of the clear glass ball ornaments

Starting at the top, squeeze craft glue onto the clear glass ball ornaments, or clear plastic ball ornaments and spread using the tip of the glue bottle. We did small sections at a time until we got the hang of it.

Step 2: Add Perler beads to the clear glass ball ornaments

Add Perler beads onto the glue. Let the clear glass ball dry when you get a bunch of rows done to minimize slipping. We used quick-dry glue so it didn’t take too long to wait.

Step 3: Keep gluing sections of Perler beads onto the clear plastic ball ornament

Making stripes on a can a bit tricky because the stripes magnify curvy lines but I do like the multi-color look. And aren’t imperfections one of the best things about making handmade Christmas ornaments? And now, each time when we unwrap these DIY ornaments from our ornament box to decorate our family Christmas tree, I’ll remember making this DIY ornament together with Elise.

What kind of glass ball DIY Christmas ornaments have you handmade to decorate your Christmas tree?

Be sure to see more Christmas craft ideas like my Felt Mitten DIY Christmas Ornament free pattern and Free Printable Christmas Tags in pink.

—

Like it? Share it!
The nicest way to say you like it is to pin it on Pinterest, post a comment, follow Merriment Design on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram or sign up for monthly emails. Enjoy! 🙂

Copyright stuff: You’re more than welcome to use this free project and tutorial for personal use. Contact me for commercial use and Etsy sales.