How to Make

Halloween Jack-o-Lantern Ornaments

You will need to draw quite a bit of detail on the outside of the bulb. If you do not have a steady hand, this may be somewhat challenging. But if your lines do end up a bit wobbly - so what?! Most of the lines are supposed to be a little wobbly anyway.

These Halloween jack-o-lantern ornaments are not quick ones to make. For one thing, the jack-o-lantern ornament needs to be painted on the inside, which requires you to wait at least 24 hours for the paint to dry.

Also, to avoid smearing, you will need to do the detail work in small areas, then wait for it to dry before continuing.

However, I really do think this stunning ornament is worth the extra effort. I am certain you will too!

Here is how to make the Halloween jack-o-lantern ornaments:

Materials

• For the jack-o-lantern ornament shown in the top photo, I used a 100 mm glass ball.
• For the ornament shown in the instruction photos below, I used a 67 mm glass ball.
• The bulbs used for the four jack-o-lantern ornaments hanging on the ornament tree in the photo at the bottom of the page are 55 mm, 67 mm, 83 mm, and 100 mm.

Orange acrylic craft paint

Dark green acrylic craft paint

Black opaque paint marker (extra-fine or fine)

• I used extra-fine for the ornament shown in photo at top of page and fine for the ornament shown in photos in instructions below.

White opaque paint marker (extra-fine)

Ribbon

Empty container, such as small pudding container

Instructions

Paint inside of the glass ball using orange paint.

Click this link for detailed directions on how to paint inside of glass ornament balls. You will use the empty container for this step.

When the paint inside the ball is dry, proceed as follows:


Pumpkin stem

• Paint cap and wire with green paint. Let dry.
• Paint area around the hole at the top with green paint to resemble a pumpkin stem. Let dry.

• Replace cap. Using green paint, touch up any areas of the cap, wire, and pumpkin stem area that may need it. Let dry.
• Using black opaque paint marker, outline the base of pumpkin stem. Let dry.
• Then draw a few lines in the green stem area. Let dry.

• Using the black paint marker, make a small dot at the very bottom of the ornament ball.
• Draw lines from the dot to the edge of the pumpkin stem. These lines create the sections of the pumpkin.

  You can start at the dot and draw the line upwards to the "stem" or start at the base of the "stem" and draw the line downwards to the dot, whichever works best for you.

  The lines should be approximately the same distance apart.

  For a more realistic looking pumpkin, draw the lines a bit wiggly as opposed to perfectly straight.

  To avoid smearing, draw a few lines, then wait for the paint to dry before drawing more lines.

• After you have drawn all the lines, add tiny dots on each side of the lines, from top to bottom. Space the dots to suit yourself. Stop and let dry as needed to avoid smearing.

• Using black paint marker, draw a “carved” jack-o’-lantern face. (Later you will tie a bow on the wire hanger. The bow goes on the front of the ornament, so be sure to draw the face so the wire hanger is positioned as shown in photos below.)

  First, just draw outline of the facial features and allow paint to dry.

  Then fill in eyes, nose, and mouth with black paint marker. Let dry.

• With white opaque paint marker, partially outline the eyes, nose, and mouth. Let dry. These accents help add depth and make the features "pop."

• Using black paint marker, draw a horizontal line around the ball above the eyes. Let dry. This line represents the knife cut made to remove the top of a pumpkin before hollowing it out.

  (Draw whatever face you want. You may want a scarier face than I drew.)

• Tie a ribbon through the hanger wire to hang it. Knot it good and tight.
• Using a different but complimentary ribbon, tie a bow on the hanger wire.

I hang my Halloween jack-o-lantern ornaments on an ornament tree.


Click here to see other Halloween arts and crafts projects, including more Halloween ornaments.


Please click here to read important ornaments safety tips.