Each year since I’ve started lettering, I’ve seen fellow artists create gorgeous ornaments for the holidays. This year, I wanted to try it out for myself. However, I wasn’t really sure which of my many paint pens to use… and no matter how much you hear people say “community over competition,” there’s usually dead silence when you ask an established artist details about their tools.
I usually use Sharpie Oil-Based paint pens for lettering on smooth surfaces. And I’ve had success with it with my acrylic and clear glass ornaments:
But this year, I learned that glass ornaments are a different beast. My oil-based pens do well on unpainted surfaces. With a colored glass ornament, the oil in the pen reacts poorly with the paint on the ornament.
In desperation, I pulled out all my other pens in my art closet. After ruining quite a few ornaments with haphazard tests…
…I decided to do a more systematic paint pen test:
I began with 18 markers from 4 brands: Sharpie (oil, water, and regular permanent), Decocolor, Molotow, and Posca. I only tested 5 ranges of colors: white, black, gold, silver, and “rose gold”/copper. As you can see from my 8.5 and 19, I added a few more markers after my first round of testing.
Without boring you with too many details, here are the overall results. I found that different ornaments yield different results, so keep scrolling for tips for each ornament.
Paint Pen Test Results
Across the board, Decocolor extra fine paint pens did the best. The paint comes out thick and vivid, ending with a shiny, almost 3D effect. The extra fine point gave me the control I needed and allowed me to make tiny details. The Liquid Gold, Liquid Silver, and Liquid Copper are phenomenal metallics. The pen itself does require some patience, however. It dries slowly, so you have to be careful not to smudge while you continue work. It will not stick if there’s any oil on the surface, so you must make sure to wipe with Windex or a microfiber cloth before lettering. It is difficult to remove — you have to use the Decocolor paint remover.
Water-based black Sharpie paint pens produce a nice matte effect on the matte ornaments. However, they can be scratched. I would only recommend this if you can be careful with your ornament.
Oil-based Sharpies work decently on most matte ornaments. They’re easier than Decocolor markers, but sometimes the oil in the pen strips or dissolves into the paint on the ornaments. The extra-fine tip did better than the fine tip.
Sharpie metallic permanent markers did surprisingly well on the matte teal, matte blue, and glossy black ornaments. On all the others, the solvent stripped the paint on the ornaments, making the lettering come out distorted.
Molotow and Posca had varying levels of success, but they scratched off too easily or came in 3rd or 4th to the Decocolor or Sharpie markers, so I rejected them.
For my ornaments, I use Decocolor Extra Fine markers. Other fellow calligraphers who are willing to share said that they have had success with Molotow Liquid Chrome (I’ve seen samples — they look fabulous! But this is only available in silver), and Craftsmart Premium (with the caveat that not all Craftsmart Premium markers are equal). (Credit: Thank you to Molly Mask @mollymasklettering, Melissa Nguyen @calligracrafty, and Lorin B @letterly.signsandlettering for sharing your success stories! Find these lovely ladies on Instagram)
Ornament Results
Matte ornaments are the best. They catch the paint well and come out looking sophisticated.
Glossy ornaments are temperamental. This has to be the perfect combination of a good batch of ornaments and the right pen.
Issues I’ve had with glossy ornaments: residue on the outside that keeps Decocolor paint from sticking, poorly painted ornaments that react terribly with every pen that comes into contact with them (this year’s midnight blue batch was worthless), and really obvious imperfections from the manufacturer.
Since not every color paint pen comes out well on every color ornament, I suggest you do your own test to see how the pens come out, then make your key of ornaments to always refer to:
Creating this key has been extremely helpful for client conversations!
If you want something a bit more dependable than paint pens and you have a little bit of tech-savvy, use a Cricut! You can get any color lettering you want, and it’ll show up beautifully. As for me, I haven’t made the time to learn the Cricut yet, plus I like lettering onto surfaces more than sticking things onto them.
Hope this helps you crafters out there as you put together your DIY holiday presents! And, if you’re not a DIY-er but want to get your hands on some handlettered ornaments, check mine out on my Etsy page!
If you’re a fellow lettering artist, I would love it if you could comment and share your favorite tools for lettering on ornaments!
Merry Christmas, friends!
Published by Swapna
I'm a teacher, mother, writer, and artist. Basically, I want to do it all. See my artwork on Instagram @nerdladydraws, or follow my blogs!View all posts by Swapna
Glass markers are fantastic, versatile pens for decorating glass or glazed ceramic objects. POSCA Paint markers are some of the best glass markers around, with a wide range of tip sizes and over 30 colours available in some sizes.
Use extra fine point permanent marker. This will allow you to make small letters and longer names and messages. We suggest the Sharpie extra fine point industrial. Keep letters close together as this helps to keep a straight line.
They're fast-drying and won't smudge – and they will clean off easily when you want to remove them. They work well on glass and can also be used on other surfaces including blackboards and mirrors, so you're bound to find other uses for these markers.
Alcohol-based glass markers are often permanent, last a lot longer, and dry a lot more slowly than water-based glass markers. Acrylic glass markers are water-based, quick-drying, and are also usually permanent.
All Sharpie permanent makers will write on glass. However, to create a more permanent design use Oil-Based Sharpie Paint Markers. The paint makers are specially designed to write on glass, pottery, ceramic, wood, and more!
Quick drying, super high-gloss, oil-based acrylic paint pens to be used on glass and acrylic. Colours can be washed off with warm water or heat-fixed in the oven.
Let the ink dry for a minute or two after writing in order to give it time to set. Many permanent markers, though labeled as non-toxic, are not deemed to be food-safe. Check the label for more information if you plan on using permanent marker ink on glassware for food.
Enamel paints are the best option for glassware projects. The paint hardens when it dries so it won't peel off. In fact, most types of enamel paints can be baked in the oven to cure. Doing this makes the paint durable and top-rack dishwasher safe.
Acrylic paints work better on porous surfaces so they can be tricky to apply on glass surfaces unless you use a primer. Without a primer, your paint will tend to slip loosely around the glass and not adhere very easily.
What kind of paint should I use? I prefer acrylic craft paint for the inside of an ornament. It's inexpensive and comes in every color you could ever want. You can also glitter your ornaments, using my Glitter Ornament tutorial.
You can use chalk markers or latex Sharpie pens, but keep in mind that these will wipe off quite easily. The Acrylics and Oil base pens are more permanent, but may still be able to scratch with effort. If you are gifting I recommend wrapping them in tissue paper to protect them.
If you want to generate long lasting lettering artworks on glass, choose oil-based markers, such as the ones of Sharpie. The Sakura Pen Touch and the DecoColor paint pens (the latter is produced by Marvy Uchida) are oil-based as well and they are good tools to write on small glass projects.
An awesome way to get dried acrylic paint off of your hands and out of your paint brushes is hand sanitizer. Inexpensive. For paint brushes just work the brush back and forth in the sanitizer.
Most acrylic paints are solely water-based and do not stick well to glass. Therefore, using quality paint that is a combination of enamel and acrylic will last longer on glass.
One of the most difficult substrates to paint, glass needs to be primed properly or else paints simply won't stick to the surface. Using Zinsser products, in particular Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3, ensures proper application when painting glass.
Featuring a water-based, acid-free ink resists fading and is easily removable from glass, Sharpie Water-Based Paint Markers are ideal for creating scrapbooks, posters, and window designs.
It is difficult to write on the glass with a pencil because the friction on the glass is very less which creates difficulty in writing. On the other hand, since the paper has more friction it is much easier to write on paper as compared to glass.
Acrylic enamel paints bond to a wide variety of surfaces—glass included—and form a hard shell that helps ensure your color stays in place. Acrylic glass paint: This type of glass paint is purely acrylic-based, but it's different from your standard acrylics, which don't readily adhere to the smooth surface of glass.
For a beautiful matte finish that makes ordinary glass look like ceramic pottery, add 1 tablespoon baking soda to any color water-based paint and mix thoroughly. Use acrylic or latex paint only (oil-based paint will not work). Apply to a clean glass surface with horizontal brush strokes.
Acrylic. Acrylic paints are another great option for painting on glass, especially if you're looking for a fast-drying paint that will allow you to finish your projects quickly, or if you are producing a series of pieces in bulk.
You can clean the glass with a standard cleaning solution or rubbing alcohol. Then, when it comes to how to use acrylic paint on glass, it's important to first apply a primer to the glass. Using either a brush or a sprayer, apply an even coat of a primer where you will be applying the acrylic paint.
The best sealant for acrylic paint is a 100% Acrylic Solvent-Free Sealer. This type of sealer will not yellow or crack over time as latex-based sealers do. It's also more resistant to UV rays than water-based sealers, which means it will last longer and won't be as prone to fading.
After it is dry, I use an archival, acrylic gloss sealer to spray the ornament with 3 to 4 coats. This will not only protect the painting, but also makes the surface look shiny again.
It tends to take professional acrylic paints from twenty minutes to half an hour to dry such that you can touch them without leaving a mark if applied in a thin layer. Based on the environment you paint in, one to two hours is the drying time for thicker layers.
Work in low humidity warm room. Higher temperatures will speed up the drying time. Place your painting under moderate airflow, or use a fan. The air circulation dries the area and prevent paint from being wet.
All you need are Sharpies and Rubbing Alcohol to turn a piece of plastic into a gorgeous tie dyed Christmas ornament! If you've never heard of making tie-dye with Sharpies and Rubbing Alcohol, you're in for a treat. It's one of our favourite things to do with Sharpie markers.
You can use chalk markers or latex Sharpie pens, but keep in mind that these will wipe off quite easily. The Acrylics and Oil base pens are more permanent, but may still be able to scratch with effort. If you are gifting I recommend wrapping them in tissue paper to protect them.
Sharpie Oil Based Markers can be used on plastic. The traditional alcohol based Sharpie Markers are not ideal for plastic. They will smear and ultimately fade over time. If you want something more permanent, then use the oil based product.
No matter the cause of the accident, the dye used in the permanent markers will bleed through interior paint unless you follow a few simple rules. It may seem pointless at first to wash the wall, especially since this will not fade or remove the marks, but it is a critical step for any painting job.
The ink molecules in the Sharpie are soluble meaning they will dissolve in a different solvent. The rubbing alcohol (solvent) dissolves the ink molecules and carries them with it as it spreads across the coffee filter.
Paint pens are the easiest way to create fun and easy designs for your acrylic signs! I use the Sharpie Oil Based Paint Pens as they won't smear and are permanent. Use the finer tip paint pens for lettering and fine illustrations. The thicker tip paint pens are great for bold numbers and designs.
Don't use regular white printer paper when you print pictures or other images. Instead, use a thick, high-quality photo paper to prevent ink smears and smudging. Some brands of photo paper, such as those labeled "Instant Dry," are designed to dry faster than others.
Frixion erasable pens from Pilot erase with friction (the eraser on the end) and heat. These sneaky pens do work on fabric and can be erased with an iron or hair dryer. BUT, they are a bit controversial. The ink can reappear when exposed to very cold temperatures.
Use paints that are specifically formulated to adhere to plastics. There are several available on the market such as Krylon Fusion for Plastic® , Valspar® Plastic Spray Paint , and Rust-Oleum Specialty Paint For Plastic Spray . If using regular spray paint then your item will need to be primed.
There are lots of colors available in single packs or multi pack and you can use them on virtually any surface including metal, wood, rubber, plastic, glass, stone and more. As you can see the results on plastic are amazing.
Be sure to use acrylic paint that is formulated for glass or plastic (depending on what ornaments you're using). Don't use too much paint. Not only is it wasteful, but it will take a lot longer for your ornaments to dry. Make sure your ornaments are clean and dry.
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