A simple paint pen craft for your holiday tree!
This year I’ve been absolutely obsessed with pink and red for Christmas. It’s a little unexpected… but it’s so cute. So in today’s tutorial, I’m showing you how to make three different acrylic ornaments using nothing but paint pens (Posca markers, in my case)… and trust me – they turn out adorable.
And the best part? This craft is super easy, customizable, and you can literally trace your designs right through the acrylic. Let’s jump in!
Supplies Used
- Acrylic ornaments – I got mine from Amazon!
- Paint pens – I used Posca markers in different tip sizes
- Pencil – for sketching
- Paper towel / scrap paper – to get your pens flowing
- Ribbon – for finishing
- Paper (optional) – graph paper is helpful!
- Windex / Q-tip (optional) – for touch ups
Rather watch than read? Check out the full video by clicking the video below!
Let’s Get Started!
Grab your ornaments, paint pens, and other supplies, and let’s get started!
Step 1: Sketch Your Designs (On Paper First!)
One of the best things about acrylic ornaments is that you can sketch your design on paper first – then trace it right through the ornament.
I traced the outline of each ornament onto my graph paper and designed three layouts:
- Merry & Bright – simple lettering with stripe background
- Scalloped Frame + Year – little vintage-style circle design
- Ribbon Design – hand-drawn bow with wavy border
You can keep your sketches really rough, or draw them clean so they’re easy to trace. Totally your call!
Step 2: Trace Onto the Ornament
Once your sketches are ready, place the ornament right over your paper and trace:
- Shake your paint pens first! (Posca especially needs a good shake.)
- Test the marker on scrap paper until it’s opaque.
- Trace your design slowly OR purposefully quick for a whimsical style.
Posca markers are pretty forgiving – you can wipe them off with Windex or even just scratch off dry paint with your fingernail if needed.
Step 3: Paint the Backs
This is where it comes to life! Once the front dries, flip the ornament and paint the back:
- For the Merry & Bright ornament: I painted pink and red stripes (they don’t have to be perfectly straight – the whimsy is part of the charm!).
- For the scalloped one: I filled in the background with red. Once it was dry, I carved out some scallops to clean up the edges – super satisfying.
- For the bow ornament: I painted the entire back white, then added little pink accents on the front once it was totally dry.
Tip: use the largest paint pen size you can for background fills – it’ll be way less streaky.
Step 4: Touch-Up & Carving (Optional But Fun)
If anything goes outside the lines, let it dry completely – then carve off little bits with your nail or a Q-tip dipped in Windex. You can also go back in with your paint pen to clean edges.
This is honestly one of the most satisfying parts. 😌
Step 5: Add Ribbon & Finish!
Once everything is fully (fully!) dry, just add ribbon and tie a knot or bow.
I used a simple ribbon from Michaels – nothing fancy – and it instantly made them look like proper ornaments.
That’s a Wrap – The Final Look!
That’s it – three finished acrylic ornaments! They’re cute, bold, and totally customizable for any colour palette.
If you want them to last forever, you can spray them with a clear acrylic sealant. I didn’t – since they’ll just hang on the tree and won’t be handled much – but it’s an easy extra step if you want a durable finish.
I’m truly obsessed with how these turned out – especially the pink and red combo. If you make your own version, tag me so I can see!
I’d LOVE to see your creations. Tag me on Instagram: @thehappyevercrafter
Looking for more holiday crafts? Check out this adorable gingerbread house ornament tutorial.
And finally, your dad joke…
How do you tell when Santa is in a room?
You can sense his presents.
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