Make these gorgeous dragon eyes from flat clear filler marbles and use them for dragon jewelry or to carry around in a simple pouch. Adults and children alike love them. Best dragon craft ever! (Except for our Dragon Egg of course.) You can use regular paints to make these but I’ve listed the things I found that make them the easiest to create. View detailed photos and a video below! If you like these we’ve got plenty of other dragony things such as our 3D Wall Dragons and Little Clay Dragon tutorial.
Supplies for Dragon Eyes Dragon Craft
NOTE: You can use regular paints with tiny thin brushes in place of the Sharpie paint pens. I tested both methods and preferred the pens as it was neater, easier and quicker to use.
- Flat Clear filler marbles in the size you want. Typical is 3/4″ inch.(You can get these at most Dollar Stores, Walmart etc.)
- Metallic Sharpie Paint Pens, Thin Or regular gold or silver metallic paint and a thin brush.
- Black Sharpie Paint Pen or Black Paint and a thin brush.
- Metallic acrylic paint for background. (I used green, purple and blue and purchased them at Walmart)
- Jewelry findings if desired to make necklaces, rings, pins etc.
Video Instructions
Visual Instructions
The marbles come in various sizes. The typical size is about 3/4″.
These are the tools I found work the easiest. However you can use regular paints to make the pupils and outline them. It just takes a very fine brush and a steadier hand. The paint markers make it a lot easier.
Because the marbles act as a magnifying glass it’s important to make the pupil very thin and keep it away from the edges. Otherwise when it’s turned over it appears to run over the edge. Make sure to let it dry well before doing the metallic outlines.
If you’re using regular paint for your edging you can use a toothpick to make the dots. Allow your outlines and dots to dry before moving on.
Make sure to put the back color on a bit thick and keep it away from the edge. Allow to dry thoroughly before handling.
We put our Dragon Eyes into our No Sew Drawstring Pouch.
You can get much bigger flat glass marbles at Michaels at a good price too!
I don’t think I have done these with paints, I have to try it. I have used nail polish but the smell gets to me. I’m going to try this next time. Do you seal the back of them?
I used acrylic paints and put a clear coating afterwarda to make sure it didn’t chip. To make things dry faster, as I did between 8 and 14 layers of different glitter and metallic paints per eye, I used a small space heater and did things in a sort of assembly line. I would paint a layer on a pair of eyes, put them down in front of the space heater, pick up the next pair and put a layer on, put them back down in front of the heater, so on and so forth. I had a couple dozen going at once, and by the time I got down to the last pair in line, the first pair was well dry enough for the next layer. The glass can get hot, though, so be careful.
Thanks for sharing that Amy! What a great way to do them in a batch. Ü Would love to see how they turned out!
I’ve never done this before. Very interesting and fun. How do apply so many colors on one? Because of size? Curious. Thank you!!
Cutest idea, ever! Thank you! Totally doing this craft with the kids
Can they be baked so the paint will stay on?
NOt sure Phyllis. Not had a problem with it coming off. Though you could coat it with a hard clear coating too!
Awesome ! I was searching ideas for a Harry Potter party, and these dragon eyes are perfect for magical potions ! Thank you so much !
You’re very welcome. Glad to inspire! Ü
I absolutely LOVE this idea!!!
Thanks Jeannine!
the only ones that work any good are the clear ones…believe me i’ve tried….and i use nail polish…they get some swirly kinda colored ones….very groovy
Excellent idea with the nail polish Cindy. Wouldn’t mind seeing some of those. Thanks for stopping by!
Nancy
Regarding the time constraints of doing this in less than 1 hour, couldn’t you buy multi-color glass marbles and then you just use the paint pens for the iris and outline? Wouldn’t that be a lot quicker?
You can get the flat one’s in a variety of colors… so I don’t see why that wouldn’t work. Good idea. Makes me want to test some now!
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Awesome! Can you please tell me the total time this craft takes, including dry time? I want to do this with my summer campers, but we have a limited amount of time. Thanks!
Shoot it’s been a while since I’ve done it I can’t remember. If you have a limited time slot with them I’m thinking it might not be the best craft. The paint would take over an hour the dry I think. You might try doing a test one ahead of time. But that thicker paint that’s the background paint is what will take while to dry. Good luck!
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These look so cool.
Cute! Have to keep in mind for a dragon-theme party!
Oh yeah… perfect for that!