Close up of three ceramic baubles with string for hanging. The baubles are patterned with colourful swirls, made when trying bauble marbling.

Trying Bauble Marbling: A Calm Christmas Craft in a York Museum

13th December 2025 - New Experience Number 25

Jump to 'Try it yourself'

Trying Bauble Marbling was another new Christmas craft added to my list of 52 new things for 2025.

Combining science, creativity and a step back in time, this was a workshop that was easy to do and a nice oasis of calm amongst the frenzy of the season.

What Is Bauble Marbling?

You might have previously heard of marbling as it’s often done on paper.

The process usually involves paint or ink floating on water and then very gently laying the paper onto the surface.

The colours transfer to the paper creating patterns which look a little like smooth marble, which is how the technique got its name.

Hosted By Thin Ice Press

Thin Ice Press are passionate about traditional printing. Their old brick building in the centre of York is home to a vast array of old printing machines and materials from a time when the craft was much more analogue and hands-on than the modern processes. Their aim isn’t to simply preserve traditional printing, but to bring it to life.

Looking into a room which is laid out for a bauble marbling workshop. There are paints on the tables, and chairs around the edges. It looks a crafty environment.
Thin Ice Press ready to host the session

There’s a brilliant story behind the name, it’s worth having a look on their website to find out more.

I’d previously been to Thin Ice Press headquarters for a linocut Christmas card making workshop. It had been utterly brilliant and I was looking forward to trying another new festive make with them.

The Workshop - Trying Bauble Marbling

Everything was laid out and ready for us, which made this super easy to get stuck in.

Nick from Thin Ice Press gave us a brief history of marbling, some of the science behind the process, and then talked us through how to marble the baubles. Then it was over to us!

Picking some festive shades, I dropped a small amount of ink into the marbling bath. It was fascinating how the colour simply floated on the surface. I added a few drops of another colour, and then used a very thin pin-like tool to swirl them around.

The patterns looked amazing, but I remembered what Nick had said, and that they don’t transfer perfectly onto the bauble. So what you see in the bath won’t result as a perfect copy onto the material.

A perspex container on a table. The lid is to the side. There are a pair of scissors, and the container is holding a clear liquid.
Individual paint baths
Looking across a white table that is full of jam jars of different coloured paints, some have brushes in them. There are lids on the worktops too.
A selection of paints
Looking down into a perspex container. There is liquid in it, but there is paint on the top. The paint has made a nice pink and green pattern. This is an example of trying bauble marbling
Creating patterns and swirls

I slowly and carefully dipped my first bauble fully into the liquid. Gently lifting it out, I was so pleased with the results! The colour wasn’t as deep or rich as it looked in the bath. Instead, the swirls and markings looked like pretty pastel shades, reminding me of a cold winter’s morning.

To make another bauble, I had the very satisfying job of skimming the excess paint from the top of the bath. Just a few swipes of the surface with some folded paper, and the process could start again.

Everyone made a beautiful selection of four baubles to take home. No two were the same, they were all entirely unique.

All that was left to do was let them dry before taking them home.

A ceramic bauble about to be dipped into a bauble marbling bath. The batj is a perspex box which contains a clear fluid and coloured ink on the top.
Ready to dip
Ceramic baubles that have been dipped in marbling paints, and have been hung up to dry. They have pretty swirled patterns on them and look wet as they have been freshly painted.
Leaving them to dry

Going Behind The Scenes At The Museum

The workshop took place in the Castle Museum in the centre of York.

It was an unusual venue for a craft session, and took place in one of the education rooms away from the main exhibits. It felt like we were getting a sneak peek behind closed doors!

Whilst our baubles were drying I explored the museum. I’d not been for a few years and I’d forgotten how amazing it is, especially at Christmas when the displays are decked out with all the festive trimmings.

A highlight has to be Kirkgate, an indoor Victorian street complete with cobbles and shop fronts selling things from books to toys to confectionery. Almost everything in the displays are original items from the time, and at Christmas they give it all a festive makeover.

There’s snow on the cobbles, holly on the lamp posts, paper chains and Christmas cards in the shop windows. There’s something gorgeously enticing about it all and I was so glad the workshop gave me an excuse to visit.

They also have rooms through different eras, and the 80s kitchen looked so similar to the kitchen we had when I was little. It really felt like I’d gone back in time and it made me feel as though I was seven again.

Looking along a cobbled street that has some fake snow on it. The street looks Victorian, however there are visitors from present day enjoying the street. A scene from Castle Museum in York.
Kirkgate looking festive
Looking in a kitchen which is very retro and looks as though it is from the 1980s. The decor is cream and brown.
The 80's kitchen felt familiar!
Looking in a kitchen which is very retro and looks as though it is from the 1980s. The decor is cream and brown, and there are many bits of packaging from the era.
It was like going back to my childhood

A Lovely Make - Trying Bauble Marbling

It had been such a nice break from the relentlessness of a weekend before Christmas. Focusing on the colours and the patterns was a nice way to embrace some creativity. 

I really enjoyed the fact that you never quite knew what the bauble would look like until it came out of the liquid, and that each one was completely individual.

I had another handmade decoration for our Christmas tree, and I loved it.

A ceramic bauble with swirling pink patterns. It is hanging on a Christmas tree and is the result of trying bauble marbling
My new decoration looks lovely on the tree
Challenge Fifty-Two, a white woman with dark hair. She is sitting at a table wearing a jumper with a navy apron over the top. She is smiling at the camera as she is trying bauble marbling.
I really enjoyed my first try at bauble marbling

New Experiences Don’t Have To Be Difficult To Be Valuable

Plenty has been written about the benefits of stepping out of your comfort zone. I believe there are also a lot of good things from having experiences within your comfort zone that gently nudge the edges.

The bauble marbling workshop was easy, with everything provided for us, and expert instruction and support on hand. That didn’t stop me enjoying the rewards of switching off my mind from the busyness of the day, getting hands-on and creative, and taking home something I’m proud of. 

Sometimes it’s enough to slow down, make something with your hands, and enjoy the process

Want To Try It Yourself?

  • Take a look at the Castle Museum website where you’ll find information about any upcoming workshops.
  • The Thin Ice Press website also lists workshops that they are organising.
  • The Visit York website is another great resource for finding craft events in the city such as the bauble marbling workshop.
  • If you’re not in York, have a look online to see if any workshops like this are coming up. Eventbrite, Craft Courses,  and Class Bento are great websites for finding new workshops to try.

Cost Of Experience

  • Tickets for the bauble marbling workshop cost £25 per person.
  • The price included all of the materials, and admission to the museum.

Recommendations

  • Wear something old. We were provided with an apron, but it’s probably best to wear something you don’t mind spilling on, just in case there are any rogue drops of paint.
  • Let go of perfection. The pattern you create in the bath won’t look exactly the same on the bauble.
  • Get creative. Mix different colours and shades, try dipping your bauble multiple times, or add some glitter when it’s dry. There are lots of ways you can get even more creative!
  • Enjoy. Let me know how you get on if you give it a go.

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