Paint your own natural wood ornament
You get: 1 wood slice ornament and 1 hanging string
Time: about 30 to 60 minutes
Take home: same day. Handle gently until fully dry.
GRAB FROM THE ART BAR
Scrap paper for planning
Colored pencil
1 plastic plate (your palette)
1 water cup, filled at the project water dispenser
Brushes: a small flat brush and a fine detail brush
(Optional)
Acrylic paint
Acrylic paint markers
Gloss Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge (gloss) and a brush just for sealing
STEP 1: PLAN YOUR DESIGN
Sketch your idea on scrap paper first. Trace around your wood slice to get the right size and shape.
Keep it simple. Small surfaces work best with bold shapes: a winter scene, a star, a snowflake, initials, a pet, a pattern.
Decide if you want to paint the whole slice or leave some natural wood showing.
Ideas: night sky with tree silhouettes, holiday greeting, snowman, mountains, the year, a name.
STEP 2: SKETCH ON THE WOOD
Lightly sketch your design onto the wood slice with a light pencil. Dark pencil can show through light paint.
STEP 3: PAINT THE BACKGROUND (OPTIONAL)
For bright colors, paint a thin coat of white first. Raw wood soaks up paint and darkens colors.
Let it dry about 10 to 20 minutes, or 1 to 2 minutes with a heat gun. Keep the heat gun a few inches away and moving.
Paint your background color. To blend colors like a sky or sunset, paint them next to each other and brush back and forth where they meet while still wet.
Let it dry before adding details.
STEP 4: ADD YOUR DESIGN AND DETAILS
Paint your main shapes with a small brush.
Use acrylic paint markers for fine lines, lettering, outlines, stars, and small details.
Add white highlights or dots last.
Want to add your name or the year to the back? Do it now!
STEP 5: DRY COMPLETELY
Your paint must be fully dry before sealing, or it can smear. Dry the front, back, and edges with a heat gun until nothing feels cool or tacky to the touch.
STEP 6: SEAL
Brush a thin coat of Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge over your design. Use light, gentle strokes so the paint underneath doesn’t drag.
Dry with a heat gun, keeping it moving.
Add a second thin coat for extra shine and protection.
Planning to ever wash your ornament? Seal the entire thing, including the front, back, and bark edges. Unsealed wood soaks up water and can crack or warp.
STEP 7: ADD THE STRING
Once the sealer is dry, thread the string through the hole and tie a knot.
CARE AT HOME
Let your ornament dry overnight before boxing it up or hanging it near other ornaments.
The seal fully cures in about 4 weeks. Wipe with a damp cloth only until then.
CLEANUP
Leave your brushes in your water cup at your table and other supplies. We will bus these for you.
Want to make more? Extra blanks are available for purchase at the register. Just ask a staff member!