The holiday season is upon us! Nothing gets me in the holiday spirit more than receiving Christmas cards, decorating the tree and holiday crafts! What better way to deck the halls with warmth and charm than by incorporating vintage-inspired Christmas decorations? Which brings me to this fun DIY vintage Christmas ornaments project!
Instead of purchasing new ornaments this year, consider upcycling your old ones into stunning, one-of-a-kind pieces.
This year I was feeling less than enthused to use some of my cheap ornaments from my first few Christmases as a poor grad student. Last year I hid these on the back of the tree. But I was wanting something a little more sophisticated this year and upcycling some of my existing ornaments seemed like a great way to bring a vintage look to my house this holiday season.
THE BEFORE
THE AFTER
How do you upgrade old Christmas ornaments?
There are a variety of ways to upgrade outdated Christmas ornaments including spraying paint, acrylic paints, metallic products like Rub-n-Buff or event flocking kits to get a completely new look. However, in this article we’ll be exploring a fun and fool-proof process to create a rusty vintage ornament look. Like old things? Me too! Give me all the patina. I’ll show you how to transform old ornaments into your very own DIY ornaments using paint and some unexpected pantry products.
Can you paint the outside of plastic ornaments?
You betcha you can paint the outside of plastic ornaments! The best part is, they don’t even require much prep. Start with a clean surface and paint away! I found sponge brush application to be easiest and provide the best coverage. For extra-good coverage create your own chalky paint by adding in some baking soda. In this project I’ll show you how to create some really beautiful texture with this paint-additive technique.
My inspiration:
While browsing for new holiday decor I came across these old fashioned Christmas ornaments and fell in LOVE! That texture! But $7 per item didn’t seem worth it which led to a great idea … I could replicate the vintage ornaments starting with some pretty generic and cheap Christmas balls.
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Materials Needed:
- Old Christmas ornaments
- Acrylic paint in various colors (You’ll need 1 slightly lighter color for each color you choose. For example: Dark green + light green)
- Sponge brush
- Tooth picks or dowels and something to stick them into like a styrofoam block
- Baking soda
- Cocoa powder
- Paper towel, old rag or sponge
- Rub ‘n Buff (or metallic paint)
- Ribbon or twine for hanging
- Newspapers, cardboard or a drop cloth
Step 1: Preparation
Lay down newspapers or a drop cloth to protect your workspace.
Gather a selection of your least favorite old ornaments in different shapes from your collection. All different sizes will work in a variety of materials from glass ornaments to plastic. Don’t worry if they have some texture to them, I found this only added to the vintage look. If you’re lucky enough to love all your ornaments you can always find a lot of ornaments at your local thrift store or flea market.
Start by removing the hanger cap and set aside for the painting process.
Step 2: Painting Base Coat
Apply a base coat of acrylic paint to your ornaments. I used some paints I had on hand in the colors navy, green, red, white and yellow. Before heading to the craft store you may want to take inventory of what you already have on hand. Just about any colors will work. I found applying paint with a sponge brush was easiest and gave the best coverage.
Slide the freshly painted ornament over the tooth pick (or dowel for larger ornaments) using the hole on top and allow to dry completely.
Step 3: Adding Texture with Baking Soda
For a textured, vintage feel, mix baking soda with your chosen paint color and apply it as a second coat. The baking soda will create a subtle, snow-like texture, adding depth and character to your ornaments. Let it dry thoroughly.
Step 4: Sponge on Lighter Color and Sprinkle with Cocoa Powder
Using a wadded up paper towel, rag or sponge, dab on a lighter color over the textured surface. I did this in a sparing scattered pattern so the darker color could still be seen underneath.
SKIP THE NEXT COCOA POWDER STEP ON THE WHITE ORNAMENTS!
While the paint is still wet, sprinkle cocoa powder lightly. Wait about 30-60 seconds then brush off. This step will give your ornaments a weathered and patina appearance. Allow the ornaments to dry completely.
Step 5: Metallic Finishing Touch
You may be thinking they are looking a little celestial at this point (at least Kevin did, thinking I was working on a solar system craft lol). I promise this next step will really enhance the vintage charm we are after. I used Rub-n-Buff in the colors Antique and Autumn gold for this step, but you could certainly use metallic paint if you have some on hand. Apply in a scattered look so you can still see plenty of the paint colors beneath. Let it dry thoroughly.
Step 6: Spray Paint Cap Hooks (optional)
To freshen up the hook caps that you previously removed give them a light mist of spray paint (or even use your metallic paint for this step). This will brighten up the look and add to the fresh sparkle.
Step 7: Adding Ribbon Loop
Attach a ribbon or twine loop to each ornament for hanging. You can choose colors that complement your vintage color scheme.
Transforming old tree ornaments into vintage Christmas decorations is a great craft to upcycle items you already own. I love how these ornaments really resemble vintage pieces and I can’t wait to incorporate them into my Christmas decorating for years to come.
diy vintage christmas ornament // handmade ornaments // tree ornament // small ornament
Which one is your favorite color combo?
diy vintage christmas ornament
No need to buy all new Christmas ornaments to get the look you want! This an easy way to keep the Christmas decor budget in check while still feeling like you have new decor.
Display your DIY vintage Christmas ornaments as tree ornaments, in a vessel as a centerpiece or string on a garland. I love how every one ends up with it’s own unique look and gives your home a personal touch for the holidays. I hope you’re inspired to spruce up some of your own outdated Christmas decor this season. I’d love to see what DIY Christmas decorations and Christmas crafts you come up with. Happy crafting and happy holidays!
Girl Behind the Blog
I’m Jess, the creator of Oak & Grain. A mid-west girl at heart who now resides in Raleigh, NC. I love finding old things and giving them new purpose by way of refinishing or incorporating unexpected, overlooked thrift store finds in the modern home. I work full-time in medicine and I love dipping into my creative side and in the process, keeping my sanity. Follow me on Instagram and YouTube to see more behind the scenes action.
One response to “Vintage Inspired DIY Christmas Ornament Craft”
Thank you so much for this idea. I’ve signed up to the art newsletter and really look forward to receiving ideas from you.
I love all craft and started by following you with furniture up cycling.
Happy Festive Season from France