Nov 27, 2023

Snowman Ornaments

Snowman ornaments made of wood with faux stitching... could it get any cuter than this?!

BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

Set out all your pieces, so you have an idea of what needs to be painted.

I like to separate my pieces out into color groups for easier oversight.

Lay out the following supplies:

paint
brushes and make-up wedges
glue- I recommend Aleene's Turbo Tacky glue, which dries clear
string
masking tape
paper plate
nail/ q-tip or sharpie
wipes

PART 1:

PAINTING THE ROUND BASES:

Use a dry brush to paint a sparing amount of brown onto your round bases.

Wipe off excess color with a paper towel or rag.

Optional: paint the back of each ornament for a better finish. For this you can either use brown paint, or black paint- so that you can write a message on it in chalk pen!

For deeper coverage add additional coats in the same or different tones.

See the clip below for technique.

PART 2:

PAINTING THE WOOD SHAPE DESIGNS:

Attach all your small pieces, like the noses and hat trimmings onto the upturned sticky side of masking tape for easier painting.

Paint all your like colors simultaneously. You'll need very little paint!

Use a small paintbrush or makeup wedge for easy, smooth application.

Dip the wedge into the paint and then wipe off excess, so that it doesn't run down your design.

Dab the paint onto the shapes very sparingly. Rather use 2 coats than one that is too thick.

See a technique below:

To make the dotted eyes and smiles of the snowmen, use a sharpie or dip the flat end of a 1" nail into black paint and stamp the circles into the engraved spaces.

Optional: using the same technique as described above, you can add dots to the snowmen's hats using different colors!

Allow all your elements to dry fully.

Adjust colors and textures where necessary.

PART 3:

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

You will need:

all your dry bases
your painted elements
Glue

My favorite glue is Aleene's Turbo Tacky Glue, because it dries fast and clear. Superglue works too, but I find it dries too fast, in case I need to adjust something. Craft glue can be used, it just takes a little longer to dry. Avoid Hot glue- it's too thick and you'll likely burn all 10 of your fingers before you're done!

Apply glue very sparingly, so that it doesn't squash out from under your designs.

Alternatively, you can dab a Q-tip or small brush into the glue and dab it on.

Pull the string through the holes.

Optional: thread the string through a bead and tie off with a knot.