Painting Holiday Ornaments
In this blog post, I want to share my favorite painting project that I do with thousands of kids during the holidays – ornaments! This activity is a highlight of my classes and workshop events during the festive season.
We paint wooden craft ornaments with acrylic paint. It’s a special activity where kids create sweet holiday ornaments for their parents, which can be cherished year after year. Many children visit me annually to make new ornaments to add to their collection. I’ll provide you with some quick and easy tips to do this activity at home with kids.
Getting Started
Painting an ornament may sound messy, but it’s actually a fun and festive activity! You can find unfinished wood craft shapes at local superstores, craft stores, or online. Glass ornaments can also be used if you can’t find wood craft cutouts.
Acrylic Paints
For this project, use only acrylic paint for its durability. My kids’ painted ornaments still look great year after year because we used long-lasting acrylic paint. Acrylic paint is archival and ensures longevity.
Using other paints may wear off, peel, or disappear over time. Look for kids-safe, non-toxic acrylic paint specifically designed for children. You can purchase acrylic paint online at our art school website store. Buy kids-safe holiday non-toxic acrylic paint here!
Paint Colors
In my holiday palette I use fun festive colors like:
- Red
- Black
- White
- Gold
- Silver
- Dark Green
- Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple
- Brown
- Burgundy Deep Red
Holiday Colors Palette for Ornaments
I choose these colors because kids typically paint traditional holiday shapes like stars, Christmas trees, Santa Claus, or snowmen. Stick to this palette, and you’ll create wonderful ornaments. Don’t fret if you don’t have all these colors; three to four colors are sufficient to craft a lovely holiday ornament.
White Glitter
White glitter adds a shiny and festive touch to everything! When using acrylic paint, sprinkling white glitter on a wet area ensures that the glitter sticks and stays in place. If you wait until the ornament is completely dry, the glitter will just fall off. Glitter ornaments are always a hit for adding that extra sparkle!
Here’s what You Need
- Ornaments: Any shape, whether wood, glass, or tin. Recycled ornaments are great too. Have old ornaments that need a fresh look?
- Acrylic Paint: For the best results, use acrylic paint on wood. Remember to use small amounts of paint as ornaments are small.
- Paintbrushes: Have at least two brushes available – a small one and a tiny brush for details.
- Palette: Any size palette will work to hold paints. Even a paper plate can serve as a palette.
- Glitter: Choose any color you like; white can make all colors stand out nicely.
- Smock: Cover up your clothes as acrylic paint does not come out easily.
- Napkins: Use them for wiping paintbrushes between color changes.
- Jar: Keep a jar of water handy to clean your paintbrushes between colors.
- Hair Dryer: Useful for older kids or adults to speed up the drying process and work on details.
Wood Craft Ornaments
You can easily find wood craft ornaments in most large superstores or craft stores. The beauty is you’re not limited to traditional Christmas shapes; you can use almost any shape! We’ve had great success with unconventional holiday-themed ornaments on our tree. For instance, this season we painted cute dinosaurs in red, green, and white, and added a touch of glitter which was a hit with the young kids.
All Ages Can Paint an Ornament
At my workshops, I welcome visitors of all ages, from toddlers to teens. Some parents worry that their toddlers might be too young, but I always emphasize that it’s more about creating a keepsake reflecting their child’s age than striving for perfection. After sprinkling glitter on their colorful creations, even the most mashed-up colors turn out fabulously.
Parents love seeing their little ones’ paintings adorned with glitter and a string to hang on their very own Christmas tree. Painting holiday ornaments is enjoyable for all ages; while older kids have the patience to sit through the activity and do their best, younger ones can also engage in this quick and rewarding craft. Consider offering a variety of shapes for painting to extend the activity’s duration. On average, kids spend about 15 minutes per ornament, while older kids and adults who take their time can spend up to an hour.
Hanging as an Ornament
Here’s a final tip for hanging your ornament: You can elevate the decoration by hot gluing a string or yarn to the back of the ornament, making it effortless to hang on a Christmas tree as a charming decoration. It’s super easy! In some of the pictures displayed, my family assisted me in hot gluing strings so that kids could proudly hang their creations on their Christmas trees.
I hope you try this out and have a good time. I’m planning to paint this coming weeks with my girl friends with coffee and holiday cookies. It’s not just for kids, I tell this to all the parents that visit my holiday painting events. Happy Painted Up Holiday!
Take it a Step Further: Grab Your FREE Kids Holiday Crafts Painting Checklist!
If you’re new to painting activities with your students, get ready for a delightful experience—kids truly enjoy this craft! The setup is straightforward, making it easy to repeat with your students multiple times throughout the holiday season. You can also explore related activities like rock painting or painting on paper using the same materials; only the images, paint colors, and canvases may vary.
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Each lesson is part of a sequence and includes all the components, tips, materials lists, and instructions you need to ensure you will be able to actually teach your students to become skilled painters. All you have to do is simply follow the instructions and easily present the activities to your students.
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