These cute little handmade decorations make fantastic ornaments or magnets. No one can resist handmade items from kids and they are fun to make!
They combine a few of my favorite things: my kids, art, and having fun! Yes, I know that was cheesy but still true.
Supplies Needed:
Wooden shape (sold in most craft stores for around $.40)
Paints (Non-Toxic in any color)
Paint brushes for kids
Smock/Apron for the kids to protect clothes (Optional)
Fishing wire or string
Hot Glue Gun
Acrylic Spray to protect it. (Optional)
Something to drill/put a hole in the wood shape.
1: One hint of color.
Supplies
Wooden shape (sold in most craft stores for around $.40)
Paints (Non-Toxic in any color)
Paint brushes for kids
Smock/Apron for the kids to protect clothes (Optional)
First prep the area where your child will be painting. I use plastic table cloths purchased from a dollar store. These are great for craft time! Cheap, reusable (for a few craft times), wipe-able and large enough for long fold out tables. Also something to cover your child’s clothes or just have him in old clothes.
Give your child the wooden shape and a paint brush and have him select the colors he wants to use. I purchased a painter’s palate for about $1 at Jo Ann’s and had a variety of paints. I let my son paint about a dozen of these and he still wanted to paint more.
2: It needs a coat.
Supplies
Painted wooden shape(s)
Acrylic Spray to protect it. (Optional)
This step is optional. You can spray the shapes with Acrylic spray to give it a shine and a protective coating. If you do not wish to do this go to step 3.
3: Like a hole in the head.
Items Needed
Painted wooden shape(s)
Something to drill/put a hole in the wood shape.
If you have sprayed the shapes with acrylic spray make sure you give them plenty of time to dry. If you didn’t then carry on!
I used a very small drill bit to put a hole in the shape. If you don’t have a drill or can’t use one then you can use a nail and hammer a hole into the shape instead.
4: Strings are in fact attached.
Items Needed
Painted wooden shape(s) with hole in its head
Fishing wire or string
Hot Glue Gun
Last comes the string to hang the ornament. I used fishing wire but pretty much anything will do like garbage twist tie, string, or yarn. I tied a length of fishing wire in a loop through the hole and used a hot glue gun on the knot in the back of the ornament. I did that to ensure that the string stayed on and couldn’t be undone since fishing wire tends to untie itself randomly, well for me it does anyway.
Now you have a beautiful hand-made ornament or magnet or pieces to add to an already made piece of art! You can have your child give them away as presents to family members and friends, hang them on your xmas tree, or put them on the fridge.
We did all three…err four and my son loves seeing his art hanging on our tree or on our fridge. He really loves wrapping them and giving them to people too.
I also included a small picture of him painting a special ornament for his grandparents. You can glue a photo of your child on the back of the ornament for a more personal gift.
He LOVES painting these wooden pieces and the plaster ones as well.
