How to Paint Ornaments With 2 Different Methods

1. Gather Materials

   Collect your materials and work on a protected surface.

2. Apply Your Base Coat

   Hold your ornament by its opening and begin painting your first coat. Chalky finish paint has great coverage after a single coat. Once your ornaments are painted, allow them to dry for 30 minutes to an hour. Once dry, go back and do any touchups if needed.

   What Is Chalk Paint?

   Chalky-finish paint resembles a surface covered in chalk, giving items a flat, matte-looking appearance. It is different from chalkboard paint; you can't write on it as you can with chalkboard paint. This latex-based paint cleans up with water instead of mineral spirits.

3. Paint the Accent Color

   There are two parts to the pattern. The first is the underlying shade. Select one of your paint colors and begin painting dashes all around the ornament. Once finished, let it dry for about 30 minutes.

4. Make a Pattern

   On top of the painted silhouette or accent dashes, go back and paint a dash in a different color on top of each one. Allow it to overlap slightly but allow the underlying color to show through.

5. Let the Ornaments Dry

   Insert cake pop sticks pointy side down into your craft foam to create a makeshift drying rack. Place your ornaments upside down onto the cake pop sticks. Wait a full hour to allow the ornaments to dry.

6. Assemble and Display

   After the ornaments have finished drying, replace the ornament caps, add some string or a hook, and display.

Wooden Ornaments

For fans of Scandinavian-influenced decor and minimalist aesthetics, wooden ornaments will skew closer to your taste. They're simple yet chic and look naturally stunning against the boughs of evergreen trees.

1. Gather Materials

   Gather all the items you'll need for creating these wooden ornaments and set them out on your workspace.

2. Select Your Pattern and Apply the Masking Tape

   Here we used a simple striped pattern, but the options are endless with masking tape. You can make stripes, scallop the edges, or cut out shapes; the list goes on. Once you've decided on a pattern, apply the tape to your wooden sphere.

   Tip

   Remember that the paint will go everywhere that the tape is not. So if you want a stripe around the center, do the reverse with tape and put two strips of tape on both the top and bottom of the ornament to mark out the middle stripe.

3. Start Painting

   Take a medium-size brush and begin painting your ornament. Start with the exposed wood and gently work your way around the tape. Be careful around the edges to avoid the paint from seeping underneath the tape.

4. Finish Pattern and Let Dry

   If you'd like to add a second pattern, this is a great time to do so while your other side is drying. Then, allow your ornaments to dry for an hour. If needed, go back and do a second coat or any touch-ups.

5. Remove the Tape

   Carefully peel off the masking tape once your ornaments are completely dry. Pulling off the tape too early can smear the paint, so check to ensure the paint isn't still tacky.

6. Glue String or Drill Hooks

   A drill bit makes this part quick and easy. Drill a small hole and insert a screw eye hook. If you don't have an electric drill, you can hot glue a piece of string or twine to the top of your ornament. Tie a knot on one end, then glue the knotted end down to the top. Allow it to set and dry before lifting it by the string.

7. Decorate the Tree

   Hang your completed ornaments on the tree.

Other Types of Paint You Can Use

For this project, we used chalky-finish paint. It adheres well to most surfaces and has a unique, matte look. However, if you want a glossier look, most people use acrylic paint with glass or plastic balls. This painting technique is much different, requiring you to unscrew the ornament top and drizzling the paint inside the ornament using a squirt bottle. You are essentially coating the inside of the ornament with the paint color you select. This method allows your ornaments to have a shinier appearance from the outside.

Another method people like to personalize ornaments or recolor old glass or plastic ornaments is to use spray paint. It's less precise, but you can lay out an ornament on a piece of plywood or cardboard and spray a few coats (even mix different colors) for colorful effects.