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Over the years, I’ve managed to diminish my Christmas box stash down to two boxes. One with lights and a few ornaments, and the other with a few faux wreaths.
That’s it.
In some ways, I need a major kudos for letting go of so. much. stuff! And in other ways, well, let’s just say, I scold myself every single year I decorate with, “I’m gonna have to go buy stuff. I can’t even decorate for Christmas as is!”
Which is true. I struggle at first every year. Yet somehow, I generally manage to round enough thanks to the good ‘ol outdoors and a few DIY projects.
However, I’m so seriously down to nitty gritty nothing, I decided to venture out to a craft store. You know… enhance my own stuff but maybe not right from scratch this round.
As I walked down isle after isle, there was plenty of pretty stuff alright, however I was left with disappointment. What in the world?!
Nearly everything I touched was already high-priced complete! As in… there was nothing left to do with anything. Why was it in a craft store if everything was already put together? That isn’t crafting, that’s purchasing regular retail!
And we already know I don’t do a whole lotta that.. unless it’s in order to dig my toes into some sandy beach.
So I went home pretty much empty handed and just resolved to figure it out on my own.
Walking into the workshop was a start. This 3×3″ post and chunk of firewood caught my eye. What if…
… I cut slices from each? Then I started visualizing what in the world they could become.
A garland? An art piece?
Since the shapes and sizes were so perfect for ornaments… that is what they became!
Thank goodness for workshop scrap wood that has room for growth, huh?
Here’s how I made these:
Wood slice snowflake ornaments
1. Each wood slice was cut, then left unsanded for a rustic take.
2. The insides of each slice was painted black to resemble mini chalkboards.
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Tip: I found not painting right to the edge to look better. Just keep a wet brush as you move around the edges to achieve sharp lines.
Paint used: Fusion Mineral Paint’s Coal Black on Amazon or find a local retailer HERE
3. Small snowflakes were stenciled with white paint on top of the black.
Learn more about how to stencil HERE
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Paint used: Fusion Mineral Paint’s Casement on Amazon or find a local retailer HERE
Stencil used – Funky Junk’s Christmas Graphics HERE
4. Small holes were drilled into each slice, then twine strung through and tied with a knot.
Well that was easy!
Plus really, really cheap.
Buffalo Check quilt square ornaments
1. Paint each square red.
2. Position 4 squares from Buffalo Check in the middle of the wood slice.
3. Stencil with black.
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Paint used: Fusion Mineral Paint’s Fort York Red and Coal Black on Amazon or find a local retailer HERE
Stencil used: Funky Junk’s Buffalo Check HERE
4. Drill holes in each square, then thread through hanging twine, and trim with twine to resemble wrapped presents if desired.
I liked the presents look too, however decided to leave them simple to moreso resemble little quilt squares.
Aren’t they the cutest?!
Ornaments… check!
I love shopping from my workshop…
Are you making anything this season?
Other current favs!
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My love of buffalo checks continues! I love this look!
Donna, this is really cute, I got my Christmas stuff down to one box and it’s mostly sentimental stuff that I’m tired of using it. This set up you’ve created is great and I think you may have inspired me…. I thought about just skipping the decorating this year because RV life is so different… Simple but there are a few things I miss about having a home which made me realize time to start designing our Tiny House. Anyways love this tree and ornaments now I have to ponder what I can come up with. -Carole
Aww they’re so cute. Who needs to buy expensive tack when you’ve got gorgeous talent like yours. Well done Donna they look so nice on your mini Xmas tree
A very clever and cute way to use scraps and I like the idea of shopping in your workshop.
Great Idea! Look what you can do with two pieces of wood! So much better than buying Christmas Plastic Junk at the store. Love your stencils!
I have a Christmas Tree that is a real tree trunk base with artificial branches -that I use every year. And I have gathered a box of pine cones from my pine trees in the yard. And I have a box of glass prisms from old broken chandeliers I have collected from yard sales….
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in the U.S. So the day after tomorrow I will be putting away the Ceramic Turkey and getting out Christmas things…
Thanks for the inspiration!
Well Donna I am glad you went back home and came up with something yourself. I know what you mean about the crafts being done already and expensive to boot. I like trying to make something myself also. Yeah it’s more cost effective but what draws me to making my own is the sheer enjoyment of the process and enjoying the final product. There are quite a lot of wood scraps in my garage that my hubby brings home from school for our wood stove. He gathers them from the woodworking class at school. He is a teacher. Some of the wood has the coolest shapes and my mind gets to dreaming of what to do with them. It’s the ideas that excite me. And so you have inspired me once again. I will have time to play with my wood as I am off for a while due to a health problem. And I am enjoying myself immensely. Thanks Donna for being “you”. And for sharing “you”.
these are right up my alley & I could also see a garland!
I thought I would buy a few new things, but ended up using what I have!
Those are very pretty. I’m also imagining a star made with two of the squares- one laid down as a square and the other glued on top in the direction of a diamond.