Handmade Paint-Stick Ornaments

Prepare Paint Sticks

Drill 2 holes in the upper corners just bigger than your wire. Paint the sticks with the acrylic paint. Distress them by sanding the edges to expose some of the bare wood and then wipe the dust off. If there is writing on the stick that will show through the paint, use that side as the front because the paper will cover it. If you’re using a light paint color, sand the writing off of the border area before you paint.

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Apply Template to Stick

Cut out your template, making sure it's sized to your wooden paint stick. Trim to fit, if necessary, so there is about a 1/8" border of paint showing around the paper. To get the inked look around the edges of the paper, put a rag on your finger, dip it into dark brown paint (blotting most of it off) and lightly run your finger along the edge of the paper. You could also use a brown ink pad.

Brush a thin layer of Mod Podge onto the stick. Place your paper on it, gently smooth it flat and let it dry thoroughly. Brush a thin layer of Mod Podge on top of the paper, being careful not to run your brush over it too many times and making sure the paper is flat and smooth. Let dry.

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Add Wire to Ornament

Cut a length of wire 9" long. Gently push it through the hole in the stick from the back and through the paper about 1". It helps to put your finger over the hole where the wire is coming through so the paper doesn't tear. Bend the wire up in the back. If you are adding an accent, put it on the wire now. Use needle-nose pliers to twist the wire in a circle, then use the side of the pliers to push the wire down flat against the ornament.

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