Make It: Christmas Ornament

When I was a kid my mom had me make ornaments for all my family members every year. It was a drag as I got older, but now I half a tree full of home-made ornaments from my brothers and I. It's fun to look at them and remember the sights of us in the basement sanding or painting. And the smell of the clear spray mom would spray on everything when it was done.

This year I decided to continue the tradition with my three year old. You can too! It was easy, fairly 'un-messy', very inexpensive, and he had a blast.



Here's what you need to make our Tree Ornament:
Wooden cut-outs. (Available at local craft stores. This one cost only 25 cents!)
White spray paint. (Left over from a previous project, but $1)
5 Bright colored acrylic paints. (Left over from previous project, but 97 cents each.)
Funky ribbon. (Also available at local craft stores. We used almost a whole spool for our 20 trees. Cost $1.97)
Paper plate or old muffin tin (as shown) for paint.
Large sheet of paper to keep things neat and clean.
Smock
Hot glue gun
Permanent Fine Point Marker


1. A few days before I let "H-Dog" at the trees, I sprayed several coats of white spray paint on both sides. I did this on an old piece of poster board which worked great because they didn't stick they they would to newspaper.

2. Before the big event I covered the counter with packing paper for easy clean up. I also squeezed about a quarter size glob of paint in each of five holes in an old muffin tin we use for projects like this.

3. "H-Dog" found his 'mock' as he likes to call it and we got to work. We did one color at a time and he stuck his finger in the paint and dotted each tree 3-5 times. We did this for all five colors.

4. After the trees were dry I cut 4" sections of ribbon. I hot glued them to the back forming a loop for each ornament.

5. Finally I wrote his name and 2007 on the back of each one.

They look super cool. A traditional Christmas Tree with a modern twist- fits our personal style perfectly. I'm sure Nana will be proud!

P.S. Since we have to ship most of our gifts to far away states, I wrapped each in white tissue paper and had H-Dog seal them with a sticker from his collection. Safe packing and great wrapping!

Merry Christmas!
Resa