After Gwen was born, I began to make DIY Painted Christmas ornaments to symbolize recollections from the yr. Every year, I add a couple of to the tree. Here’s a have a look at my seasonal craft mission.
The ornaments are reminders of Halloween costumes, journeys to the zoo, household holidays, go-to outfits, or favourite toys. Over time, they’ve gotten extra detailed.
My DIY Painted Christmas Ornaments:
The London ornaments are a few of my favorites. They’re little summaries of our journeys with plenty of little particulars: Peppa Pig driving a double-decker bus as a result of we love the Afternoon Tea bus tour, black cabs, Paddington, the mini row properties from the Paddington Recreation Grounds, crimson publish packing containers, and a penguin from the London Zoo.
Final yr, I painted a abstract of the Christmas actions that we did in Chicago: the Polar Specific, the Christmas tree exhibit on the Museum of Science and Trade, Santa on the CTA, Winter Wonderland at Wrigley Discipline, and Christkindlmarkt.
It is a particular reminder of Christmas 2023 – an ideal Christmas at dwelling. It is distinctive since Winter Wonderland and the Polar Specific aren’t returning to Chicago this yr.
Whereas some ornaments are summaries of journeys, others are painted from images from the yr.
Gwen within the pool sporting one pink sandal throughout our journey to San Miguel de Allende.
I like capturing candy, foolish little moments like this.
We LOVED our first journey to Nantucket. That is Gwen operating alongside the Sconset Bluff Stroll.
I’ve the most effective recollections of Gwen operating down this path. The colourful flowers had been actually enjoyable to color.
The opposite facet of the decoration was painted from a photograph of Charles carrying Gwen over the hill to the seashore. She loves the seashore!
The decoration says Nantucket 2024 on the facet. I normally embody the place and the yr.
Gwen operating round sporting fairy wings throughout a visit to Maine in 2023.
I take advantage of photographs as a reference level, typically altering the composition to give attention to particular components.
The opposite facet of that decoration reveals Gwen on the seashore.
Certain, you should purchase ornaments if you journey, however I feel that these painted ornaments are extra particular.
One decoration is an ode to Gwen’s trusty companion: Lion. Gwen loves this decoration. When she first noticed it, she excitedly mentioned, “Hey! That is my lion!”
I make a handful of ornaments to present as items, typically utilizing ceramic ornaments with such a beautiful form.
At this level, 4 years into the mission, I’ve painted a complete of 18 ornaments for our tree. I stay up for portray extra and displaying them annually. I’ve given much more as items. It is slightly interest that makes me blissful. One factor that I’ve realized is to start out early. I painted a batch over the summer season! One yr, I used to be nonetheless portray ornaments till January, and I stored my tree up till they had been all carried out.
If anybody is eager about creating their very own DIY painted Christmas ornaments, listed below are my ideas:
I take advantage of paper mache ornaments. Since among the ornaments take hours to color, I do not wish to threat one breaking. I prime the paper mache ornaments with gesso, use acrylic paint, paint particulars with paint pens, and seal with about 4 layers of gloss varnish in order that they change into shiny.
