As December beings and the days between today and the holidays go by faster and faster, getting your family ready for this busy season is a priority. Are you looking for a holiday decoration that doubles as a possible gift? It sounds like a stretch, but this week’s Make It might solve two holiday dilemmas at once! It’s time to think of how you’ll turn a plain, wooden plaque into a cherished decor item or gift. Using miniature Christmas decorations, vintage holiday trinkets from garage sales or even a favorite toy, creating inexpensive gifts and/or decorations is easy to do.
Materials
- Wooden plaques in a variety of sizes
- Craft paint
- Paintbrush
- Sand paper
- Holiday decorations (new, old or favorite toys)
- Scissors
- Hot glue and hot glue gun
- Ribbon (optional)
- Plate stands (optional)
- Staple gun (optional)
Instructions
| 1. Remove any price stickers from the plaque, sanding thoroughly with a piece of sandpaper; then, paint both the front and back sides. Let dry. |
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| 2. While the paint is drying, gather supplies and come up with your design or your child’s design. Look for fun, vintage craft supplies, such as old ornaments and decorations; if purchasing new items to use, try fake flowers, holiday gift toppers and glittery adornments. For the toy route, look for a small action figure or doll. |
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| 3. When using fake floral decorations, cut off each object, trimming the plastic stems away. This makes it easier to glue the materials to the plaque. |
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4. Practice your arrangement before gluing. Once your design scheme is complete, remove, piece by piece, and get ready to attach.
| 5. Start with your bottom layer and add in elements. |
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| 6. Make sure each item is firmly secured to the plaque before adding another element. |
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| 7. If you’re going to hang your plaque, add a long length of ribbon. Loop at the top and lay flat on the back of the plaque, stapling into place. |
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| 8. If you don’t want to hang the plaque and/or give as a gift, add a size-appropriate plate stand to show off anywhere in your home. |
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How else can you decorate these plaques? Take a look at these two ideas.
Vintage Decorations
This 1950s Santa Claus Christmas tree decoration doubles nicely as a simple accent on a red plaque. |
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Favorite Toys
A liberal amount of hot glue is all that is needed to keep a small toy from moving on this plaque. Paint with holiday colors or add a favorite hue for a child-friendly gift. |
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