Rustic Wood Christmas {Ornament} Signs

One of my favorite things to do during the holidays is to make ornaments with my kids, my parents, whoever happens to stop by. Did I lose you with Christmas talk already? No! No!...don't go away, I know its a wee bit early to chat about Christmas, but if you start now, you can create a bevy of beautiful handmade ornaments and make beautiful memories at the same time. The ornaments we have made over the years are my favorite ones to hang on the tree.

Today I am sharing my Rustic Wood Christmas {Ornaments} Signs for the 31 Days of Handmade Christmas Ornaments. You can write your favorite Christmas words n the ornaments...or your kids names...your pets names (I kind of lucked out because my dog's name is JOY)...or the year!

Throughout the month of October some pretty clever and creative bloggers have been sharing their creations. Now that should be a huge inspiration for getting a jump on your Christmas crafting! (be sure to see the full list of bloggers at the end of this post and a linky to show off everyone's creations!)

Now let's make some fabulous ornaments!

Supplies

• 6" x 2 1/2" wood rectangles. I used scraps of a 1" x 6" that were leftover from a project (cut into 2 1/2 length...so my wood was FREE!!

• OPTION: Purchase pre-made wood plaques at the craft store (no cutting required) - I cannot remember the price, I think they were $1.00 each and come in different shapes.

• Wood stain.
• I use DIY Apple Cider Vinegar stain or Minwax in Jacobean (or any preferred stain color).
• Wire (jewelry section or hardware store).
• This wire is from the hardware store and is a bit thicker and more of a rustic color. You can get 12 gauge wire in the jewelry section of a craft store and use that too.
• White Paint Pen (or color of choice).
• Stencil (or freehand it).
• I used generic letter stencils I bought at the office supply store. There are many stencils at the craft store.

• Sandpaper/sandblock - I used my Dremel because I want really worn down edges
• Drill (for wire/ribbon holes)
• Wire cutters  (or scissors, if you use ribbon)
• Saw (if you are cutting your own)
• (Optional) Spray sealer or wax/cloth. I finished my ornaments off with a light coat of Americana Creme Wax.

Improvise (ways to cut costs and no add to your craft hoard)

• You can use ribbon instead of wire.
• If you have paint on hand, paint it instead of stain.
• No drill, make small signs for your mantel or a shelf. 
• No stencils...freehand it!

Make It!
If you are purchasing pre-made wood plaques from a craft store skip the first step.
1. Cut wood pieces - or use the scraps you have in the size they are. I kept my width the same as the board (about 6"). Each sign is 2 1/2" tall.

2. Drill small holes 1/2"in and 1/2" up on the top edge of the wood block.

3. Lightly sand the edges and drill hole area.  

4. Stain or paint the wood blocks, wipe with a cloth. Let dry.

5. Prime your paint pen.

6. Figure your placement of your word on the wood. For example, with "JOY" the O would be centered on the board. For "WISH" the center is between the I and S.

• TIP if you need to help keeping your words straight, use some masking tape or painters tape to mark the bottom of the letters.

7. Use the paint pen to stencil the letters onto the board. BE SURE TO LET EACH LETTER DRY SO YOU DO NOT SMEAR IT. Literally, I only had to wait a few seconds.

8. When completely dry, sand (again) all over for a distressed look.

9. OPTIONAL: Wax or spray a clear coat on the signs. I used American Creme Wax with a cloth. Wipe clean.

10. Cut 18" length of wire (or ribbon).

• From the back, push the wire through to the front. Lave about 2-3" on the front.
• Bring the shorter piece and the linger piece up and together (on the top center of the board).
• Wrap/Twist the shorter piece around the longer piece. You may need to snip off some excess wire.
• Repeat the process on the other side

These ornament are really easy to make and you can make a TON at one time. Can you imagine how A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E they would be doubling as gift tags!?

Here are all 31 Bloggers in order of their appearance over the 31 Days. 
Be sure to visit the Pinterest Board for daily inspiration too!

Yesterday on Tuesday
The Silly Pearl
Cupcakes and Crinoline
Celebrating Everyday Life
AnExtraordinaryDay
All Things Heart and Home
Petticoat Junktion
Sew a Fine Seam
Creative Crochet Workshop
Shabby Art Boutique
Morena's Corner
From My Front Porch To Yours
Pet Scribbles
Sweet Pea
Dukes and Duchesses
Simply Kelly Designs
Town and Country Living
One Artsy Mama
The Crafting Nook
Our Southern Home
StoneGable
Love of Home
Lovely Etc.
Remodelando la Casa
504 Main
Knick of Time
Refresh Restyle
The Cottage Market
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Heathered Nest
Sum of their Stories

Aren't those some amazing ornaments and inspiration?!

So are you going to make some ornaments????

 

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre