How To Create Old World-Inspired DIY Christmas Decorations Using Milk Paint
**This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase from these links.**
The tradition of decorating Christmas trees with ornaments dates back to the 16th century in Germany. Early decorations were often simple, including items like apples, nuts, and candles. However, as time passed, Christmas decorations evolved, becoming increasingly elaborate with an abundance of bright lights and an array of plastic materials.
My personal preference leans toward the classic, traditional style of Christmas décor. Think pine leaves, frosted fixtures, ceramic villages, and elegantly tied velvet ribbons! When you take on the task of crafting your own Christmas decorations, you have the ability to rejuvenate older Christmas adornments, giving them a fresh, renewed appearance, OR to transform entirely new products into charming relics of the past.
And that's exactly what we're doing with this project! I've opted to take some wooden bowls and apply a DIY technique that creates an Old World aesthetic. I'm confident you'll absolutely LOVE the results!
In this blog, I will show you How To Create Old World-Inspired DIY Christmas Decorations Using Milk Paint!
Below is a list of the items you will need to recreate this project:
Thrifted Wooden Bowls
Water
Paper Towel
Pencil
*Product can be purchased directly through my website [www.juliesdesignsandsigns.com]
For this project, I am using 3 wooden bowls of varrying sizes.
To create an aged look on my bowls, I used Milk Paint in the color Hotel Robe.
Milk paint comes in a powder form.
For a typical project, mix 1 part powder with 1 part water.
However, I wanted to create a white-washed look, so I did 1 part powder with 2 parts water.
Next, I used my STAALMEESTER Pointed Sash Brush to apply a full coat of paint on all of the bowls.
Then, I used a paper towel to wipe it off.
Once all the bowls were wiped off, I checked each bowl to see which needed a little more milk paint. I continued to add milk paint and wipe it off until the bowls looked exactly how I wanted them to look.
See how I use this technique (starting at 4:45): Watch Here
To turn these into Christmas decor, I decided to hand-draw Christmas Trees into the center of my bowls.
I typically prefer things to look perfect, but I knew the hand-drawn look would help with the old-world style.
Next, I used Fusion Milk Paint in the color Vintage Laurel to paint my Christmas trees. You will want to mix 1 part powder with 1 part water.
Then, using my STAALMEESTER Round Artist Brush, I painted all of the trees. I used 2 coats of paint for each tree.
You do not need to worry about staying in the lines.
One of the great things about milk paint is that it can actually dry with a chippy texture.
You can use a heat gun to quickly force the paint to chip.
This method will truly enhance the old-world, aged appearance.
The bowls looked great, but I felt like the trees needed to be outlined. I used a Gold Paint Pen that I bought from Amazon to achieve this look.
Once again, you don’t want it to be perfect or think about it too much.
The shiny gold outline with the contrast of the old-world look of the bowl is absolutely perfect!
Lastly, I decided to seal the bowls with Fusion Hemp Oil Wood Finish.
This is an all-natural sealer so this will make these bowls food safe for future use.
The Fusion Hemp Oil Wood Finish will pour out green; however, it does dry clear - so don’t worry!
You will want to let the bowls sit for 30 minutes so the wood can soak in the oil.
Then, use a lint-free rag or a paper towel and wipe off all of the excess oil.
These came out even better than I had imagined!
Did you know that you can purchase some of my DIY creations on my website?
Check it out here: https://www.juliesdesignsandsigns.com/homedecor
This blog is all about How To Create Old World-Inspired DIY Christmas Decorations Using Milk Paint!
Click Image To Shop
What Is The Colors Of The Month Club?
Don’t forget to join the Colors of the Month Club to receive (4) sample Fusion Paint colors I picked that are perfect for the current season! → Click here to learn more
Like what you see? Be sure to join our mailing list for weekly DIY Ideas, thrift flips, new product alerts, video announcements, live events & more!
DISCLAIMER: This blog post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links provided I may receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog so I can continue to provide you with free content each week!
DIY GUIDE: How to personalize your throw pillows with IOD stamps