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This Colorful Christmas Tree Is Vintage Inspired

This colorful Christmas tree was inspired by a vintage palette! Learn how to make simple drop ornaments to create a tree just like this one.

This colorful Christmas tree was inspired by a vintage palette! Learn how to make simple drop ornaments to create a tree just like this one.

Do you love setting up the Christmas tree? At my house growing up, that starts the day after Thanksgiving. Not a moment before or a moment after.

I did it a little earlier this year, but I had a good reason – I’m participating in the Michaels Makers Dream Tree Challenge!

Which involved one of my favorite activities in the whole world – handmade Christmas ornaments. Did you know that about me?

I love, love, love making ornaments.

It’s one of my favorite crafts of all time. Since I only get to do it once a year, I decided to choose a fun palette.

ChristmasColor

I wanted to do something a little colorful but also vintage inspired, so I searched online. And I found this palette above on Design Seeds. AND I LOVED it. So that’s what I decided to go with!

This colorful Christmas tree was inspired by a vintage palette! Learn how to make simple drop ornaments to create a tree just like this one.

I picked six(ish) colors from the palette and got as close as I could. And then I made some fabulous ornaments!

This colorful Christmas tree was inspired by a vintage palette! Learn how to make simple drop ornaments to create a tree just like this one.

They were REALLY easy to make. Here’s how I did it.

Vintage Inspired Christmas Tree

I bought the following supplies:

  • Glass ornaments – 6 packs of 6
  • FolkArt multi-surface acrylic paint – 2 bottles per tray
  • Paper towels
  • Rubbing alcohol (optional)

All of my supplies were purchased at Michaels. NOW I’m going to be honest. Before you make your ornaments, you are supposed to rinse each one out with rubbing alcohol to clean them and so the paint adheres correctly.

I didn’t do that.

That means I ended up going back and fixing some ornaments. 90% of them were okay, but some needed touch-ups. I think if you are doing a small amount, you’re fine.

If you do a larger amount, you should definitely use the rubbing alcohol so that you don’t have too many fixes. I’ll leave that up to you.

Now, onto making the ornaments!

making ornaments

Remove the cap from each ornament and squeeze paint inside. Roll it around and shake (use paper towel to cover the top) until you coat the inside.

I’m sure you are going to ask me how much paint to put inside the ornament, but it really depends. Just play with it and you’ll quickly learn. Start with less and add more if you need it.

After you fill the ornaments, you’ll want to drain them! I used the trays the ornaments came in and placed them upside down to drain.

At the same time, they were drying. It can take a few days depending on the climate, so keep that in mind!

The paint drains relatively quickly; drying takes longer. If you see any areas where the paint didn’t quite stick, repeat the process once the ornaments are dry. Yes, you need a few days for this process!

This colorful Christmas tree was inspired by a vintage palette! Learn how to make simple drop ornaments to create a tree just like this one.

Once they are dry, you’ll have trays of beautiful ornaments that kind of look like candy and you want to eat them – but they are glass so don’t do that.

This colorful Christmas tree was inspired by a vintage palette! Learn how to make simple drop ornaments to create a tree just like this one.

Instead, place them on your tree! Well, I put the silver ribbon on first. I put my vintage inspired ornaments on, then filled in with silver and white balls.

This colorful Christmas tree was inspired by a vintage palette! Learn how to make simple drop ornaments to create a tree just like this one.

At the very top I put a tree topper purchased from Michaels. It went along with the vintage feel. I LOVE it!

This colorful Christmas tree was inspired by a vintage palette! Learn how to make simple drop ornaments to create a tree just like this one.

Then of course the skirt goes on, and the presents go below.

This colorful Christmas tree was inspired by a vintage palette! Learn how to make simple drop ornaments to create a tree just like this one.

I absolutely LOVE my colorful vintage inspired Christmas tree. It’s non-traditional but not too crazy . . . totally me!

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Are you inspired to start decorating your own tree? Make sure you visit Michaels’ blog, The Glue String, to see the other 49 Michaels Makers’ dream holiday trees that were created this year. They are at the bottom of this post!

If you’re just getting started on your holiday decor, you can also check out some of the ornament projects and tutorials available on Michaels.com.

Angie

Friday 20th of November 2015

I love this tree. It sure takes me back a few decades. Makes me wish I had the space for a large one, but in my tiny place now I'm using a bead and safety pin tree I made years ago. It's the perfect size for a retirement home place, and requires no decoration. But I still dream of Christmas past, and decorating the day after Thanksgiving ,then leaving the tree up until the kids started back to school, when I could take it down in relative peace and quiet.