Easy DIY Scrap Wood Christmas Decoration

If you have scrap wood lying around and aren’t sure what to do with it, consider turning it into charming, budget-friendly Christmas decorations. With just a few simple supplies and a little holiday cheer, you can create adorable, personalized decorations that add a special touch to your celebrations. Gather your scrap wood, put on some festive music, and enjoy making handmade ornaments this season!

Quick Video Tutorial

Materials Needed:

Scrap wood pieces of any size or shape (I used three square pieces)
Acrylic paint (a base color plus accent colors)
Paintbrushes (large for base coats and small for outlining)
Mod Podge (for sealing decoupage)
Decorative pictures, holiday gift tags, napkin motifs, or printed images
Scissors (for cutting images)
Faux snow or Epsom salt (optional, for a snowy texture)
Mini holiday bows (available at Dollar Tree)
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Twine (for hanging)
Heat tool (optional, to speed up drying and help set the Mod Podge)

Applying paint

If your scrap wood is rough, lightly sand each piece before applying paint. This will help the paint adhere more smoothly. After sanding, be sure to wipe down each piece to remove any dust. I began by applying acrylic paint to each wood piece, choosing to paint each square white. To speed up the drying process, I used a heating tool between coats of paint.

Adding images and decoupaging the images

First, I use scissors to cut out decorative images. You can use a holiday napkin or printed pictures; I chose images from gift tags. If you're using a napkin, make sure to separate the printed layer from the backing and discard the backing.

Next, take your paintbrush and apply a thin layer of Mod Podge onto the painted wood surface. Position the cutout images over the Mod Podge and gently smooth them out to eliminate any wrinkles or bubbles. After that, apply another thin layer of Mod Podge over the top to seal the images. To speed up the drying process and help the Mod Podge set, I used a heat tool.

Adding an outline of paint

To enhance the color of my decorations, I used a smaller paintbrush to outline the wood scraps with paint. I chose colors like red, green, and gold.

Creating a snowy texture

To create a snowy texture, I chose to use Epsom salt, although faux snow is also an option. First, I applied glue to the areas where I wanted the snow to appear. Then, I sprinkled the Epsom salt over the glue and gently tapped off any excess. To help set the glue, I used a heating tool.

Adding the bow and twine

Use hot glue to attach the bows to each decoration. I found these adorable mini bows at Dollar Tree. Next, cut the twine into short lengths to create hanging loops. Apply hot glue to the back of the wooden piece, form a loop with the twine, and press it into the adhesive until it is securely in place.

This craft is quick, inexpensive, and flexible. It’s a creative way to repurpose scrap wood and gift tags you already have on hand, and each piece can be customized to match your holiday decor or to create heartfelt homemade gifts.