How to Paint Beautiful Christmas Garlands for Your Home

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Christmas garlands are a classic way to decorate for the holidays Whether draped across the mantel, wrapped around a staircase, or strung on the Christmas tree, garlands add a festive touch But plain greenery garlands can get a bit boring. An easy way to dress them up is with a fresh coat of colorful paint. Painted Christmas garlands are fun, inexpensive, and can match any decor style.

Supplies Needed for Painted Christmas Garlands

Painting garlands is an easy craft that requires minimal supplies:

  • Garland base – Purchase plain green garland or use an old one Also can upcycle ribbon, rope, string of lights.

  • Paint – Acrylic craft paint works best. Have a few colors on hand.

  • Sponge brushes – Disposable foam brushes to apply paint. No cleanup needed.

  • Paint palette – A plate or tray for pouring out paint colors.

  • Newspaper – To cover work surface from drips and splatters.

  • Clothespins or clips – To secure garland for painting if needed.

Optional items that can add interest:

  • Glitter, glitter glue, or glitter spray paint

  • Fabric scraps, raffia, ribbons to attach

  • Hot glue gun

  • Clear acrylic sealer spray

With this basic DIY painting kit, you’re ready to create!

How to Paint a Christmas Garland

Follow these simple steps:

Prep the Garland

  • Cut garland to desired length if needed. Consider where it will be displayed.

  • Use clothespins/clips to secure garland to a board or surface if painting entire length.

Select Paint Colors

  • Choose 2-4 acrylic craft paint colors that complement your decor.

  • Traditional red and green always work, but get creative! Pink, teal, silver, gold, white, blue – lots of options.

  • Pour out paints onto disposable palette. Add a little water to thin.

Paint the Garland

  • Dip a sponge brush into the first color and dab or lightly brush onto garland.

  • Work in sections, applying color randomly. Let some base garland show through.

  • Switch to the next color and repeat process working down the garland. Overlap colors.

  • For solid garlands, fully brush on one color then switch colors as you go.

  • If desired, make some sections denser with paint for an ombre effect.

  • Allow paint to dry before moving or hanging the garland.

Optional Embellishing

  • For sparkle, use glitter paint, glue, or spray in places over base paint.

  • Accent with fabric flowers, bows, feathers, ornaments secured with hot glue.

  • Outline painted shapes with a contrasting paint color.

  • Highlight with metallic marker or gel pens.

  • Spray with clear acrylic sealer when fully dry to set the paint.

Display your Fabulous Garland

  • Drape your new creation above the fireplace or mantel for a centerpiece.

  • Wind around a bannister or stair railings.

  • Frame doorways, windows, or archways.

  • String along cabinet tops in the kitchen.

  • Outline shelves or bookcases.

  • Adorn your Christmas tree by winding around and through branches.

  • Hang on walls as festive backdrop for holiday photos.

Let your imagination run wild with possibilities! Paint several garlands in different styles to decorate multiple spots.

Creative Painted Garland Ideas and Inspiration

Look to these fun concepts to get your creative juices flowing:

  • Monochromatic – Paint a single garland all in one color with tonal variation. Soft blue or ivory is soothing.

  • Candy Cane – Traditional red and white stripes are easy to paint. Add polka dots!

  • Plaid – Checkerboard or buffalo plaid patterns in red, black, and white. Freehand or use painter’s tape.

  • Snowy Pine Branches – Use white and metallic silver paints to resemble snow-dusted pine boughs.

  • Holly Jolly – Paint green leaf shapes, then dot on red berries for a holly garland.

  • Gnome Homes – Paint colorful mushroom shapes for a festive gnome village garland.

  • Joyful Words – Paint letters spelling “Joy”, “Peace”, or “Noel” in flowing script.

  • Merry Stripes – Red and green vertical stripes create a candy cane look.

  • Ornaments – Paint different ornament shapes like bulbs, snowflakes, stars, etc.

  • Woodland Winter – Use whites and blues with glitter accents for a snowy magical forest feel.

What will you paint on your Christmas garland? Get the whole family involved and let the holiday creativity shine bright!

TAG US IN YOUR CHRISTMAS GARLAND CREATIONS:

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MAKE IT – CHRISTMAS GARLAND

1. Don your smock. Drip your paint onto your paper. We went with a mixture of liquid watercolours and acrylics, but use what you have.

2. With your less-used hand, hold the paper steady (you could tape it down if you want to). Then, use your stronger hand to scrape the old gift card across the page, moving the paint around.

3. Paint another piece of paper the colour you would like your caps. (We used some scraps from another project. ).

4. Print and cut out the template pieces and fold some non stick tape on the the back of them.

5. Tape the template onto the painting. (Try drawing a light line around them with a pencil if that works better for you.)

6. Cut out the template on from your painted paper.

7. Your pieces should now look something like the picture below.

8. Glue your caps onto your baubles.

9. Then we used a tip we saw on Creating Creatives: glue a piece of straw to the back of the cap. This way, you can thread the cord through it without having to make a hole in it. Brilliant, right!?.

We added some beads to the cord. To keep the beads in place, loop the cord through twice. Give your garland to a friend or family member, or hang it up in your own home!

Looking for another crafty Christmassy idea, take a peek here: https://teachinvestigateplay.com/

Purpose

  • Exploring various tools to paint with.

Safety Notes

  • This will keep your clothes and surfaces safe. Wear a smock and use a craft tray.
  • Keep an eye on kids when they use scissors and a glue gun.
  • Cord, yarn etc. can cause strangulation, so make sure to use it under direct supervision and only for what it was made for.
  • Children ages 0 to 3 or those who like to put things in their mouths should not be able to reach beads because they can choke on them.

Bonnie’s lovely craft is part of a group collaboration of 15 amazing craft projects to do with children, or hey even by yourself! The name for this super fun project… Craftmas! Now the fun part is that it’s done Secret Santa style, so each of us have a craft on someone else’s site. The next stop for you is over at Tech Investigate Play. Enjoy! (and let me know if you find my project!)

Christmas Wreath! Paint a Floral Wreath! Watercolor Christmas Cards! Christmas Watercolor Painting!

FAQ

Can I spray paint Christmas garland?

Like with all spray paint projects, you want to spray from about 20cm away to avoid having the paint pool and run (it’s not a good look). Because you’re not trying to completely cover the ornaments, you just want a dusting across the ornaments – so be aware of that as you go.

How to spruce up Plain Christmas garland?

Cut some faux berries and work them into the garland and secure them with floral wire. Also use the floral wire to attach the other embellishments, like the wooden house cut outs and pinecones. You can use a mix of natural and painted pinecones if you like.

How many DIY Garland ideas for Christmas?

Home » Diy Projects » Holidays » 30+ DIY Garland Ideas For Christmas or Any Time Of Year! Posted by Heather on November 2, 2020 • Updated: December 20, 2022 • 2 Comments • This post may contain affiliate links. 30+ DIY Garland Ideas For Christmas or Any Time Of Year! DIY Garland Ideas for the holidays, or ANY time of year…

What is a good DIY Christmas Garland?

Pillar Box Blue is a genius when it comes to upcycling projects, and this cardboard gingerbread house DIY Christmas garland is great evidence to prove that point. 15. Winter Fruit And Greenery DIY Garland | Camille Styles I can smell how lovely this garland must be just from reading the tutorial at Camille Styles.

Are garlands a good Christmas decoration?

Garlands are often an overlooked Christmas decoration, but their charm and simplicity make them the perfect addition to your holiday home. You can get colorful, add greenery, get creative with lights or have fun with candy. Plus, they’re easy to make yourself and customize for your space.

Where can I get a Christmas Garland tutorial?

Get the tutorial at Heathered Nest. Felt happens to be ideal for Christmas since it’s so warm and fuzzy. For a chic take on a felt holiday garland, make these fresh white leaves. Get the tutorial at Dans le Lakehouse. SHOP SEWING NEEDLES

What do you like most about Charlotte’s DIY Christmas Garland?

Everything Charlotte does is colorful. And that’s one of my favorite things about her and her projects. This adorable DIY Christmas garland is right in line with her typical use of color. And what could be better in a house with 5 kiddos than some colorful Christmas tree felt holiday garland? 6. Necktie DIY Christmas Garland Idea | Heathered Nest

Can you use scarves as Christmas Garland?

This adorable DIY Christmas garland is right in line with her typical use of color. And what could be better in a house with 5 kiddos than some colorful Christmas tree felt holiday garland? 6. Necktie DIY Christmas Garland Idea | Heathered Nest So I told you scarves could be used as garland. So how about neckties? Yep! We’ve done that, too. Weird?

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