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Miniature Christmas Presents – tutorial
This year I purchased a set of bottle brush trees and felt like they needed some miniature Christmas presents, so that’s how this craft came to be!
Supplies:
- Tiny unfinished wood blocks, 1 inch
- Craft paints in assorted colors
- Small paint brushes
- Small plastic lids (to hold paint)
- Baker’s twine in assorted colors
- Scissors
- Wax paper
Notes about the supplies:
Let’s begin!
Step One: Look over the wood blocks, and sand any rough parts.
I only had to do this for two blocks, so this is more of a preparation step.
Step Two: Paint the wood blocks in colors of your choosing. Do two coats. Let dry.
A: Paint three sides in a row, then place down onto your wax paper to dry while you move onto the next block. Repeat until all blocks have three painted sides.
B: Next, repeat the entire process on the same just-painted three sides of each block.
C: Paint the remaining three sides of each block, in the same manner outlined above.
Doing it this way helps you have some unpainted sides to hold onto, and also helps you see which sides have two coats versus which sides need a second coat.
I let these blocks dry overnight, but you could easily begin the next step after a few hours.
Step Three: Tie up your “Christmas packages” with decorative baker’s twine.
I used a metallic gold twine, metallic silver twine, and a traditional red-and-white twine. The gold and silver twines are from American Crafts, and the red-and-white twine is from a tasty pie my Mother-in-law brought us from her local bakery on a recent visit. “I save everything. I am not a hoarder!” is what I may or may not have said to my quizzical husband.
And that’s it! You have an assortment of pretty miniature Christmas packages!
Suggested ways to display:
- Place in your miniature fairy gardens
- Put a few boxes among your Christmas village scenes
- Stick a few around your bottle brush tree displays
- Top off a small decorative sleigh
- Place on your mantel, tucked among Christmas greens
- Stack them up in the back of a vintage toy pickup truck
- Fill up a clear glass jar
- Use as little placecard favors for your holiday gathering
- Place on a windowsill
- Attach a loop – made of the same baker’s twine – and hang on your tree
I fell in love with these miniature Christmas gifts, and ended up making another set!
Here’s a few ways that I’m displaying these this year . . .
Laura, these are so darn cute!! I love how they look around the mini Christmas tree. How did you get your photos to look like that…with just the white background?? too cool
Thanks Kathy! 🙂 I use a really primitive (pun intended) backdrop setup to take my photos: a white foam board I picked up from the craft store and white copy paper as the “floor” that the projects sit on. Mother Nature provides the awesome natural light in our breakfast room where I take my project shots! 🙂
Oh MY Laura…SHUT UP! I love miniatures…these are too cute! You never fail to have a creative and awesome project! Have an amazing week! ~Tammy
LOL I almost spit out my tea from laughing, Tammy! 🙂 Thanks and hope you’re week is amazing as well!
These are so adorable, Laura! My girls and I are going to make these for their American girl dolls! Which home improvement store had the blocks?
Take care,
Trish
What a fantastic idea, Kristin! Love, love, love it! I found the blocks at Lowe’s — our store has an incredible “Specialty Hard to Find” section in the Hardware aisle – lots of drawers filled with bits and bobs of all types! (Hoping all Lowe’s stores have this!) Can’t wait to see what you and your girls create!
These are so cute and I can think of many ways that I could use them around my house for decorating. I will have to save wood scraps to make a few for next year.
Ooooh, I bet you will come up with awesome ways to use these, Paula! Can’t wait to see, as I love your projects!
These are so cute!! I love how you’ve used them in your displays too! Thanks for sharing at the Twirl & Take a Bow party and it’s been a pleasure to be a part of this Craft showcase with you!
Leslie
House on the Way
Thanks Leslie! Love your weekly link party, and the Craft showcase has been so much fun!
These are such cute little presents… I could see using them in so many different ways! Thanks for sharing Laura!
You’re welcome, Jen! And thanks! 🙂
Your little presents are adorable, such a cute idea. I wrapped some blocks in Christmas wrap, but I’m such a terrible wrapper, I had to turn the blocks to hide the gaps- this would have been so much better!!!
I bet your Christmas-wrapped blocks are adorable, Sheila! But yes, keeping the painted blocks plain is very easy! 🙂
Sooo Cute! I need to get some of these cuz that darned Elf on the Shelf is coming back today and I need something for him to do 🙂
Amy*
That’s another fantastic idea Amy: have that crafty Elf hold a present that will become “full size” on Christmas Day! 🙂
These are so adorable, Laura! Thank you so much for sharing it in our Craft Showcase!
Thanks Marty! I have enjoyed everyone’s craft projects so much – this Craft Showcase has been amazing!
Super cute idea! My girls would LOVE this– going to have to try it this weekend. Happy to be on the Craft Tour with you.
🙂 Samantha
Thanks Samantha – definitely let me know how yours turn out! There’s so many neat ideas to customize them, I bet your daughters will create some fun little gifts!
Love these tiny little gift boxes. Your idea of putting them in a Fairy Garden. I have a Fairy Garden and these are going to be perfect touch! Thanks, Laura!
Ooooh…. Laura, I’m so jealous! Making a fairy garden has been on my list for quite some time now, and I bet these miniature presents will look darling in yours! 🙂
This combines all my favorite things: little tiny items, Christmas, bright colors and cuteness! Love this Laura!
Thanks Malia! I guess I love your favorite things too! 🙂
How cute are those! I wish I had thought of that! Thanks for linking up to Twirl and Take a Bow! Hope to see you again next week!
Thanks Trina! I’ll definitely be back – I enjoy your party very much!
These packages are adorable, thanks for the great giveaway!