Fun & festive

Painting three ways - projects from Woman's Day magazine

Add some style to your Christmas with these great ideas from Emily Somerville-Ryan.

1. Gorgeous garlands

What you’ll need:

Resene testpots
Resene Aquaclear
Wooden beads
Paintbrushes
Leather string
Scissors

Gorgeous garlands

Instructions:

Paint an assortment of different sized round beads and square blocks in two coats of Resene paint. I have used Resene Roadster, Resene Rapture, Resene White Linen, Resene Aluminium and Resene Aquaclear waterborne urethane varnish on the beads I left natural. For the smaller garland, knot one end of leather string and alternately thread one tiny natural bead and one small bead painted with Resene Roadster onto it until it is approximately 2m in length. For the larger garland, knot one end of leather string and thread one square block followed by 5 large beads in alternate colours and sizes. Repeat this pattern until the garland is at least 2 metres in length. Hang together on the Christmas tree or along the fireplace for a cleaner uncluttered Christmas look this year.

2. Placemat pals

What you'll need:

Resene testpots
Resene primer
Paintbrushes
Stones
Pencil

Placemat pals

Instructions:

Collect up some large, rounded stones and coat with one coat of Resene Quick Dry so your rock is white all over. Draw on a Santa, Mrs Claus, Soldier and Snowman face to each stone and paint using Resene Roadster, Resene White Linen, Resene Tuft Bush, Resene Aluminium and Resene Silver Aluminium. Finally paint on the faces using Resene Rapture and Resene Aluminium. Decorate each place setting at the table with a different Christmas character this year.

3. Ice block trees

What you'll need:

Resene testpots
Ice block sticks
Ruler
Pencil
Paper
Card
Craft knife
Glue gun
Paintbrush
String
Scissors

Ice block trees

Instructions:

Mark out 6 ice block sticks to different lengths. 3cm, 4.5cm, 5.5cm, 7cm, 8.5cm and full length. Cut each, rounding off to match the other end. Cut out a star shape from a piece of card. Paint the cut sticks in Resene Roadster or Resene Rapture and the trunk pieces and stars in Resene Aluminium or Resene Silver Aluminium. Once dry, fix each piece to the centre trunk piece one at a time from bottom to top with a glue gun, finishing with the star at the top. Loop a piece of festive string and fix it behind the star. Finally, with a fine brush carefully paint on baubles to each tree.