Ingredients
- 3 unfinished wooden discs, 3 inches wide and about 1/8 inch thick, each with a 1/8-inch hanging hole
- 1.5 fluid ounces of dark navy acrylic craft paint
- 0.5 fluid ounce of medium blue acrylic craft paint
- 0.5 fluid ounce of violet acrylic craft paint
- 0.5 fluid ounce of white acrylic craft paint
- 1 fluid ounce of glow-in-the-dark acrylic paint
- 3 feet of 1/4-inch-wide ribbon or cotton cord, cut into three 12-inch pieces
- 1 fluid ounce of water-based clear acrylic sealer, matte or satin
- 1 small round paintbrush, size 2 or 3
- 1 small flat paintbrush, about 1/4 inch wide
- 1 small clean makeup sponge or cosmetic wedge, for blending
- 1 disposable paper plate or paint palette, about 6 inches wide
- 1 small cup holding 2 fluid ounces of clean water
- 3 cotton swabs, for softening edges and correcting small marks
- 1 sheet of 220 grit sandpaper, cut into three 3-inch squares
- 1 24-by-36-inch drop cloth or flattened paper grocery bag, for protecting the table
- 1 pair of disposable nitrile or vinyl gloves, optional for keeping paint off your hands
- 1 roll of 1-inch painter's tape, optional for covering the backs and edges
- 1 clean lint-free cloth, about 12 inches square, for removing sanding dust
Instructions
- Cover the table with a drop cloth.
- Inspect the wooden discs and lightly smooth any rough edges with sandpaper. Wipe away dust with the lint-free cloth.
- Cover the back and outer edge of each disc with painter's tape if you want a cleaner finished rim.
- Put a small amount of dark navy paint on the palette. Use the flat brush to paint the front and edge of each disc with a thin coat.
- Let the first coat dry for about 30 minutes, then add a second thin coat.
- Let the navy base dry for at least 1 hour.
- Place small dabs of medium blue and violet on the palette. Use the makeup sponge to tap blue onto the navy surface in loose patches.
- Add violet next to some blue, blending slightly but leaving navy visible.
- Use the round brush to pull streaks of medium blue across the cloudy areas for a night sky effect.
- Let the blue and violet layer dry for about 45 minutes.
- Mix a tiny amount of white paint with water on the palette. Use the round brush to create small stars by dabbing white paint over the disc.
- Let the white stars dry for about 30 minutes, then paint small dots of glow-in-the-dark paint on a few stars and at random spots.
- Tie a 12-inch piece of ribbon or cotton cord through the hole in each disc.
- Place the ornaments flat to dry for at least 2 hours.
- Optionally, brush on a thin coat of water-based clear acrylic sealer the next day and let that coat dry for 2 to 4 hours.
- Remove the painter's tape and let the ornaments cure for a full 24 hours before hanging them.
Notes
Keep paint, sealer, and small wooden pieces away from children and pets while you work. The project requires careful handling of materials and adult supervision for children involved in painting.
- Prep Time: 90 minutes
- Cook Time: 120 minutes
