How to Paint Plaster Christmas Ornaments

Plaster ornaments are one of my favorite Christmas crafts to paint. You find these plaster ornaments by the box full at craft stores. So many people buy these plaster Christmas ornaments because they are only about a quarter a piece.

The problem with plaster Christmas ornaments is that they often are not easy to paint or the finished product simply does not look good. Here are some of my best tips for painting plaster Christmas ornaments so they look professional. These painting tips will also work great for wood ornaments that are meant to be painted as well.

Painting Tips #1: Primer

So, one of the problems in painting plaster ornaments is all the white crevices left when you paint the ornament. You put all this work into it and then it looks awful because the white is there.

So, to combat the white, try painting the entire surface. I like to use a black or colored primer. If you use a white primer, well, then you are simply left with the same problem. So, try a brown primer if you are painting vintage looking Christmas ornaments.

If you are going for more shabby chic ornaments, go for a tan tinted primer.

Painting Tip #2: Base Coat or Spray Paint

Now, spray paint or base paint is another option for starting the painting process on your platter Christmas ornaments. If you have access to spray paint, then paint out the whole plaster ornament with spray paint.

Be sure to use an acrylic spray paint so that you can paint on top of it.

If you are hand painting the base coat on, then use a soft full brush. This will allow the paint to sink down into the crevices.

Tip: When choosing the base coat tries choosing a main color the Christmas ornament will be. For example, a Santa plaster ornament would work well if the base color was a pale peach skin color. This way the face and hand details are painted in and the re paint will look good over this color.

Rudolf would be best painted the brown color his body will be. Details can be added over the own paint with no worries of the white plaster showing through on your Christmas ornament.

Painting Tips #3: Dry Brush

Finally, one of my favorite paint techniques for platter Christmas ornaments is to dry brush one color over the base or primer you applied first. If you are creating a large amount of ornaments and want them to look alike this sis a fun way to do it.

You could try painting all the ornaments an antique rich yellow. Now, use a paint brush, dip it in some gold paint, wipe away most of the paint, and then lightly brush the paint brush over the details on the yellow plaster Christmas ornament.

This will make the details pop without you having to paint in all these different colors!