Can you beat the texture of plaster upholstery? to be honest.
Plaster ornament 2WAY! So… I made these gypsum ornaments in 2021 and took pictures and such, but it was so close to Christmas when I made them that I never posted a tutorial.
Anyway, when I took them out again a year later and hung them on the tree, I felt I needed something else. And they thought it was fun. These are also very painterly now. It’s like a paint palette or a decorative version of an abstract painting.
I don’t know which version is better. Either way, here’s how to make plaster ornaments (two ways)…
gypsum decorative material
To craft these gypsum ornaments, you’ll need a few ingredients…
Materials Note: You can also make your own plaster from scratch by mixing Parisian gypsum (found at craft stores) with water. It’s likely going to be a little cheaper that way, but if you’re looking for something quick and easy, I recommend using off-the-shelf plaster or joint-his compound from Home Depo Lowes or any other home improvement store. increase.
How to make a plaster decoration
Technique #1: Add compound to the ornament.
I started by adding joint compound to the craft ornaments one by one. At first I used a small putty knife, but soon switched to using only my hands. It was much easier and faster to apply the plaster/joint compound to the ornament. It’s just as cluttered as possible. So there are some things to think about before you start.
Gloves are great if you want to use your hands from the beginning. In that case, you can skip the putty knife from your supplies list.
Technique #2: Wait for it to dry and add more paint as needed.
Wait for the plaster to dry (I waited overnight). If you like the look with just the white plaster/joint compound, you can hang it up as soon as it dries. But if you feel like you need something extra, grab some paint!
I changed and modified a few different brush stroke patterns, but stayed with a limited color palette to make everything feel cohesive. The painting process is a fun activity that even children can participate in.
You can seal these at the end if you want an extra layer of action. I liked the completely matte look and didn’t think they needed it, so I didn’t seal it.
The finished plaster ornament is playful, colorful, and tree-ready. Alternatively, you can use it as a holiday garland.
More ideas for plaster ornaments
Another cool use for something like this is to make your own ornament shapes out of cardboard instead of using ready-made craft ornaments. This gives it a really unique look, especially when covered with plaster or joint compound compound, and you can basically do whatever you want.
More DIY ornament ideas
DIY holiday ornaments are so much fun to make this time of year. If this didn’t match your tree, I’ve created more to check out. Here are just a handful of my most popular DIY ornament ideas…
How to make a plaster decoration
Plaster ornament 2WAY! So…I made these gypsum ornaments in 2021 and took pictures and such, but it was close to Christmas when I made them, so I never posted a tutorial. . But when I took them out again a year later and hung them on the tree, I felt I needed something else. I don’t know which version is better. But either way, here’s how I made the plaster ornaments (2 ways)…
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papier-mâché ornaments
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gypsum or joint compound
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small putty knife (optional)
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Paint and paint brush (optional)
Adds compound to ornaments.
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I started by adding joint compound to the craft ornaments one by one. At first I used a small putty knife, but soon switched to using only my hands. It was much easier and faster to apply the plaster/joint compound to the ornament. It’s just as cluttered as possible. So there are some things to think about before you start.
-
Gloves are great if you want to use your hands from the beginning. In that case, you can skip the putty knife from your supplies list.
Wait for it to dry and add more paint as needed.
-
Wait for the plaster to dry (I waited overnight). If you like the look with just the white plaster/joint compound, you can hang it up as soon as it dries. But if you feel like you need something extra, grab some paint!
-
I changed and modified a few different brush stroke patterns, but stayed with a limited color palette to make everything feel cohesive. The painting process is a fun activity that even children can participate in.
-
You can seal these at the end if you want an extra layer of action. I liked the completely matte look and didn’t think they needed it, so I didn’t seal it.