How to Make a Stunning Christmas Drum Ornament with Decoupage—Easy for Beginners!
Have you ever wondered how to transform an ordinary can into a stunning vintage Christmas decoration? Today, we’re thrilled to share this fabulous holiday project from Donna at Mason Creations Etc. She’s showing us how to turn an empty peanut can into a vintage-style Christmas drum ornament, perfect for cozy holiday décor or even as a handmade gift. This craft is suitable for beginners, and Donna makes it easy with her clear step-by-step instructions. Watch the video below to get inspired!
Step 1: Preparing the Can
To start, Donna prepped an empty peanut can. After washing and drying it, she removed the label. Using foam board, she cut two circles to cover the top and bottom of the can. This creates a base that’s perfect for adding decorative elements later. For this project, she used Dixie Belle chalk paint in "Cotton" (available on DecoupageNapkins.com) to give the can a smooth, white base—essential for making the decoupage colors pop!
Step 2: Adding Decorative Details
Once the paint was dry, Donna added some shimmer with Pentart silver paint, using a sponge to blend it around the foam board edges. She then chose a charming rice paper design from our store—an image of a little girl—and carefully fussy-cut it for a clean look. Polyvine Heavy Duty Wood Varnish served as the adhesive, securing the rice paper to the can. This varnish is an excellent alternative to traditional glue because it dries clear and won’t leave lumps.
Step 3: Decoupaging the Can
Next, Donna used the beautiful rice paper from our store to cover the sides of the can. She tore the edges of the paper to blend it more easily—an important tip for crafters! Using Polyvine varnish, she painted the can and gently placed the rice paper onto the surface, smoothing it out with a brush for a seamless finish. Remember, when applying rice paper, always use a white or light-colored base coat to make the colors shine.
Step 4: Adding Embellishments
Donna then moved on to add gorgeous embellishments using Das air-dry clay. She molded roses and glued them while still wet so that they could contour to the can as they dried. To create beautiful accents, Donna painted the clay embellishments with a custom pink paint mixture and highlighted them using Pentart metallic wax rubs in "White Pearl" and "Old Silver." These wax rubs give the decorations a shimmery, festive touch—perfect for the holiday season!
Step 5: Creating an Antique Finish
For an antique, aged look, Donna applied Pentart fineline crackle to the image of the little girl. After the two-part crackle dried, she used antiquing paste to highlight the cracks, adding an authentic vintage feel. A final coat of Pentart solvent-based gloss sealer locked in all the details, providing a protective finish.
Step 6: The Final Touches
To complete the drum ornament, Donna glued a silver ribbon hanger inside the can and added a beautiful bow using pink velvet and cream organza ribbons. A clear teardrop rhinestone in the center of the bow was the perfect finishing touch. The entire piece received a final layer of varnish to seal in the antique look and make the drum ready for display.
We hope this tutorial inspires you to create your own festive decorations! Donna’s creativity and attention to detail make this project truly special. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for 10% off your next order and keep up with our latest products and tutorials. Special thanks to Donna at Mason Creations Etc. for sharing her expertise—watch her full video above to follow along, and happy crafting!