There happens to be a collection of scrap wood stacked in the corner of our barn. That collection contains a lot of odd’s and ends and lots of 2 x 4’s.
You can call it “up-cycling”, “re-cycling”, or just grabbing something out of the scrap pile & making it into something beautiful. Whatever you call it, I love it.
This Homemade Christmas Craft is made entirely out of 2 X 4’s.
It says, “Joy to The World.”
Here’s the supply list:
- 2 x 4
- Scrapbooking paper
- Stick on letters (optional)
- Wood Star
- Dark wood stain
- Mod Podge or Elmer’s Glue
First cut your 2 x 4’s with a circular saw (remember to wear goggles, gloves, be careful and don’t hurt yourself).
- 2 pieces – 10 inches long
- 1 piece – 4 inches long (for the star)
After they are cut, knock off any rough edges with some sandpaper and cover with dark stain. Rub off any excess stain with a dry towel. Let dry.
When the stain is dry, cut your scrapbooking paper and glue to the front of the blocks.
Once the glued paper is dry, I rub the edges with some of the stain. This gives it an aged look. Just use a dry cloth (or paper towel) dipped in the stain and rub around the edges. Start small, you can always add more stain if you want.
I totally took the easy way out here & bought the stick-on letters. Peel the back off & stick’em on there. So easy. If you want to save money, you could easily paint the letters on. If you want to be done in 30 seconds, go the stick-on route.
After sticking the letters on, get out a paint brush and pain a layer of Mod Podge, or Elmer’s glue over the entire front. This will harden when it dries and create a protective coating.
Easy, inexpensive, fun.
To get old fashioned recipes, farm tips and homesteading advice be sure to subscribe via email (here).
