After every DIY project involving wood, we keep all the cut off and end pieces. Why? Because we never know when inspiration will hit us and those bits and pieces of wood will have a purpose. Over the years, many of our Christmas ornaments have met tragic ends—that’s the price we paid when we decided to add kids and more pets to our lives. Our solution? Upcycle leftover, random-sized pieces of wood into sturdy, but modern Christmas ornaments!

Supplies

• random pieces of wood
• craft paint and brush
• liquid gold leaf (optional)
• eye hooks
• sand paper

Sand

Give the pieces of wood a light sanding to remove any splinters or rough surfaces. Wipe down the wood pieces with a damp cloth to remove any dust. 

Add Eyehook

Position the eye hooks to the top and center of the wood piece. You can do this part last if you prefer. If the eye hook proves to be difficult to hand-screw into the wood, make a pilot hole by lightly hammering a small nail, then removing the nail. That should make it easier to screw in the eye hook.

Paint

Paint the base of the block with craft paint, leaving the top of the block unpainted for now. Add a couple of coats of paint and let it dry.  

Add Some Shine

Tape off a section of the block (if you want). Paint the top portion of the block with liquid gold leaf. Liquid gold leaf is much easier to apply than traditional gold leaf. You don’t have to use it, but the gold leaf gives off a shine that craft paint cannot emulate. Liquid gold leaf is also much more economical than traditional gold leaf. 

Let the block dry, then add strings or ribbons to the top. Ta-da! Easy and inexpensive Christmas ornaments you can add to your tree for a modern touch.