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Hand-painted wooden bells add a timeless charm to your Christmas decorations. With just a few basic supplies, you can transform plain wooden bells into colorful holiday treasures.
Each bell can be painted with classic motifs like holly, snowflakes, or stars, creating a cozy, handmade look that fits perfectly with any rustic or traditional holiday theme.
These bells make wonderful ornaments, gift toppers, or even table accents. The best part is how customizable they are — you can mix colors, add patterns, and finish them with bows or small jingle bells for extra cheer.
How to Make Hand-Painted Wooden Bells
The combination of natural wood, festive paint, and simple twine gives them that cozy handmade feel everyone loves during the holidays.
Materials
- Wooden bell shapes (available at craft stores)
- Acrylic paints (red, green, white, gold, or your favorite colors)
- Fine paintbrushes
- Pencil (for sketching designs)
- Small palette or plate for mixing paints
- Jute twine or thin ribbon for bows
- Craft varnish or Mod Podge (optional, for sealing)
- Paper towels and water cup for brush cleaning
Shop the materials
The steps
Step 1: Prepare the Wooden Bells
Begin by lightly wiping your wooden bells with a clean cloth to remove dust or residue. If the surface feels rough, gently sand it with fine-grit sandpaper for a smooth finish.
This helps the paint adhere evenly and gives a more professional result.
Step 2: Paint the Base Coat
Choose your base color — red, green, white, or gold are classic choices. Use a flat brush to apply a thin, even coat of paint over each bell.
Let it dry completely, then add a second coat for richer color coverage. Acrylic paint dries quickly, so you can move to the next step within minutes.
Step 3: Add Festive Designs
Once the base layer is dry, lightly sketch your designs with a pencil. You can paint holly leaves, snowflakes, stars, stripes, or small holiday patterns.
Use fine-tipped brushes to carefully fill in your sketches with contrasting colors. For extra flair, you can highlight edges with gold paint or add white dots to mimic snow.
Step 4: Attach the Bow
Cut a short piece of jute twine or ribbon and tie it into a small bow. Glue it to the top of each bell for a simple, elegant touch.
If you’d like, you can also tie on a small metal jingle bell or bead at the top for added texture and sound.
Step 5: Seal and Display
Once your painted designs are fully dry, brush on a thin layer of Mod Podge or varnish to seal and protect the paint. Let it dry overnight before hanging or displaying.
Your hand-painted wooden bells are now ready to adorn your Christmas tree, mantle, or holiday centerpiece.
These handcrafted decorations bring warmth, personality, and a touch of nostalgia to your holiday decor — perfect for gift-giving or family crafting time.
