I started this post in March as a way of saying Happy National Craft Month to my readers! I was really hoping to have this post done by the end of March, but the wisest use of my time then was making nautical decor for the upcoming craft fair that I was in, plus about two weeks after I started this post we received some very life-altering news. Receiving this news also caused me to be sick for a couple weeks ;-)…more about that in a different post…anyway, now you get a very belated little treat!
These cross blocks were originally intended to be Easter decor with their pastel colors and floral trim. If you’re a Sunday School teacher or anything of the sort, they are a great project to do with older elementary children, and they also make a very pretty gift! Give them away for baptisms or baby dedications, communions, confirmations, even Mother’s Day and weddings! And-as you’ll find out today-you can adapt them to other seasons and holidays, they’re not just for Easter! Let’s get the crafting started!
Gather the following supplies:
4*6*1″ wood pieces, ready to paint (cut and sanded as necessary)
chalk paint or colored chalkboard paint (I don’t recommend regular acrylic because the chalk marker colors come out so much brighter on the specialty paint!)
Very wide and/or very narrow lace (I’m going to make two of these crosses today and will be using varying widths)
Long twigs from trees (you’ll need to be able to snap them, however, so don’t make them too long)
Chalk markers in a variety of colors
I’m going to make 2 of these wood blocks today. I’ll be using this mint green chalkboard paint to make a Christmas-appropriate cross and a subtle St. Patrick’s Day cross, too. Give your block 2 coats of paint, allowing ample time to dry between coats according to the directions on the paint you’re using. (If you’re lazy or impatient like I am, you can get away with painting the front, top and bottom, and sides only. When you decorate with these pieces no one notices if the back is painted or not.) In the meantime, go for a walk and collect some sticks.
Plug in your hot glue gun and take a good look at your lace (like I said I’m impatient-it helps to have things to do while we’re waiting!) You should have lace that is either .5″ or 1.5″-2″, and in a color that is becoming with your paint color. My recommendation is that neutrals are always becoming! If you have narrow lace, glue it around the edges of your wood. Not the sides!
I didn’t have a lace that I liked, but I did have this gold lace that is about an inch thick, which I love for a Christmas cross! I cut it in half lengthwise to make it narrow enough to glue around the edges. This step-by-step is written for beginners, but you’re certainly not confined to any of the steps in this tutorial! Do you want to use a thicker lace around the edges? Engrave a cross instead of gluing twigs? Paint the flowers? If you can make it work, go for it!
You want the lace to be seen when people look at your decor. If you chose a fatter lace, cut a piece about 3-4″ long and glue it vertically to the middle of your wood. Wood should be standing on its 4-inch side so that it is portrait orientated, otherwise your cross will have to be small and will look silly.
Select a few chalk markers whose colors will go nicely with the rest of the scheme (paint, lace, location or season you are making this cross for.) You’re going to make a wreath of greens and florals to surround your cross, which we will add in step 4. The cross is the focal point here so the idea is to make the flora small and delicate. I’ve had a lot of practice since I first created this product making florals and I must say, I’m grateful that chalk paint is thick and opaque! 😉
My first cross plaques started out with an organic oval that I later drew the violets, asters, and tulips on (below).
If you really feel like you need to do this, I would recommend starting with a color marker that is similar to your paint color so you can hide it by drawing over it.
My best suggestion for doing these wreaths if you’re inexperienced in the artistic department is to draw a few simple floral shapes with your chalk markers (circles for roses is a great example, and is fitting because we will later adorn the sides of our plaques with some drawings of thorns). You can fill these in by drawing other floral shapes in between, or leaves or other plant swags. Depending on the kind of marker you’re using, you may need to let your illustrations dry before adding more detail.
Snap your twigs into a few 1-3″ pieces and play with forming a cross on your wood.
Do not glue until you’re comfortable with the way the cross looks. When you’re comfortable, you should notice that the spout on your wood glue is slot-shaped. Gently squirting the glue on the back of the twigs, do so in a way that the slot shape is lined up with the twig, to avoid getting fat streams of glue on your plaque.
Firmly press the twig onto your plaque and when your cross is finished, keep this plaque laying flat in a dry area.
Finally, when the plaque is fully dry, add some scrolly drawings of thorns or some of the same floral elements to your sides.
If it makes you more comfortable, you can switch this step around with step 4 if you’re afraid of bumping and breaking off your cross, but believe me, if you glued the right way, the twigs are secure! When adding your floral elements, there is freedom: I’ve done loose, organic ovals, corners only, tops and bottoms only, and I’m pretty much doing what I feel like to my own plaques here, too. Let dry and enjoy displaying these lovely crosses!
If you’ve made this, I’d love to see it! Follow me on Instagram and tag me in your photo! Don’t feel like making your own? I have a variety of colors that you can pick up in my shop, for 50% off right now!
Holiday Decor: Rustic Lace and Floral Cross Blocks I started this post in March as a way of saying Happy National Craft Month to my readers!