DIY | Vintage Whitewashed Nutcracker

Hello Friends! Well it’s safe to say that the Christmas boxes have begun to make their way out of storage over here. My wheels have been spinning, as I begin to pull together all my thoughts and ideas for how I want to decorate our home for Christmas this year. Of course, I have many things I’m excited to see come out of the bins, but I’ve also picked up a few new pieces as well. One being these cute wooden nutcrackers from Michael’s this year. I wanted to give them a neutral – vintage look, to our Christmas decor this year, so today I’m showing you just how gave these nutcrackers a vintage, whitewashed look.

Let’s get started ~

I knew I wanted the nutcrackers to look and feel like they could have been vintage, so I grabbed my favorite stain, that does just that. I’ve worked with Weathered Wood stains in the past, and also love the outcome. It gives me just the weathered look I’m after.

You can see the round side table makeover I did with it HERE.

It’s a reactive stain, so when you first apply it, it doesn’t appear that much has happened, but it’s in the drying process that the true magic of the stain works. I applied 2 coats of stain to my nutcrackers, and got the perfect vintage wood patina I was hoping for.

Then it was time to paint~

I applied one coat of Miss Mustard Seeds Farmhouse White to my nutcrackers, in the most non-perfect way, lol. Since I wanted them to appear more white washed, I lightly dabbed my chip brush in the paint, wiping up the access, and then began to brush it on to my nutcracker with more of a dry brush technique.

The beautiful part about the milk paint, is that as it dries, it gives you that vintage chippy look, and is very easy to apply.

Once they were dry, I got the perfect vintage looking white washed nutcracker I was hoping for, as if I found them in some cool antique store nearby. I can’t wait to style them with the rest of my Christmas decor this year!

Also, this is the first week of the Seasonal Simplicity Christmas Series! Today a group of my blogging friends and I are sharing our Christmas DIY or craft projects to help inspire you for the upcoming holiday season.  

Click on the links below each image to be taken directly to my friends’ posts!

Classic Christmas Light String Garland DIY at The Happy Housie
DIY Hydrangea Christmas Wreath at Two Twenty One
Chunky Knit Vase DIY at Craftberry Bush
Holiday Place Card Wreaths with Printable Tags at Tatertots and Jello
Easy Christmas Star Garland Gift Topper at The Handmade Home

DIY Winter Wonderland Snow Globe Forest at a Pretty Life
DIY Cotton Ball Wreath at Hallstrom Home
DIY Faux Etched Christmas Mirror at Confessions of a Serial DIYer
DIY Christmas Book Craft Project at Happy Happy Nester
DIY Christmas Place Setting Name Tag at She Gave it a Go

Elegant DIY Dollar Tree Christmas Village at The DIY Mommy
DIY Safety Pin Christmas Angels at Zevy Joy
DIY Wooden Advent Calendar at Jenna Kate at Home
DIY Holiday Gift Wrap at My Sweet Savannah
How to Make a Modern Christmas Wreath at Cherished Bliss

DIY Giant Pine Wreath at Love Create Celebrate
Paint by Numbers Printable Christmas at Rambling Renovators
DIY Winter Wreath at The Turquoise Home
Christmas Art Work at Life is a Party
Dollar Tree Rustic Glam Christmas Wreath at All Things With Purpose

DIY Vintage Whitewashed Nutcracker at Rooms FOR Rent
DIY Drum Tree Collar at Sincerely, Marie Designs
Line Art Christmas Tree DIY Acrylic Sign at Lemon Thistle
Snowball Cookies in a Jar at Clean & Scentsible
DIY Pink Ombre Ornament Wreath at We’re the Joneses

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