Decorating Antique Wooden Sleds
While most people might look at a sled and think of a recreational winter activity, sleds originated as means for native peoples to transport goods and people through the snow in an easier fashion. Antique sleds vary in shape and structure: some look like a ladder and half wooden rails, some have flat, vertical wooden panels and metal rails. Regardless of the type of sled that you have you can still add decorative touches to it to make it look distinctive and interesting.
Things You'll Need
- Stencils
- Tape
- Acrylic paint
- Paintbrush
- Spray paint
- Goggles
- Gloves
- Ribbon
- Wreath, Christmas cards, sprigs of holly, etc
Instructions
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Purchase stencils that you can paint on to your sled. For example, you might want one big stencil in the middle of the sled's seat or you might want a narrower pattern along the perimeter of the sled. Choose a design that at least looks antique; you don't have to research whether or not the particular pattern that you like is from many years ago. Just don't pick a design that is overtly modern.
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Tape the stencils to where you want them on the sled. Paint over them using acrylic paint or spray paint. If you use spray paint, make sure to paint outside wearing goggles and gloves. Remove the stencils once the images are well colored in and allow it to dry.
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Wrap a long piece of ribbon around the sled's handle. When the ribbon is almost gone, knot it in place and tuck it into the previous length of wrapped ribbon.
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Add a decorative floral or pine wreath to the sled if you just intend to display the sled. Alternatively, a Christmas time you could put the sled on your porch and tape Christmas cards to it or sprigs of holly or mistletoe.
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References
- Photo Credit boy with sled image by Piter Pkruger from Fotolia.com
