Christmas decor #1: Christmas Sled

It's time!  Christmas decorating is underway.  I'm making some new things this year, mostly from things I have already, with a few new things thrown in.  I'll be posting all month long.  A couple days ago I teased you with this:

Today I want to share my little Christmas sled.

I picked it up at a thrift store for a song at least a year ago. It wasn't bad in red, but I had a different vision.

 I gave it a white wash with primer using the dry brush technique.  It took a couple of coats to get the coverage I wanted.  After letting it dry, I lightly sanded the edges (not shown in this picture), just enough to bring back a touch of red.

 There are lots of techniques I could have used for lettering, but since I have a Silhouette machine, I love to make stencils on contact paper.  It's so easy!  Not wanting stark black lettering, I used McCloskey's Aging Glaze in Asphaltum.  It looks green in this picture, but it isn't really.  It might have a slight golden tint, but when dry and lightly sanded it just looks like faded black.  I brushed on a couple of light coats, using my blow dryer because I'm so impatient letting them dry between coats.

This is what you end up with.

After rummaging around in my Christmas stash, I found this little swag that I'd also found at a thrift store, except it didn't look quite like this.  I ripped off some ugly stuff and added the red berries and angels. It came with this gold ribbon, which I almost left on.  I decided it was too fancy for my rustic sled. 

 To my scrap bin I went, and pulled out some muslin.  I ripped a strip off larger than I wanted and set to work.  I'll post the how-to's of making the ribbon later.

For now it is hanging on the side of a bookcase in my kitchen.  You see it as you come in the kitchen door.

Christmas decoration #1 done!  

Until next time keep craftin' and smilin'

This post is linked to these awesome parties:

Fall into Fall at DIY by Design
The Wednesday Roundup at Living Better Together
What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants
Thursdays Are Your Days at 52 Mantels
Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch To Yours
All Things Thursday at Posed Perfection
Christmas Extravaganza at French Country Cottage
12 Days of Junk Christmas at Funky Junk
Christmas Roundup at Sewlicious Home Decor