This Christmas stocking art project is a colourful way for kids to design their very own stocking — no sewing required! Draw patterns, snowflakes, stripes, names, or little holiday doodles with white oil pastel, then brush over the whole stocking with bright liquid watercolours and watch the hidden designs pop into view.
The oil pastel resist technique makes every stocking look a little bit magical, and kids can keep their designs simple or fill every inch with festive details. Use our printable stocking template to get started, then make a whole collection for a classroom display, bulletin board, Christmas tree, or cheerful holiday art wall.
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DIY Christmas Stocking Art Project
Materials:
Equipment:
- Paper towel (optional)
See the craft in action:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Cut and trace the template
- Print one of our stocking outlines. If you print on cardstock it’ll be easier to trace, but regular paper works as well.You can find the download link in the materials list above, with more details below the tutorial.
- To make your stocking you’ll need a piece of watercolor paper. We’ve cut one piece in half.
- Cut out the stocking and place it on the watercolor paper.
- Trace around the stocking shape with pencil.
Step 3: Draw your design
- To draw on your stocking you’ll need a white oil pastel.
- Draw a pattern on the stocking. You’ll be able to see what you’re drawing if you look at the paper from a specific angle.
Step 4: Add colour
- We’ll be using liquid watercolour paint to add colour to the stocking and reveal the hidden pattern.Follow the instructions on the bottle to dilute the paint.
- Brush paint onto the stocking to see your pattern appear like magic!
- Repeat to cover the whole stocking. You can use just one colour, or add 2 or 3 colours across the stocking.
- Optional: Place a paper towel onto the paper. This will add a bit of texture to the paint and soak up some of the liquid, resulting in a more pastel colour.If you want a bright coloured stocking, skip this step.
Step 5: Cut out the stocking
- Cut out the stocking outline, trying to cut on or inside the pencil marks.
- Your Christmas stocking art project is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- Play around with the colour palette: Paint your stocking with just 1 colour for a simple look, combine 2 coordinating colours, or use several shades for a bright, colourful design.
- Decorate before you cut: Draw the oil pastel design and paint the stocking while it’s still on the larger sheet of paper. It’s much easier to work with, helps contain the mess, and lets you paint right to the edges without worrying about going outside the outline.
Get printable stocking templates to make this paper Christmas craft:
The link below will take you to our free, printable Christmas stocking templates! The 2 page PDF file will open in a new window. Then simply print the patterns on 8.5 x 11 (letter size) printer paper or cardstock.
>>> Christmas Stocking Templates <<<
What type of paper is best for this Christmas stocking art project?
Watercolour paper or mixed media paper works best, because both are designed to handle moisture without wrinkling as much.
You can also print the stocking templates directly onto cardstock. This does work, but the paper will usually curl or wrinkle once it gets wet. If so, wait for the paint to dry and then place the stocking under a stack of heavy books to help flatten it again.
What kind of paint should I use for this stocking craft?
Liquid watercolour paint is especially easy to brush over the stocking, but regular watercolour paints work well too.
If acrylic paint is all you have, thin it with water until it has a more transparent, watercolour-like consistency. You want the paint to be thin enough that the white resist design still shows clearly underneath.
Can I use a white crayon instead of an oil pastel for this paper stocking craft?
Yes, a white crayon will work for the resist technique, but we prefer using a white oil pastel.
We’ve tried both on several art projects, and oil pastel consistently gives us a stronger resist and a much more visible white design after the watercolour is added. But crayon is still a good option if that’s what you already have on hand.
Every stocking turns out a little different, which makes this an especially fun Christmas art project for a group of kids. It’s an easy and creative holiday craft that’s fun to make, and you can use the finished stockings to decorate a classroom, bulletin board, bedroom door, or other type of holiday display. Have each child write their name on the top to create personalized Christmas decorations!
Here’s even more Christmas art ideas:
Shaving Cream Marbled Christmas Trees
Now available
Low-Mess Crafts for Kids Book
72 cute and fun crafts that kids and parents alike can enjoy. All with as little mess as possible!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon Canada
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