I came across this picture of painted sticks by Canadian Artist, Ginette Lapalme. I was inspired by this idea as it brings nature into the home, and I love that!
Our Painted Sticks
On Saturday afternoon, my 11-year-old daugther and I went out in the backyard to find sticks. Then, we sat at the kitchen table and painted for 20 minutes or so. It was lovely!
Materials
Paint Brush
A selection of acrylic paint
Designs
We kept the designs simple to allow bark to show through.
- Veritacle Stripes
- Horizontal Stripes
- Dots
- Colour blocks
- Circles
- Paint around the stick nobs
Use them
I had a think about where and how we could use the painted sticks, and I came up with these ideas.
1. Shapes and Pictures
Make pictures, letters and shapes with the variety of sticks.
2. Rainbow Woods — Imaginative Play Scene
To see how to put this together, click here: Imaginative Play Scene: Rainbow Woods
3. Vases
I LOVE the look of painted sticks in vases. I placed the large sticks in a vase with decorative stone at the base. The smaller sticks, I used in empty juice bottles and a candle holder.
4. Juice Bottle
This is my favourite. I used a Divine Twine around the neck of juice bottle and arranaged the sticks inside. Perfect for table or desk decoration.
5. Hang
Tie small sticks on a piece of string (I use Divine Twine). Hang horizontally for a wall feature.
6. Magic Stick
Paint the perfect magic stick.
20 Comments
Elizabeth
June 25, 2012 at 11:58 amSuch a good idea. I love them so much and they really are very decorative. They make me feel happy. my kids will be very happy to do this activity. XX
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
June 26, 2012 at 8:12 amThey are! It was fun collecting the sticks too. Win, win. x
Maxabella
June 25, 2012 at 9:34 pmGreat fun! They look just as good as the original… x
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
June 26, 2012 at 8:12 amNawww, thanks Bron. You’re the kindest.
Rachel
June 26, 2012 at 10:24 amWhat a gorgeous and simple idea. luvlee
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
June 26, 2012 at 12:58 pmThanks Rachel. I enjoy looking at them.
Joan
June 26, 2012 at 12:16 pmWhat a brilliant idea! The painted sticks in vases and jars are cute alternatives to flowers. 🙂
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
June 26, 2012 at 12:59 pmAnd they last longer too 😉
katepickle
July 9, 2012 at 1:21 pmoooh I love your sticks! I have a hankering to do some really big ones to ‘plant’ in the garden!
Kelly Be A Fun Mum
July 9, 2012 at 1:31 pmOh, I love that idea Kate!!!
Debs- Learn with Play
July 10, 2012 at 4:59 pmI like that idea too! 🙂
Trish
July 9, 2012 at 1:35 pmIf I can find some paint my boys would love this activity, thanks Kelly.
Kelly
July 9, 2012 at 4:00 pmSuch a great craft ~ and they turned out so beautifully! We’ve been planning to do something like this for awhile, so lovely to get further inspired 🙂
Bek @ Just For Daisy
July 9, 2012 at 9:16 pmWhat a fabulous idea! They look great – it’s nice to mix nature into some indoor play!
I love the ones in the juice jars!
Janice
July 9, 2012 at 10:57 pmI just love your colourful painted sticks Kelly and all the different ways you can display them! You have inpsired me to give them a try! 🙂
Debs- Learn with Play
July 10, 2012 at 4:58 pmI really loved the painted sticks and thought all the suggestions you had for ways to use them was great! They look so good in the bottles and we’d use them in an imaginative play scene for sure. Just gorgeous photos as well! Love 🙂
stephanie
July 10, 2012 at 7:34 pmI love, love, love this idea! Pinned it and am going to do it this weekend! Thanks for sharing!
On Flowers &Upcycling Glass Jars
August 9, 2012 at 11:49 pm[…] more and more, and I look for ways to bring the transience into the house, in many forms, like painting sticks, hanging autums leaves or collecting fallen flowers to fill a […]
Nature Craft: Foliage Faces
May 31, 2014 at 2:17 pm[…] adore nature craft. That might be searching for rainbow leaves, painting sticks, making a daisy crown, building rock towers or even simply arranging posies in juice […]
5 Ways to Ease Your Family's Transition to Winter - Moments A Day
May 28, 2015 at 1:39 pm[…] Painted Sticks by Be a Fun Mum […]