How To Paint a Ceramic Christmas Tree With Vintage Feel

Step 1: Clean the Ceramic Tree

I stumbled upon two plain, yet promising, Christmas-tree-shaped dishes at a charity shop. A bargain for just £5. 

They had a classic look, with white paint and a red trim. A neutral canvas that could fit into anyone’s festive home decor. 

But here’s where the magic begins. With a splash of colour to create that hint of vintage charm.

The first step is to prepare the canvas by cleaning the surface. This ensures that it’s free from any dust and dirt. This gives you the base for your paint to adhere well to.

You can use either White Lightning or dish soap for this step.

Step 2: Add Slick Stick to Ceramic Base

The secret sauce to painting ceramic successfully is the painting cupboard staple, Slick Stick. I’ve used this on various surfaces, from a plastic front door to a laminate IKEA dresser. It’s what allows the paint to adhere and last over ceramic glazes.

Apply Slick Stick as you would paint. You need two coats to ensure the base is ready to paint over. Allow a few hours in between for each coat.

While it looks like paint and leaves an appealing matte finish, you’ll still need to apply your chosen paint colour on top. 

Wait for 24 hours after your last coat of Slick Stick before moving on to the next step.

If you’re after that classic decor aesthetic, a coat of white or cream chalk paint will do the trick. 

Step 3: Paint the Perfect Vintage Green Tree

 The best way to create the perfect tree vintage a feel, is with a festive green paint named English Ivy. 

Then, put a unique twist on it!

By slightly diluting the paint, it takes on a more translucent appearance. Which helps give depth and character to your tree. 

After applying a coat, a simple toothpick can add texture to the branches and needles, ensuring they stand out later.

As the paint begins to dry, it’s time for some artistic magic. With the paint not too wet, not too dry, you want it just right. 

With the partially dried coat of paint, use your finger to create the illusion of tree needles by dragging them down from the top of the tree. The unevenness in the paint application adds a lovely dimension.

Then go back and add a few extra lines with a toothpick.

Finally, add a few fine painted brown lines to the tree base to hint at the trunk and branches.

Step 4: Add Decorative Baubles to Tree

With the foundation in place, it’s time to introduce the decorative elements. 

A timeless combination is red and gold baubles. To maintain bauble shape and size consistency, a paintbrush end or a sponge dabber can help. Or play around and free-hand the baubles for a handmade touch. 

The red baubles were painted with Barn Red, while the gold ones shimmered with a metallic gold paint named Gold Digger.

Once dry, a fine artist’s brush allows you to add the small details of the highlights where the light would catch the baubles. This was created with white paint, called Fluff.

Step 7: Seal Painted Ceramic Tree

Finally, seal your masterpiece with two coats of sealer. 

Two coats of satin will create a subtle sheen. Or for the durability of satin, combined with the elegance of matte, one coat of each. The last coat should have the sheen you want for the final look.

Painted Vintage Ceramic Tree

With these steps, you can transform your own ceramic Christmas tree into a cherished vintage Christmas treasure. Or paint your own pottery as the perfect gift for a vintage lover.

Both the large tree and small tree are done in the same method. However, you can mix the colour scheme for a varied vintage look for the holiday season.

These candy canes are decorative only. Don’t place food on these dishes, unless sealed with a food-safe sealer.

Aren’t these so much more charming than the classic white?