How to Create DIY Antique Brass Nutcrackers

Give wooden nutcrackers a vintage makeover with this easy DIY antique brass finish. A simple, holiday craft that adds charm to your decor.

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I spotted an antique nutcracker with a vintage brass finish at an antique marketplace and fell in love. But the price was a little out of my budget, so I did what any crafter would do; created a faux brass finish!

DIY Antique Brass Nutcrackers

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This antique brass finish has been all over social media. I used a similar process last year to create DIY Christmas bells. I made a few adjustments for these wood nutcrackers and love how they turned out!

Supplies Needed for Painted Wooden Nutcrackers

Here is what you need to make your own antique brass nutcrackers.

Unfinished Wooden Nutcrackers – You can find individual wooden nutcracker ornaments at the dollar store. I found a set of five 6 inch nutcrackers for $8.50 at Michaels. Stay tuned for a fun gift idea for the large 14 inch wooden soldier nutcracker!
DecoArt Gold Metallic Paint
Rustoleum Espresso Spray Paint
Foam Paint Brushes

How to Paint a Wooden Nutcracker

Step 1. Paint the Nutcrackers

Start by painting the nutcrackers with the espresso spray paint.

painting wood nutcrackers with spray paint

You will need two coats of espresso paint to cover the entire nutcracker. I placed cardboard down and sprayed them outside.

Spray the fronts, then turn them around and spray the back and then the bottom.

wood nutcrackers spray painted with brown spray paint

If you want more of a solid look, spray them a third time, but I wanted some of the wood to show through so there would be dimension with the layered gold paint.

Let dry.

Step 2. Add The Gold Paint

Use a foam brush to lightly cover the nutcracker with gold paint. You do not want to have a solid gold finish.

Start lightly dry brushing each nutcracker. You can always go over it again if you want it to be a heavier finish. It is always best to start light first.

Let dry completely. You can spray them with a top coat sealer if you like. But I loved the look of the finish and chose to leave that off.

Now you have beautiful nutcracker Christmas decor that you can display on a shelf, mantel, or anywhere you want a festive touch of holiday decor.

They would also look lovely as ornaments on your Christmas tree. Simply add ribbon or twine for hanging.

antique brass painted wooden nutcrackers

I also used the same paint technique to create a nutcracker centerpiece using an unfinished ceramic piece that was an after Christmas find at Michaels from last season.