DIY plaster Christmas tree decorations: birds, stars and snowflakes with Aqua Resin

TL;DR: DIY plaster Christmas tree decorations can be made in an afternoon: mix, pour into the silicone mould, make the hole with a straw, demould after 30 minutes. With Aqua Resin, a premium alpha plaster, birds, snowflakes, stars and flat baubles come out with a porcelain-effect white that needs no colour, and hang from a ribbon.

Introduction

DIY plaster Christmas tree decorations have an advantage that shop-bought baubles will never have: they are light, matt, and every piece is different from the next. This article is the complete tutorial for the most elegant project in our Christmas series, porcelain-effect birds, with the three variations you can make with the same materials: snowflakes, stars and flat baubles.

If you are looking for an overview for the whole house instead, from the table to the Advent calendar, start with the guide to DIY plaster Christmas decorations.

Contents

• Key points
• What you need
• Tutorial: plaster birds for the tree
• More tree decorations with the same materials
• Finishes: white, gold, pastel
• Common mistakes
• Recommended products
• FAQ

Key points

• One afternoon, a complete set: each pour can be demoulded after 30 minutes; with 500 g of Aqua Resin you can decorate the tree and the gift parcels.
• Aqua Resin is not an epoxy resin: it is a premium alpha plaster, non-toxic and water-based. You can work with it in the kitchen, even with children.
• Make the hole before, not after: a straw in the fluid pour prevents breakages when demoulding.
• White is already the finish: gold, silver and pastel are variations, not necessities.

What you need

• Aqua Resin, premium alpha plaster: 500 g is enough for a whole tree
• Cold water, or Aqua Shield for more resistant decorations
• Christmas silicone moulds: birds, snowflakes, stars, flat discs
• Kitchen scales, bowl, spatula
• Cut straws for the holes, velvet ribbons or rough twine
• For the finishes: Aqua Metal, gold and silver leaf, Aqua Pigment

Tutorial: plaster birds for the tree

The method is the same for every shape. Birds are the guide shape because their smooth surface and curves bring out the porcelain effect.

1. Prepare the mixture. Put 30 g of cold water in the bowl and pour 100 g of Aqua Resin into the water, never the other way round. Stir slowly until you have a smooth cream with no lumps.
2. Pour into the mould. Pour the mixture into the bird mould placed on a flat surface. Tap the surface lightly to bring the air bubbles up. If you want to add gold leaf or glitter, place them in the bottom of the mould before pouring.
3. Make the hole. Immediately insert a cut straw where the ribbon will go through, usually on the bird's back. Leave it in until you demould.
4. Demould. After 30 minutes the bird is solid: flex the silicone mould and gently demould it, then slide out the straw.
5. Finish and decorate. Run fine sandpaper over the edge of the pour. To paint, gild or seal, wait for complete drying within 24 hours, then thread the ribbon through and hang.

Pro tip: one mould, ten birds: prepare the pours in series, one after another, reusing the mould every 30 minutes. In one afternoon you have the complete set.

More tree decorations with the same materials

Snowflakes

The snowflake mould has thin points: tap the surface well after pouring and demould slowly. Pure white, they are already perfect; for an extra touch, a brushstroke of silver Aqua Metal on the tips, or powder-blue Aqua Pigment in the mixture.

Stars

The great classic, and the best shape to start with when working with children. Gold on the points with Aqua Metal, or the name of each family member on the back: one star each, all hung together.

Flat baubles

5-6 cm discs: the smooth surface is a canvas. Geometric patterns with Aqua Metal, a line of gold leaf around the edge, initials. On the back, children write their wish for the new year. They also make the ideal tag for gift parcels.

Finishes: white, gold, pastel

• Porcelain-effect white. No finish at all: the smooth surface of Aqua Resin softly reflects the glow of the fairy lights. This is the Nordic style.
• White and gold. Gold Aqua Metal with a fine brush on points, edges and details, once the decoration is dry. With gold leaf, applied to the bottom of the mould before pouring or glued onto the surface, the effect is more precious.
• Pastel. Aqua Pigment in the mixture, just a few drops: sage green, powder pink, powder blue. The colour runs through the whole thickness and does not chip. Alternate white and pastel pieces on the same tree.
• Black and gold. With Aqua Resin Black the same shapes become dark decorations, to pair with gold: it is the most contemporary variation.

Common mistakes

• Drilling the hole dry, after demoulding. The drill cracks thin pendants. The straw must be inserted into the fluid pour.
• Pours that are too thick. On thin branches they weigh down and bend them. For flat decorations, 5-8 mm is enough.
• Painting straight after demoulding. The plaster is still damp and the colour leaves blotches: demould after 30 minutes, paint the next day.
• Mould dirty from the previous pour. Between one batch and the next, rinse the mould with water: residues leave marks on the surface.

Recommended products

• Aqua Resin — the premium alpha plaster, porcelain-effect white, for all your tree decorations
• Christmas moulds — birds, stars, snowflakes and flat shapes in silicone
• Aqua Metal — gold and silver by brush for points, edges and names
• Gold and silver leaf — for the precious variation
• Aqua Pigment — pastel colour throughout the mixture

FAQ

Are plaster decorations too heavy for the tree branches?

No, as long as they stay thin. A 5-6 cm flat pendant in Aqua Resin weighs a few tens of grams, less than many glass baubles. For a tree with thin branches, choose flat moulds and pours 5-8 mm thick.

How do I make the hole for hanging the decoration?

Insert a cut straw or a toothpick into the pour while it is still fluid and remove it when you demould. If you forgot the hole, glue a small hook or a metal eyelet onto the back once the decoration is dry.

Can I colour the tree decorations?

Yes, in two ways: Aqua Pigment in the mixture before pouring for colour throughout, or Aqua Metal brushed onto the dry decoration for gold, silver and copper details. Gold leaf can be applied to the surface or embedded in the pour.

Do plaster decorations last more than one Christmas?

Yes. Stored in a box, away from damp, they last for years. To make them more resistant, prepare the mixture with Aqua Shield instead of water: 100 g of powder and 50 g of Aqua Shield.

Ready to decorate your tree with your own hands?

Choose the mould you like from our Christmas moulds and a pack of Aqua Resin: your first set of birds will be ready this afternoon.
→ Discover Aqua Resin