How to make a DIY Christmas music wall hanging or mini Christmas music sheet ornaments!

This framed DIY large music print that I made last year has become one of my most popular posts! And I completely understand why because it’s one of my favorite projects, cost under $20, and makes such a huge impact especially this song paired with a nativity for Christmas.  #allthepraisehands

So this year, I had the idea to show you how to make a smaller, even easier version that would make great decor for your home or also make a great gift idea!  It is very inexpensive too which is another huge win. And stay tuned to the end because as I was finishing these up I got another idea that I honestly love even more.

Here’s what you need:

• white cardstock paper
• your favorite Christmas music (or any music) – I love this site which has so many free options!
• paint sticks (when using them for crafting I buy the $0.98/10 pack available at the paint department at Home Depot)
• stain color of your choice – I love using Varathane Classic Dark Walnut
• tea bags (I’ll explain later!)
• wood glue or hot glue (but I found wood glue worked better)
• jute twine
• wood beads (optional) – I purchased this huge assortment and have been using them for tons of projects

So this DIY music print is just printed at home using your own printer onto white cardstock.  A couple of tips about printing – you will want a border at the top and bottom so I downloaded the sheet music and then when printing selected for it to print at 90% or you can select the option that will read something like fit to printable area.  I also suggest printing in the highest ink quality (my printer does draft, better, best ink quality) when I printed in the better option or draft option the ink tended to bleed when I was tea staining it later.  The best ink quality option had no issue.

Cut the paint sticks to size using a hand saw or miter saw.

Then stain the paint sticks and let dry.  I used 2 on the top (back and front) and 2 on the bottom (front and back).

While the stain dries, boil some strong tea and dip the paper into the tea.  Let sit for just a few seconds and carefully remove and lay on a dark towel to dry.  Mine took several hours or even overnight to dry completely.

Once everything is all dry I just glued a paint stick on the back and front at the bottom and top of the music pages.  I also cut a long piece of jute twine and glued it in between the 2 paint sticks on the top.  Hot glue had a hard time sticking to the stain but wood glue worked great although you may need to hold it, clamp it, or lay something heavy on top while it dries for 10 minutes or so.

Now you could completely stop there but I chose to add some wood beads on each side and I love that additional touch!

I made several of these for gifts but this one is mine and how I will use it!  I just love adding something to hang over a wreath to dress it up even more.  I wouldn’t use these outside, but on any wreath inside it would work.

You can sort of tuck it into the wreath to give it that scroll look.

I also could see you using these layered over a mirror, window, chalkboard, cutting board, really any kind of architectural piece you have displayed in your home.

If you didn’t want to make the large music print sign I made last year you could recreate a similar look with these smaller music prints hung over a wreath on top of a mirror/chalkboard near where you display your nativity.

Now of course you could also create these DIY music wall hangings in a larger size (using instructions in this post how I sent the file to be printed at a local office supply store) and then use gallon paint sticks or regular lattice wood strips to create the top and bottom frame.

I was so excited to give these as gifts and then share how to make them with you and as we were on the way to church on Sunday I had this brainstorm idea that I could do this same exact method and make them smaller so they could be ornaments!  And I just ADORE them!

So in order to reduce their size, I picked out the music sheets I wanted to print and made sure to download them from this site I linked above as  PDF to my computer.  When you open up the PDF print option in Adobe there are many more options than if you just print directly from that website.   I chose the option “custom scale” and then typed in 45%.

Again I tea stained them in some warm tea and let dry.  The wood frame part was created by just your basic craft popsicle stick!  I even was able to cut the popsicle sticks with strong scissors or a pruner so if don’t have a saw you can still do this!

I stained the craft sticks with the same stain.  And again it might have been because it was really cold and my stain may have not been all the way dry, but hot glue didn’t seem to stick very well.  I ended up using wood glue to secure them to the paper.

I glued a loop of twine on the back with hot glue and then added some small beads just because wood beads just seem to just be the finishing touch on any decor right now.

I am just IN LOVE with how perfectly vintage looking these look and how they add the REAL meaning of Christmas all over my Christmas tree!   Even though you reduce the size the words and music are still crisp and clear and easy to read!

I did an all neutral tree this year with lots of natural and rustic elements and these are absolutely perfect on there… but I think they could honestly go with any style!  Would look great on a flocked tree, mixed with red/gold/black/silver/burlap, etc  – I can also see these with a mini buffalo plaid bow glued to the top – seriously just beautiful however you choose to make them!

Full tour of my tree coming later this week – can’t wait to show you!

So which one would you make?  The regular letter size ones or the ornament size ones?  I have even seen people use regular paper size scrolls in their tree so you could that too!

I would love to know if you make these!  Send me pictures or tag me on social media!