DIY Santa Paint Brushes – A Whimsical Holiday Craft

If you’ve got a few old paintbrushes rolling around in the garage—or let’s be honest, in a forgotten drawer of your craft stash—this is the perfect upcycle project for you! These Santa Paint Brushes are a cheeky, charming way to decorate for the holidays. They’re especially fun for gifting to crafty friends, tucking into wreaths, or adding to your mantle garland.
One year, I made a whole lineup of these jolly fellows and stuck them in a vase like a bouquet on the kitchen counter. My teens thought I’d finally gone fully festive-mad, but even they cracked a smile.

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What you need

Old or dollar-store wide flat paintbrushes (2” to 3”)

Red acrylic paint

White acrylic paint

Flesh-toned acrylic paint or tan/beige

Tiny red pom poms, or wood bead  (or paint a red nose)

Hot glue gun

Fine-tip black marker

Optional: Mini bells, ribbon, glitter, or holly picks for embellishing

Instructions

1. Clean and Prep the Brushes
   Make sure your paintbrushes are clean and dry. You can trim any wild bristles if needed. Paint the metal part of the brush red for Santa’s hat. If you want to add a face, paint the handle with a flesh tone. Let dry completely.
2. Add the Hat Details
   Paint a band of white across the base of the red area to mimic the fluffy hat brim. or add some white foam or felt.  Add a white dot on the top for a pom-pom. This gives the illusion that the metal part of the brush is Santa’s hat.
3. Create the Beard
   Use  the base of the bristles 
4.  Nose
   Center a small bead underneath the brim to make Santa’s nose.
5. Add a Hanger
   Thread a loop of ribbon through the hole in the brush handle and tie it securely. You can also hot glue the loop to the back of the handle if needed.
6. Embellish if You Wish
   Feel free to add glitter, jingle bells, mini pinecones, or holly picks to Santa’s hat to make him extra festive.

Crafty Tips:

• Make a whole set and write names on the handles for personalized gift toppers.

• These make adorable teacher or neighbor gifts tied to a tin of cookies.

• Add a magnet to the back and stick Santa to the fridge for December cheer.