Chalk Couture Christmas Sleigh Wood Cutout

I made the sweetest Santa sleigh decoration with a wood cutout, a matching Chalk Couture transfer, and plenty of Silver Shimmer. The bright red sleigh pops against the black background, while the silver details and splattered stars give the whole project a festive, wintry finish.

Starting With the Santa Sleigh Wood Cutout

The wood cutout matches the shape and design of the transfer, which makes this project easy to put together. I started with the sleigh cutout and painted the front with Cherry chalk paste.

Cherry is one of my favorite reds. It’s bright, warm, and just right for Christmas projects, especially when I know I’m going to add silver on top.

I brushed the Cherry over the entire cutout. The finish can stay a little uneven because most of the surface will be covered by the transfer design. I still went back over a few spots to even out the color, but I kept the painting part simple.

Once the sleigh was covered, I dried it before moving on. A dry surface helps the transfer stay in place and keeps the colors from mixing.

Preparing the Chalk Couture Transfer

Chalk Couture transfers have a sticky back and a reusable screen printed design. After using one, I wash it with water and lay it flat with the sticky side facing up until it dries. With the right care, you can use these transfers again and again.

Fresh transfers can be very sticky, so I prepared both the surface and the transfer before placing it on the wood.

Adding Surface Wax

I rubbed a small amount of surface wax over the dried Cherry paste. The wax adds a slight sheen, but the color stays the same. More importantly, it helps keep the sticky transfer from pulling up the red finish when I peel it away.

A light coat is all you need. I spread it across the surface, then let the wood cool and dry before applying the transfer.

Fuzzing the Transfer

I also added a little fuzz to the sticky side of the transfer. A fuzzing cloth works well, and your shirt will work too. Press the transfer onto the fabric and lift it away a few times.

This softens the grip just enough to make removal easier. It’s especially helpful when you’re working over a freshly painted or pasted surface.

I lined up the transfer with the edges of the sleigh and pressed it down, making sure the screen printed areas sat flat against the wood.

Adding Silver Shimmer Details

Silver Shimmer was the perfect choice for this design. It looks beautiful over Cherry and adds plenty of Christmas sparkle.

I scooped a small amount onto a squeegee and lightly dragged it across every open area of the transfer. You only need enough paste to fill the screen printed design, so I kept the layer thin and even.

Then came my favorite part. I slowly peeled the transfer away to reveal the silver Santa and sleigh details underneath.

Peeling slowly gives you time to spot any areas that need more paste. If a section looks incomplete, lay the transfer back down carefully and go over that spot again. Small smudges can also be sanded away after the paste dries.

The Silver Shimmer looked so pretty against the red. I set the transfer aside to wash later and dried the finished cutout before assembling the decoration.

Attaching the Sleigh to the Black Background

My black background was already painted, so it was ready for the finished sleigh. I angled the cutout slightly to make Santa look like he was flying up into the night sky.

I used Titebond Quick and Thick Glue to attach it. This glue gives me a little more working time than hot glue, so I can adjust the placement before it grabs. I spread the glue across the back with a paintbrush, positioned the sleigh, and held it down for a moment.

The black background brings out both the Cherry and the Silver Shimmer. It also gave me room to add one more detail.

Making a Silver Starry Sky

I decided the background needed twinkling stars. I mixed a little Silver Shimmer with water until it became loose enough to splatter.

Using a toothbrush, I flicked the watered down paste over the black surface. I covered most of the Santa cutout with my hand while I worked, though a little extra shimmer on the sleigh would have been fine.

This step gets messy, so protect the area around your project. The tiny silver dots look like stars scattered across the night sky, and the effect is worth a little cleanup.

Adding a Wire Hanger

The wood pieces are thin enough to punch with a regular hole punch. I added holes near the top of the black background and threaded silver wire through them.

I usually like rusty wire, but the silver wire matched the shimmer in this project. To make the ends decorative, I wrapped each one around a glue stick to create little pigtail curls. A paintbrush handle or any other round object will work too.

The finished piece can hang on its own, become part of a larger wreath, or work as an oversized ornament on a big Christmas tree. I especially love the angled sleigh because it looks like Santa is flying through my new silver starry sky.

Chalk Couture supplies I used

• Cherry Paste
• Surface Wax

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