Large Wooden Christmas Angel DIY

If you love soft, neutral, handmade Christmas décor, this DIY wooden Christmas angel is a beautiful project to add to your holiday decorating. I actually started her last year, but set her aside because I could not decide how to make her stand out from the simple rustic angels you see at every craft fair. This month, I finally knew what she needed: soft muslin, pearl tulle, and gathered ribbon in creamy cottage core layers.

She is feminine, a little vintage, and so simple to personalize with whatever fabrics you have on hand. Once she was finished, I realized she was far too pretty to hang quietly on a wall downstairs. I placed her in our entryway instead, where she can shine and sparkle every time the front door opens.

If you want to create one of your own, here is how I made mine.

Supplies

Step 1 – Download and Transfer the Angel Pattern

Begin by downloading the pattern and transferring it onto a piece of scrap wood. I made my angel using 1 × 6 lumber I already had on hand, but any smooth one-inch thick board will do.

The angel templates are available for free download. Just download, print, and copy the pattern onto a large piece of paper. If you would rather design your own version, simply draw a rounded head, a slender body, and a pair of wings that sweep up gently before curving down toward the sides.

When your outline is ready, use a soft pencil or carbon paper to transfer it onto the wood. Keep the lines light but visible. Do not worry about being perfect. Small variations just personalize her.

Step 2 – Cut the Angel from Scrap Wood

Once the pattern is traced, it is time to cut out your angel. Clamp the board securely to your work surface and use a jigsaw to carefully follow the lines. Move slowly around the curves of the head and wings, letting the saw do the work.

Sand the edges smooth with 120-grit sandpaper. If your shape cuts well, remove any slivers and soften the edges by hand so the top feels slightly rounded. If the cuts are rough or uneven, grab an electric sander to smooth out any bumps before painting

Step 3 – Whitewash Paint the Wooden Angel

To paint the angel, I used Fusion Mineral Paint in Limestone, but any light cream color will work. Mix about 1 tablespoon of paint with 2 tablespoons of water to create a thin whitewash. Brush it on in light, even strokes using a small paintbrush, then wipe back the excess with a soft rag.

The whitewash lets the wood grain peek through and gives the angel a soft, aged finish that works beautifully with cottage core and vintage Christmas décor.

For my angel, I gave her one coat of whitewash

Step 4 – Attach the Wooden Wings

Once the body and wings are both painted and dry, place the wings flat against the back of the angel and adjust them until you like the position. I prefer the top of the wings to sit just below the head so they flow naturally with the shape of the body.

When you are happy with the placement, use two or three small wood screws to secure the wings from the back. Make sure your screws are short enough that they do not poke through to the front.

Step 5 – Prepare the Fabrics and Ribbons

Prepare the Muslin

Start by checking that your muslin will tear easily. Iron the muslin smooth so it is flat and easy to measure. Cut a square of muslin 30 inches wide by 30 inches long.

Working across the width, make small snips every 1½ inches along one edge. Once all the snips are made, carefully tear each strip along the grain to create long pieces with softly frayed edges. You should end up with twenty strips, each measuring 1½ inches by 30 inches.

Prepare the Pearl Tulle Overlay

Cut a piece that is 30 inches wide and 14 inches long, leaving a one-inch margin for a top fold. Make sure the bottom edge is very straight since it will be left as is. Choose your neatest cut edge for the bottom hem.

Fold over the top edge once and iron carefully to set the crease. Be gentle to avoid melting the fabric. Stitch the fold using a zigzag stitch, then thread a piece of one-inch lace (cut to 15 inches) through the top edge to create a gathered overlay. Set this aside.

Gather Your Ribbons

For the ribbon layer, gather whatever lace and trims you have on hand in white, cream, and soft green. My white and green ribbons came from Temu leftovers, and the rest were garage sale finds. The mix of textures gives the angel more character.

Step 6 – Prepare the Muslin Strips

Set Up the Lace Ties

If you like a tidy look, you can iron the muslin strips again after tearing them, but it is optional. I pressed mine lightly to smooth the edges before tying.

Next, cut three 15-inch pieces of one-inch cotton lace. I used lace from Dollar Tree, but any cotton trim will work. These will form the base ties for the skirt.

Before tying on the strips, tighten and secure the lace you will be working with. I pinned mine to the paper backdrop while taking photos, but you can hold the ends down with something heavy like a can of tomatoes. Keeping the lace taut makes tying much easier.

Tie the Muslin Strips

To attach the strips, start by aligning the ends of the lace together and folding it to find the middle.

Here are the four stages of tying the loop knot:

1. Fold the muslin strip in half and place the loop under the lace.
2. Fold the ends over and pull them through the loop from the bottom.
3. Pull gently to tighten.
4. Neaten the knot and make sure the bottoms stay even.

Do not worry about perfect spacing yet. You can adjust the strips after all twenty are tied.

Step 7 – Add the Fabric Overlay and Ribbons

I am sharing very detailed instructions about how I tied the ribbon on. You can always add another cross piece of ribbon to your angel and then tie on whatever you think looks pretty. The choice is yours.

Row One – Add the Muslin Layer

I gathered the muslin strips close together and moved them around until I found the center, keeping the lengths even across the bottom. Then I placed the center of the muslin strips at the center of the angel’s front, positioning it so the skirt sits about an inch above the bottom edge. I tightened the lace and tied a simple loose loop knot at the back.

Row Two – Add the Pearl Tulle Overlay

I gathered and centered the tulle the same way and tied it just above the muslin layer. The sheer fabric softens the muslin and adds a delicate shimmer.

Row Three – Add the Ribbon Layer

I created a third tie-on but only placed ribbons on the right-hand side. I staggered the ribbon ends by an inch or two instead of finding center, folding them in the same way on both sides. I tied the ribbons in pairs to start with, one on each side of center, six pairs in total, then added two soft green ribbons to the middle.

Once the ribbons were tied to the cross piece, I tied another loose green ribbon with a soft overhand knot, the one placed going upward. I used the white lace tie to attach all the ribbons to the angel itself, first with a simple loop knot, then tied all three ribbons together to make a long cascading bow down the back.

Once the ribbon layer was attached to the angel, I used the green ribbon and a bit of hot glue to add embellishments. The added touches of color and texture make her look graceful from every angle.

Step 8 – Finishing Touch – Glittery Snowflake Wings

My large wooden Christmas angel hangs near the entrance of our dark family room downstairs, and she adds so much light and softness to the space. The mix of muslin, pearl tulle, and ribbon layers catches the light beautifully, and the glittered wings sparkle every time someone walks by.

To add the sparkle, I used a small stencil and quickly stippled on white paint, then immediately sprinkled fine iridescent glitter on top before the paint dried. I followed no pattern at all, just added snowflakes wherever there was room. The effect is soft and whimsical, like fresh snow resting on her wings.

Whether you leave her simple and serene or add the snowflake sparkle, she will bring a little bit of handmade warmth to your Christmas decorating this year.

And just like that, she is all done.

If you like this project, don’t forget to save it to your Christmas crafting board on Pinterest so you can find it again later.

More White and Sparkly Christmas Inspiration

If you love the soft, white, and sparkly look as much as I do, you might enjoy a few of my other Christmas projects. My thrift store angel makeover still makes me smile every year, and the sparkling white and green centerpiece adds the same calm shimmer to a holiday table. I also have an older post, my All White Christmas Home Tour, that is due for an update, but still shares many of my favorite ideas for creating a peaceful, cozy Christmas home.