Make a sparkly customised plywood letter

Large decorative initials in a child’s room aren’t likely to go out of style any time soon. Why not let your little one get creative and make their own decor? You could revamp an old letter or pretty up a new one. Hang it on a door, stick it on a wall or just lean it on a shelf – they’ll be happy to have a hand in decorating their own space.

What you need:

• A letter – we used a plywood letter from Spotlight
• Paint and/or glue in a colour that will match the space and items you’ll be sticking on it
• A paintbrush
• A mix of items to glue to the letter – we used sequin stars (from newsagents) and an assortment of beads, pearls and sequins in silvers, whites and blues.
• 3M Velcro tape
• Also handy: a large plastic garbage bag, sticky tape and a plate

Number of players:

Activity:

What you do

Step 1: Tear or cut open the garbage bag and sticky tape in place on your kitchen counter or table to protect the surface.

Step 2: Pour some paint onto a plate and place everything in arm’s reach on the plastic. Your child can now start painting the letter a little bit at a time (so it doesn’t dry out). Thick paint will work best so the items have something to press into rather than just sticking onto.

Step 3: Press the items into the paint. Let them do it randomly – luckily kids like to rush and be messy anyway, so this is perfect for them!

Step 4: Once they’re happy with their letter, leave to dry. Carefully pick it up and gently let any loose items fall off. Paint the inside and outside edges of the letter if you wish.

Step 5: Hang! 3M Velcro tape is the best for this kind of wall decor and can be removed from the wall safely without damage.

Tip: It doesn’t have to be beads or sequins – why not try colourful confetti, buttons, small shells collected on holidays or glitter?