The holidays are a time for family, culture, and imagination. What better way to get into the holiday spirit than to use things from nature to make decorations? You can use pinecones you find on a cold winter walk, dried flowers from your yard, or repurposed twigs to make these projects. They are all eco-friendly and unique ways to enjoy the season.
| Holiday Craft Ideas | Description |
| Evergreen Wreaths | Classic wreath with fresh pine, fir, or cedar branches. |
| Pinecone Wreaths | Rustic wreath made from glued or wired pinecones. |
| Wreaths with Natural Materials | Uses twigs, dried flowers, and seed pods for variety. |
| Pinecone Bird Feeder | Peanut butter-coated pinecone rolled in birdseed. |
| Log Bird Feeder | Hollowed log filled with suet and seeds for birds. |
| Winter Solstice Lanterns | Glass jars decorated and lit with candles. |
| Sand & Seashell Menorah/Kinara | Candles set in sand with coastal-inspired decor. |
| Paról – Filipino Christmas Lantern | Star-shaped lantern made with twigs and paper. |
| Tree Luminaries | Hollowed-out logs used as glowing candle holders. |
| Christmas Gnomes | Pinecone-based gnomes with felt hats and wool beards. |
| Walnut Reindeer | Walnut shells turned into adorable reindeer ornaments. |
| Santa Ornaments | Painted wooden slices or acorns decorated as Santa. |
| Tree-Shaped Ornaments | Twigs or cinnamon sticks arranged into mini trees. |
Wreaths
Evergreen Wreaths
Putting a fresh greenery wreath on your front door is a standard way to decorate. The smell of pine, cedar, or fir will fill your home. It’s really easy to make your own! Get a wire or grapevine wreath base to start, and then get some fresh evergreen leaves. Working in a circle, stack them and attach them with floral wire.
Add dried orange pieces, cinnamon sticks, or small pinecones to make it look more holiday-like. You can also make your wreath look more classy by adding a big red bow or some flashing lights. Not only does this craft add a natural touch to your home decor, but the fresh evergreens are also a holiday tradition that means “eternal life.”
Pinecone Wreaths
Pinecones can be used for many things, are easy to find, and make great decoration materials. Use hot glue or flower wire to connect pinecones to a foam or wire wreath form to make a wreath. Leave it alone for a forest look, or paint the tips white for a frosty look.
Want to make it look a little better? Put holly, eucalyptus, or dried berry sprigs inside. A beautiful and useful piece of holiday art, pinecone wreaths last for years.
Wreaths With Other Natural Materials
You can use more than just evergreens and pinecones to make beautiful wreaths. Dried flowers, seed pods, sticks, and even herbs like lavender and rosemary can be used. A simple arrangement that looks like nature can be made from twigs that are bent into a circle and woven together.
Mix and match different things, like dried hydrangeas, wheat stalks, or even cotton bolls, to make something that is truly yours. There are a lot of options, and each wreath has its own story to tell about the beauty of the season.
Bird Feeders
Pinecone Bird Feeder
This easy craft that kids can do helps wildlife and makes your winter garden look nicer. Get a big pinecone and wrap some string around the top of it. Next, put peanut butter (or something else that won’t hurt the seeds) between the scales of the pinecone.
Cover it completely with birdseed, then hang it outside. Chickadees, sparrows, and cardinals will enjoy the treat, and you’ll enjoy seeing birds in your yard all winter.
Bird Feeder Made From A Log
Using a drill or knife, cut out small holes in a log to make a more homemade bird feeder. In the holes that were cut, put a mix of suet and birdseed. Fix the log to a tree or post, and then watch as birds come in droves to eat it. This feeder not only gives birds food, but it also fits in with its natural settings, making it both a pretty and useful piece of outdoor furniture.
Lights, Lanterns, And Luminaries
Winter Solstice Lanterns
Lanterns for the winter solstice mark the return of light on the coldest days of the year. Use tissue paper, pressed leaves, or cut-out star shapes to decorate a glass jar and make one. Put a tea light inside and let the dancing light warm your house. Brush the jar with watered-down glue and roll it in Epsom salt to make it look frosty. It will look like it’s covered in fresh snow!
Sand And Seashell Menorah Or Kinara
Would you like to make a green lamp or kinara for Hanukkah or Kwanzaa? Put candles in a straight line in a small wooden bowl or tray that has been filled with sand. Use rocks, dried flowers, or small stones to make a holiday show that looks like it came from the coast. This one-of-a-kind piece makes a beautiful display by combining the beauty of nature with beloved customs.
Paról – Filipino Christmas Lantern
A paról is a traditional Filipino Christmas light made of paper and bamboo. It is often shaped like a star. You can make a similar one with twigs arranged in a star shape and covered with clear paper or dried leaves. For a soft holiday glow, light it from the inside with an LED candle.
This project brings a traditional holiday activity from around the world into your home and honors the magic of making your decorations.
Tree Luminaries
Natural lamps can be made from hollowed-out logs or bits of wood. Make room for a candle (real or battery-powered) and put it on your porch or window sill for a warm, forest-inspired glow. These lanterns give your holiday decor a magical, enchanted forest feel.
Tree Ornaments
Christmas Gnomes
Small Christmas gnome ornaments look great on pine cone bases. Put on a small hat made of felt, a beard made of wool, and a painted wooden bead for the nose. These cute little figures give any tree personality and make great gifts that you make yourself.
Walnut Reindeer
Make cute reindeer out of walnut shells! For a Rudolph-themed decoration, glue on twig horns, tiny bead eyes, and a red pom-pom nose. It’s easy to make these cute little creatures that are perfect for the holidays.
Santa Ornaments
We can paint acorns, wooden slices, or dried gourds to look like Santa presents. He needs a red hat and a white cotton beard to look like Santa Claus. Now you can hang him on your tree.
Tree-shaped Ornaments
Use twigs, cinnamon sticks, or pressed leaves to make small tree ornaments. To make a simple but beautiful tree shape, arrange the sticks in a downward order of length and tie them together with yarn. For a holiday smell, you can also make versions that are spiced with dried orange peels or cloves.
Website Source Links
The Spruce: https://www.thespruce.com
Better Homes & Gardens: https://www.bhg.com
Country Living: https://www.countryliving.com
HGTV: https://www.hgtv.com
Apartment Therapy: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com
