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40 DIY Christmas Decorations with Natural Materials

Although it can be tempting to buy all the pretty, sparkling holiday decor in the stores these days, there’s also a great time to be frugal and forage nature! Here’s a great collection of over 40 DIY natural Christmas decorations you can make with easy-to-find materials.

Collage of images showing examples of natural Christmas ornaments. Includes a text overlay reading 40+ DIY Christmas decorations with natural materials.

From branches and wood slices, pine cones, stones, wool and more, looking to nature for craft supplies is a great alternative to buying plastic and other non-biodegradable materials. And even better, if you can forage the items yourself they’re the perfect budget-friendly way to decorate for the holidays!

DIY Natural Christmas Decorations

Beach Stones/Pebbles

From painting to gluing, stones and pebbles make perfect little canvases for natural Christmas crafting.

Festive Christmas Painted Rocks
Rock painting continues to be a popular trend. It’s fun and relaxing to make little works of art on these tiny, natural canvases. Paint some adorable Christmas designs and use them all through your decorating. Or give them as gifts!
Check out this project
Nativity Canvas with Pebbles
Made with rocks, twigs, pebbles, and moss, this nativity canvas is a great way to incorporate nature in a Christmas decoration that you can enjoy for years to come.
Check out this project
Glittering Snowflake and Monogrammed Rocks
Put your cutting machine to work and make some beautiful glittering snowflake and monogrammed rock napkin weights. They’ll be the talk of the dinner table!
Check out this project
rock crafts with Cricut Maker

Branches, Twigs and Driftwood

Yes, we are sort of driftwood hoarders. But with a little creativity, branches and twigs and driftwood can make wonderful natural Christmas decorations!

Easy Driftwood Reindeer Ornaments
We love to see our little driftwood reindeer ornaments on the tree. They also make great gift bag toppers! You can use twigs if you don’t have driftwood.
Check out this project
Adorable driftwood reindeer ornament as a beach house decorating idea
How to Make a Driftwood Christmas Tree
What could be better decor for the cottage or your front porch at the holidays than a rustic driftwood Christmas tree?
Check out this project
Mini Driftwood Tree Ornament
Remember your summer beach vacation over the holidays with this DIY driftwood Christmas tree ornament!
Check out this project
Copper Dipped Driftwood Garland
Can you tell we love our driftwood? Get fancy and paint it with some metallic copper paint. Then string them together for a beautiful rustic garland.
Check out this project
Garland made with driftwood pieces dipped in copper paint plus over a dozen other crafts to make with driftwood.
Rustic Reindeer Ornament
How sweet are these little reindeer ornaments? You can use flexible twigs to make the balls.
Check out this project
Coastal Christmas Ornaments
Learn to make these adorable coastal Christmas ornaments. They are perfect for all your seasonal decorating.
Check out this project
coastal christmas ornaments

Wood and Wood Slices

It feels like there are a million different ways to use wood and wood slices for Christmas decorations and ornaments. Here are some pretty ideas we found.

Easy Rustic Christmas Tree
Make this DIY tree using wood shims and inexpensive dowels and basic craft supplies. Perfect for neutral Christmas decor.
Check out this project
Rustic Wood Slice Ornament
DIY a rustic wood slice ornament in just a few minutes with only a few supplies! You’ll be surprised how quickly you can make these Christmas ornaments!
Check out this project
Wood Slice Deer Ornament
How unique is this rustic wood slice deer ornament created with some dollar store finds.
Check out this project
Lettered Wood Slice Garland
Use cut up branches to create wood slices. Then make these fun ornament banners to decorate your tree!
Check out this project
Foraged Christmas Decorations
Before she purchases anything to decorate for a season or holiday, Julie looks to her yard. There are so many pretty seasonal finds in your own backyard, and that’s how she was able to create these Christmas centerpieces and decor for her kitchen.
Check out this project
Rustic Winter Centerpiece
Create a rustic Christmas scene using a wood slice and pine cones. The fake snow adds an extra special touch to this winter scene.
Check out this project
Woodsy Log Wreath
Don’t toss the branches after trimming your tree. Instead turn them into a beautiful log wreath. Perfect for any season!
Check out this project
Wood Burned Wood Slice Ornaments
Get out your wood burning tools for this one! These woodland creature ornaments are adorable for a rustic Christmas theme.
Check out this project
Stenciled Wood Slice Ornaments
Get our your embossing heat gun and fine glitter to make these pretty wood slice ornaments!
Check out this project

Fabric (Wool, Cotton)

We love to upcycle and repurpose fabric for Christmas decorations. If you stick with wool and organic cotton you’ll also feel good about using bio-degradable products.

Easy Burlap Advent Calendar
This advent calendar was made with store bought pine and berries but would be even better used with natural pine from a tree. The burlap hangs from a small tree branch.
Check out this project
Upcycled Sweater Stockings
Repurpose an old sweater into beautiful and practical Christmas stockings for the fireplace mantle.
Check out this project
Norwegian Christmas Gnomes
Cut up small fallen branches to make these cute Norwegian Gnomes for your Christmas mantles. The Gnomes can be made any size you want just depending on the size of the branch you use.
Check out this project
Nativity Felt Ornaments
These adorable nativity ornaments are perfect for your Christmas tree. Or surprise your little ones with a new character each day in their advent calendar!
Check out this project
felt christmas ornaments

Pine Cones

Pine cones are one of our favourite materials to craft with because of their beauty and availability (in our area of the world). Before you craft with them though, make sure to clean them appropriately!

How to Make Pine Cone Roses
When weekly fresh flower bouquets aren't an option, these pretty pine cone roses are a great budget-friendly alternative. Step-by-step tutorial for these pinecone flowers is included!
Check out this project
How to Make pine cone roses
Snow Covered Pine Cone Ornament
It doesn’t get much simpler and prettier than these lovely snow-covered pine cone ornaments.
Check out this project
Pine Cone Wreath Ideas
Channel some Christmas cheer with 3 pinecone wreath ideas that will bring the festive spirit to your home!
Check out this project
Painted Pine Cone Forest
Go for a modern take on Christmas crafting with pine cones with this colorful painted pinecone forest we created for our friend Lydia at LydiOutLoud.com .
Check out this project
Pine Cone Christmas Tree Ornaments
Get the kids to help and make adorable pine cone Christmas trees that they’ll be proud to display!
Check out this project
Pine Cone Tiles
Use small pinecones and plaster of Paris to make some cute Christmas Pine cone tree tiles for your mantle. You can even paint the pine cones beforehand to create a more festive effect.
Check out this project
Glittered Pine Cones
And we can’t miss those glittered pine cones! The best (or worst) part is the mess you get to make when glittering.
Check out this project

Glass and Jars

From sea glass to mason jars, glass is a great material to craft with for Christmas and beyond.

Beach Glass Christmas Tree
Use up that collection of sea glass to make gorgeous trees which you won't be able to wait to display every holiday season.
Check out this project
Glittering Candy Cane Mason Jars
Add a little sparkle to your holiday decorating with these pretty and colourful glittering candy cane Christmas decorations!
Check out this project
Mason Jar Christmas craft ideas | Glittering glass jar candy cane luminary #ChristmasCrafts #ModPodgeCrafts #glitter
Mason Jar Christmas Tree Decorations
How beautiful is this rustic display? Mason jars filled with candles and strung alongside lovely greenery and other natural elements.
Check out this project
These friendly little guys to double duty as adorable Christmas decorations and jars for gifting. Perfect for teachers, Secret Santa and co-workers!
Check out this project
Adorable painted mason jar Christmas gift idea! Christmas mason jars gift ideas. Mason Jar snowman. #stockingstuffer #secretsanta #secretsantagiftidea #christmascrafts #masonjarcrafts

Paper

Although the “naturalness” of paper is questionable it is at least biodegradable and recyclable, so a good option for a less-waste Christmas.

Pretty Christmas Printable Place Cards
Add a personal and festive touch to your Christmas table setting with these beautiful watercolor free printable Christmas place cards.
Check out this project
Love, Peace, Joy Printable
Printables are a simple and inexpensive way to decorate for the season. The internet is filled with all sorts of designs (just search “free Christmas printable” on Pinterest) which you can display. Our Love, Peace, Joy design is perfect for the holidays.
Check out this project

Food

Decorative Hazelnut Orbs
These decorative hazelnut orbs remind us of our childhoods where Christmas was a time to shell to delicious nuts. We use these orbs in decorating year-round.
Check out this project
Dried Orange and Lemon Garland
How beautiful is this garland with dried oranges and lemons? It would make a bright and cheerful touch for any holiday decor and look beautiful well past the season.
Check out this project

We hope you’ve find this collection of DIY natural Christmas decorations inspiring. We definitely have!

And if you want more DIY garland ideas, check out 25 of the best Christmas garland ideas. If only these was more time to make them all 🙂

Do you have any ideas for a more natural Christmas?

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Collage of images with a text overlay demonstrating 40+ simple DIY natural Christmas decorations to make.

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Mary

Friday 20th of December 2019

I always love adding nature to my decor. You ladies have gathered quite a collection of fun ideas here.

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