DIY Rustic Christmas Ornaments Using Natural Elements

If you followed our nature walk guide and came home with a bag full of pinecones and twigs, this is exactly where that haul is headed. Rustic, natural-element ornaments are inexpensive, genuinely beautiful, and forgiving enough for even the smallest crafters to help make.

Dried Orange Slice Ornaments

Bake thin orange slices at a low temperature for a few hours until dry, then thread a ribbon through the top. They smell incredible, look gorgeous against greenery, and cost almost nothing.

Pinecone Mini Trees

Dab a pinecone with glue and roll it in fine glitter or flocking powder, then perch it in a small pot for a mini tabletop tree. It’s a five-minute project with a surprisingly polished payoff.

Twig Stars

Five small twigs, some twine, and a little patience turn into a rustic star ornament or tree topper. It’s the kind of craft that looks intentional even when it’s a little wonky, which is part of the charm.

Cinnamon Stick Bundles

Tie three or four cinnamon sticks together with twine or ribbon for an ornament that adds scent as much as style. Add a sprig of dried greenery for extra texture.

Acorn Cap Ornaments

Tiny acorn caps, glued together or filled with a bead, make surprisingly delicate mini ornaments, a great project for littler hands who want to help but need something small-scale.

All of these come together with materials you can gather for free, see our nature walk guide for tips on where to look and what to collect.

Want cozy crafting-day attire? Our shop has Christmas tees perfect for a glue-gun kind of afternoon.

Natural, handmade, and just a little bit rustic, these ornaments tell their own story on the tree. 🍂