My Christmas DIY Decorating List

3 Organic DIY Christmas Décor to Add Character to Your Store Bought Christmas Décor

Lately I have become obsessed with finding ways to add imperfect, natural elements to my Christmas decorations. I love decorating with seasonal - and holiday - specific items, but have begun to find that “perfect” store-bought décor can be quite boring when paired with more store-bought décor. My secret? Adding organic elements brings the outdoors in and adds a level of character that just can’t be bought. 

So slow down for a moment, turn on your favorite Christmas tunes, pull on some comfortable clothes, and decorate your heart out!

1. Paper Bag Stars

Let me preface this point by saying that I may be stretching this particular DIY as "organic" but let's just keep in mind that paper comes from trees, and trees grow from the ground and are therefore - organic. There ya go! Happy reading friends!

When I was asked to help decorate the window at Smiley’s Joy for Christmas, I knew I wanted to try the brown paper bag stars I have been seeing all over Pinterest. I was skeptical at first at how hard and time consuming they would be to make – as they look awesome! I knew they would add a charming and an old-timey Christmas feel to the display. I also thought they’d look great with the Christmas mannequin. These stars are large, simple and fun to make and I highly encourage you to try making them if you want to add some crafty element to your home decorating. The next time I use these to decorate, I’m going to make large, medium and small stars to add more dimensional interest. These would be fun placed in your windows or just hanging from your ceiling. We hung them with fishing line and used small command hooks to secure them to the ceiling. 

How to: https://www.aliceandlois.com/diy-paper-bag-stars/​

2. Oranges: A Historical Fruit of Christmas

Source: https://dearlilliestudio.com/diy-dried-orange-slice-garland/

I am certain you have seen dried orange slices EVERYWHERE. They started popping up last year and seem to be everywhere this holiday season. They’re everywhere, and for good reason. Upon typing the previous sentence, I’ve come to think thoroughly about oranges and their appearance around Christmas time. As a child, my grandma would always have Harry and David oranges delivered to our house for Christmas. It was completely normal, but stopped when she passed. For the first time this year, I’ve also preordered a box of oranges from the Peach Truck to pick up in a few weeks. I have every intention of doing this every year from now on. I planned on it being a “new tradition” only to just now realize there’s nothing new about it at all! Maybe I am just “adulting” and learning to appreciate the little things in life–like a perfectly ripe orange in the cold winter months. So I’ve done some research and it goes back further still! For my fellow history loving buffs: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/why-we-should-bring-back-tradition-christmas-orange-180971101/
Who knew? Oranges will add a historical element to your holiday displays, one that all will enjoy, whether they know the history or not!

What caught my eye about dried oranges was literally their color: orange. They will compliment wood floors, warm interiors and their interior cut will add pattern wherever they hang. They’re unexpected but a fun addition to your Christmas decorating. Great as gift-toppers, too.

DIY: ​dearlilliestudio.com/diy-dried-orange-slice-garland/

3. Evergreens & Cranberries & Pinecones

You can grab a handful of these items and throw them out onto a table and you will have thrown Christmas cheer into your home. I don’t literally suggest you do that, but these items are foolproof ways to add organic Christmas decor to your home, indoors and out. Whether you hang live evergreen with pinecones over doorways or a mantle, string cranberries (and popcorn) to make a garland to wrap around your Christmas tree or outside, or create a centerpiece with these items, the addition of red and green (and brown) will give you that age-old feeling of Christmas. Just so you know I am as guilty as any of you, this is my Pinterest Evergreen and Cranberry pin that I say I will make every year and never do. Maybe this year. 
https://todayscreativelife.com/5-minute-diy-christmas-luminaries/

I highly encourage you to carve out some time during this busy season to slow down and get creative on your own or with your loved ones.