Twig Christmas decorations are a fun and cheap way to decorate for Christmas. From twig star ornaments to twig candle holders and twig Christmas trees, there are so many things you can make when Christmas decorating with branches and twigs. Let me show you how to create great twigs Christmas decor.
I am in the mood for a rustic Christmas. I’d like to have a homemade and personal one too.
Oh, and if I could save a little money on Christmas decorations that would be great too.
I guess I am making my own Holiday decorations this year too.
Ah well, that is nothing new. I love it that way.
Ok, on to my rustic Christmas decorating then.
Christmas Decorating with Twigs and Branches
I had a little success this fall with repurposing leftover sticks from pruning the garden into a DIY twig wreath. I still had a whole tote of sticks leftover after that project.
So, I thought, how about some Christmas decor with twigs?
Twigs, sticks and branches are easy craft supplies. They can be found in abundance for free in any garden, park or forest. They are easy to work with, and they give an instant rustic look to your decor.
And when you are done crafting and decorating with the sticks, you can dismantle your decoration and (when you haven’t painted them or used glue), you can dispose of them on the compost heap.
Now that I have convinced you of the benefits of crafting with twigs, let’s get on with showing you what I made.
DIY Twig Christmas Ornaments
The first little project I did was making star ornaments from twigs, branches, and from a little bark.
For now, I have turned them into Christmas window decor and they are dangling in front of our French doors. Soon though, they will be transferred to the Christmas tree.
Want a closer look, then step up and come on in….
I think my twig stars look like a million bucks. Well, maybe not a million, but they sure do look good, and they were totally free. All it took was a couple of hours of crafting fun. Let’s look at each one in a closeup, shall we?
I made four different designs when making star ornaments from twigs.
There is a basic five point star. That was made with the help of a wire frame.
I made a David star with just twigs and yarn.
I created a fun sun beam star (remember the sun is a star too), with a hot glue gun and a bit of cardboard.
And finally I made a twig star in the shape of a spiky ball.
How fun is this collection of different shaped and sized Christmas twig stars?
They were all made by simply cutting twigs to size and attaching them in a star shape with yarn.
I complemented this little collection of twig star ornaments with a little garland of bark stars. Technically not a twig decoration but they fit the theme perfectly.
I happened to find a log of berk tree in the woods on one of our walks, and the bark came right of. It was so thin I could cut it with scissors.
I can’t decide if I like the silvery front better or the woodsy back. Good thing I don’t have to choose because these little ones are always slightly twisting and turning in front of the window.
How to make Twig Candle Holders
You don’t have to stop at Christmas decorating with little twig star ornaments. There is so much more Holiday decorating to do with all those sticks and branches you have picked up after that fall storm.
Why not make some twig candle holders?
After all what is Christmas without some candle light?
With a hot glue gun, two upcycled containers ( in this case a glass jar and a Q-tips box), and a whole lot of sticks, you can make these cute and rustic twig candle holders. They are perfect for a little votive candle or a tea light candle.
Or make a twig candle holder for a taper candle like this one. The stick candle holders above made with hot glued sticks on a container are a twig decoration a kid could do (if they are old enough to handle a hot glue gun).
This tapered candlestick is a bit more complicated but it is still a fun DIY Christmas craft project with sticks.
Twig Star Christmas Decor
Why stop at making little twig star ornaments, when you can make a large stick Christmas star?
Once you have mastered making ornaments and candle holders with little twigs, you can start making Christmas decor with large twigs, with branches and sticks.
When you make the five-point Christmas star ornament with larger branches it gives you the perfect stick star to use as a focal point on a Christmas mantel.
Attach Christmas lights to your twig star and it becomes instant Christmas magic.
Stick Tree Christmas decorations
We are on a roll now.
We have stick candle holders, stick ornaments and stick mantel decor. What’s left?
Stick Christmas trees of course!
Using sticks, twigs or branches gives you several design options for a stick tree.
With larger branches in different sizes you can make a rustic stick tree that is perfect to hang ornaments or to use as a Christmas card holder.
Or hot glue a lot of small sticks to a styrofoam cone and make a rustic little stick tree like that.
DIY Twig Wreaths
Now that we are well and true into twig Christmas decorating, we can’t forget about twig wreaths now can we?
I have written a whole tutorial for how to make a twig wreath, but you can also buy one readymade.
A twig wreath is perfect for Christmas because you can so easily change it and make it for your chosen color scheme and Christmas decorating style.
I personally really love my white twig wreath with a winter vibe. That was a perfect Christmas twig wreath.
You can also make mini twig wreaths
A mini twig wreath is essentially another ideas for a twig Christmas ornament.
Christmas Stick Garland Ideas
Ok, one more for the road.
If after all that twig crafting for Christmas, you still have sticks left, I have one more twig Christmas craft project idea for you.
Tie all those little sticks together in one long garland. And make a lovely rustic Christmas garland.
If your leftover stick is more like a branch. You can make wood slices that you decorate with Sharpies and turn into a rustic wood slice Christmas garland.
I love my woodsy, natural, homemade Christmas decorations. I love how they hang inside, in front of my window, and bring the outdoors in. I love that I made them myself. Somehow Christmas decorations that are homemade just always have that little something extra. Maybe it is the potential to become sentimental memories, much more than any store-bought, – there-are-millions-just-like-that – ornaments ever could.
I also love that the natural colors of the wood, the rusticness (spell check tells me this is not a word, ah well) of the branches, and their earthly coloring goes so well with a little bling from Christmas balls and a touch of vintage from my haphazardly put together doily table cover.
Twigs and a bit of butcher’s twine, who would have thought…….
Sticks and candles, and Christmas ornaments, and doilies…
What a combination!
Yeah. I am loving it!
Hope you do too.
Did I get you in the mood for more rustic Christmas decor? Then you will love this beautiful rustic Christmas mantel. And if you need some more homemade Christmas ornaments in your life, then check out these sweet chalkboard ornaments.
Marianne Songbird is the founder of Songbird, where she hopes to inspire everyone to create a home they love, one DIY project at a time. She shares anything from craft ideas to home decor inspiration and from DIY projects to decorating hacks. Originally from the Netherlands Marianne and her husband Lex are currently renovating a 250-year-old farmhouse in Germany.
Funky Junk Interiors says
Oh my… these are wonderful! I especially adore the candlestick idea! So beautiful!
Marianne Songbird says
Thank you! Coming from the queen of junk style repurposing, this means a lot. ♥ Marianne
bec says
It’s always great to use items from the garden and outdoors ….can’t beat nature for a brilliant display!
Bec x
Marianne Songbird says
Nope, nobody does decorating better than mother nature. I love using free stuff from outside for inside. ♥ Marianne
Thistle says
Does Christmas ever get any better than free fun and funky? I am totally making these (after December 14….LOL)!
Have a blessed and totally incredible day my wonderful friend!
blessings,
karianne
Marianne Songbird says
I think you have enough Christmas decorations already LOL maybe make them next year.
Thanks for the lovely compliments, keep them coming 🙂
Anne says
Marianne love this project! Using nature for decor is always one of my favorites! It always adds charm and whimsy too! They look beautiful hanging on your window.I would keep those up the whole winter season !
xx
Anne
Marianne Songbird says
You know what, I might just do that! I love them too. They look cute on my window.
jane says
The star ornaments are simply beautiful, Marianne! I can’t wait til you give a tutorial. And the twig candlestick is amazing!
XO,
Jane
Marianne Songbird says
Thanks Jane, there really isn’t that much of a tutorial to write. But I’ll try to get it done soon.
Mary says
I LOVE these!
I just made our star tree topper out of twigs, red dogwood and twine.
Thanks for sharing!!!
xoxoxo
Marianne Songbird says
Great minds think alike! I am sure your tree topper is beautiful. Have you blogged it yet? I’d love to see it.
Ellie Van Caster says
I’m so enjoying this-thanks again.
Marianne Songbird says
You are welcome.
Of kan ik zeggen, graag gedaan, want je naam klinkt heel Nederlands.
Lorrie says
Love all the twiggy, rusticity. So beautiful. (Rusticity is the word for rusticness.) And then the c is an s sound. So English really doesn’t make sense!
Marianne Songbird says
Ah, that helps. To be honest though I think my rusticness sounds better than rusticity. Rusticity sounds posh and my twiggy ornaments are definitly not posh 🙂
And yes as a non-native English blogger, English really doesn’t make sense. So glad though that you get me anyway. ♥ Marianne
Katie @ Wildwood Creek says
Twigs, lace and a bit of bling…so unexpected and yet so beautiful!
Tammy says
Love these! I love using natural elements.
Gwen says
Your blog on what my third day is quickly becoming a favorite! Loved all your twig stars but I tried it at about your age–it looked so easy–and it all just fell apart. I look forward to your tutorial!!! I do believe the bling and rustic go with the birth of Christ. His birth? In a rustic manger…a star sparkling and shining brightly led the wise men. You have combined the two in perfect harmony. I alas could not find plain cheap white candles. All are battery. So ill improvise your idea using four white tapers I had, and an ornate white candle for Christmas Day. It’s raining and I’m in need of help to gather my greenery. But tonight my husband and I will reread the verses in Isaiah predicting our Messiahs coming, light a candle, sing a song, say a prayer and one for you as you bring Christ into your home this season of Advent.
Thank you for the promise of twist tutorials.
Marianne Songbird says
Good morning Gwen, what a lovely and sweet comment you have given me on this first day of the week. Thank you so much. I wish you and your husband a wonderful Christmas time filled with love, warmth, creativity and faith.
the cape on the corner says
so the twig candlestick is amazing, and since the stars look like they could work for chanukah, i LOVE them, too.
Marianne Songbird says
Thank you so much! I love that you can adapt my ideas for your holiday decor too.
Anneke at This, That and Life says
I have never tried this, but I am just loving those stars! Thanks for linking this to the Home for the Holidays party at Hyphen Interiors ~ I can’t wait to explore your blog some more!
Marianne Songbird says
He, you’ve got a Dutch first name. How nice. And you should really try this it really is so easy just cutting and threading and knotting. Anyone can do it.
Grey says
I just found your blog today on the lettered cottage Christmas Mantel Decorating. I have made some small twig stars, but I am now inspired to try a larger one. It is simply lovely.