One of my favorite ways to make earthy, pagan, eco home-made ornaments is by turning dried orange slices into garlands. Making these decorations is not only better for the environment and for your wallet, but they make such wonderful activities that help you get into the season. And the smell of slowly drying clementines in the oven makes a home feel extra cozy.

Slice oranges or clementines and bake at 200ºF/90ºC for a few hours until the dried. String a rope through them and hang above doorways, fireplaces, in the kitchen, or kids rooms!

homemade ornament ideas

Twig stars: Form stars with small twig branches and tie together with swine

Glitter pinecones: Dip pinecones in glue and then sprinkle in glitter (or gold spray paint!) and hang on tree or as a garland

Wax poinsettias: Melt bees wax over a double boiler and dip poinsettia flowers into the wax and set to dry on wax paper. Tuck the preserved flowers into your christmas tree.

Anise garland: Spice up your orange garland by tying anise stars in between the slices.

Ornament branch: Find a large branch and hang ornaments (homemade or any kind) from string and hang above a table or suspend in a room as a chandelier.

Fresh pine bouquets: Instead of flowers, fashion together pine branches, eucalyptus branches and red berries into bouquets to decorate tables and dull corners.

Rosemary candles: wrap candles with branches of rosemary and twine. Or tie the branches around a mason jar and place the berries