DIY Christmas Twig Decorations: 10 Projects to Inspire You

Twig Garland

Would you pay money for sticks? I wouldn't. Sticks are very trendy in decor including Christmas decor, but I know where to get them for free! And they are really easy to use in holiday decor. Just gather some in your yard or the park. Ready?

Any dry twigs and sticks can be spray painted. Follow the directions on the can for doing this outside safely. Twigs can be glittered when they have been painted or not. Just sprinkle with glitter while the paint is still wet. (You can use decoupage glue if the twigs are dry.) Painting twigs white and then adding crystal or silver glitter gives a frosted look. Picture any of these projects in various colors--red, white, silver, gold, green, blue, glittery, etc.

Christmas Twig Decor

Here are a few fun projects to try:


1.  Wire twigs into a garland to wind between candles on a mantel or table.  Even easier, just arrange them in a winding pattern. Add a string of twinkle lights and light the candles. Magic!

2.  Put long twigs in a vase or pitcher and hang small ornaments on them. Add a pretty bow for extra drama.

Christmas Card Holder

3,  Display Christmas cards in a bouquet of branches. It looks very festive with some berries added. I'd like a pretty green bow to tie them together.

4.  You can glue small sticks together to make a heart or a star ornament.

5.  Small sticks can be used as vase filler, apothecary jar filler, etc. Painted twigs in one color or layered colors can work.

Starburst Twig Wreath 

Square Wreath

6.  Spray paint a large branch white, silver, or gold (or whatever color you want) and "plant" it in a big flower  pot. Mix some plaster of Paris and pour into a flower pot with no hole in the bottom. Put the cut end of the the branch into the pot and hold in place with masking tape across the top of the pot until the plaster is firm. Hang ornaments and twinkle lights on the mini-tree. I made one in white and use it as a decorative tree year round.

7.  A big flower pot of pine cones gets dressed up with a few ornaments, a bit of greenery, and some red twigs added for height. This looks great near your front door. Fill most of the pot with bottles and cover with foil. Then add the top layer of pine cones--that way you don't need as many pine cones.

8.  Add twigs in bright colors or metallic colors to any arrangement or wreath for a fun accent.

9.  You can make some pretty cool wreaths with twigs, even square ones that look like windows.

Ornament Twig Nest

10.  The simplest project of all: arrange a "nest" of twigs and then place ball ornaments in the next. This looks great in almost any kind of container, including a flower pot, a box, a bowl, or even not in a container. Use natural twigs or painted twigs to create your own look!

Iced Branches

BONUS: How to Make Twigs Look Iced
This takes tacky glue and German glass crystals, but the branches really do sparkle and look icy.  Click here for the simple  directions at Make Them Wonder. I think I'd like these branches with fewer crystals than shown, but probably when you're making these you'll see what effect looks best. You can also use this technique to make pine cones and ornaments sparkle. For snowy looks, substitute epsom salts for the glass crystals.


I hope this has inspired you to look at twigs a little differently when you are out walking! Have fun!