February 07, 2026
Life can feel like a race, can't it? Whether as a busy young career woman, a sleep-deprived mama of littles, a no-time-in-the-day-for-ME mom of school-aged kids, and even now as a "Nana" to a growing tribe...I can find myself longing for a simpler life. Don't you? I look wistfully at photos of people sitting on their front porches sipping lemonade and realize that my summers fly by without much "sitting" or "sipping"! So how do we get there?
For me, part of slowing down has meant finding time in each day to create something beautiful...even if it's just for a few moments. Beauty, of course, can be quite subjective, but when I look out my window in any season and see the fields, the trees, the flowers...or remnants of what they were...I know that this is what I want to create with. And I do.
I will write other posts about the "why's" and "how's" of creating with natural materials, but I'm going to start with a few general categories of natural crafting that I do just to wet your appetite...and perhaps get some of your own creative juices flowing as you plan how to bring a touch of "slow" into your world. No perfection required.
Idea #1: Dried Flower Arrangements
Because I have recently added "flower farmer" and "dried flower artist" to my list of titles, dried flowers are my absolute go-to when it comes to crafting from nature. Why? They are inherently beautiful, so it doesn't take much effort on my part to make the project successful...that is a "win" for everyone who doesn't feel like an artist...God did it for you! Dried flowers can be arranged in thousands of ways, but in the context of keeping your projects (and life) simple, I like to arrange flowers in vessels that are also natural--think clay pots, ceramic pottery, wood stands and old baskets. Even if you just grab a dried flower bunch, lay it in an old basket and set it on a bench, you have CREATED something stunning to enjoy. It really can be that easy!
Idea #2: Moss Art
There are many types of moss...spanish, reindeer, sheet...but it all used to be living, and provides the perfect background for other natural materials. Most of the custom artwork that I create, and also the dried flower kits that I provide to other crafters, have moss as an integral part. Look at some of the things that moss can do:
Idea #3: Wreaths
Wreaths are classic, and those made from all natural materials bring a cozy vibe to your space whether you live in a cottage or a castle. Natural materials for wreaths include grapevine, honeysuckle, boxwood, dried flowers and grasses, nuts, pinecones...and so much more. If the wreath material is not weather resistant, your craft can be hung indoors on chalkboards or wall hooks, or even placed around a pillar candle for a homey natural candle ring.
Idea #4: Beeswax Candles
Did you know that burning beeswax candles actually cleans the air? Unlike other kinds of candles, beeswax is a purely natural material that is so fun to craft with! If you are adventurous and want to learn to melt and pour your own candles, it is not as hard as you think and there are lots of online tutorials to learn the craft. My favorite is rolled beeswax candles...they can literally be made in minutes and the scent and texture they add to your decor is incredible! In one of my dried flower crafting kits, I added the materials to make mini lavender wreaths to the rolled candles--they are SO pretty and smell divine. Beeswax is available in both yellow or white. I love them both!
Idea #5: Holiday Decor
The holidays lend themselves well to natural materials, because many of the things we naturally associate with the fall and winter holidays are natural materials like pumpkins and pine trees! Learning to craft with natural materials can also allow you to create gifts for friends and family that are intentional and more meaningful, as they are truly handmade. Fresh pumpkins are oh-so-pretty topped with dried florals or decorated with pressed flowers. Natural Christmas ornaments look particularly spectacular on the Christmas tree, whether mini wreaths or pine cones touched with a bit of white paint. Don't forget your gift wrap! Jute twine is a natural material...use it to tie onto your packages and tuck in sprigs of greenery for a simple, elegant addition to your gift.
These ideas are just a springboard to an infinite number of lovely things that YOU can create from things that nature gives us. As I continue this series, I will talk about WHY I have decided to craft with natural materials, give you lots of materials to choose from and help you source them. Let's gather our materials and get crafting!
