Eco-friendly Christmas crafts are becoming more and more popular every year and we're fully behind them! Handmade Christmas gifts, eco-friendly wrapping, and sustainable decorations are great ways to start on your eco-journey. It's about using what you've got, raiding that stash, and using nature's foliage to create beautiful ornaments and home decor.
To help you make this December the greenest one yet we've gathered a whole bunch of eco-friendly Christmas crafts for you to create. Keep scrolling to find your next project and make sure you check out our hundreds of free Christmas crafts.
Best sustainable Christmas crafts
1. Pom napkin rings
Sarah Heart's shows you how to turn yarn into holly pompom napkin holders. She uses wooden rings for these napkin holders so for a more sustainable version dig out some old curtain rings and repurpose those into these cute decorations. You can learn how to make a pom pom right here on Gathered.
2. DIY foliage wreath
Every home needs a festive wreath on its door. Learn how to make Christmas wreath from scratch with The Flower Appreciation Society's free tutorial. They use natural foliage and winter blooms making it fully sustainable. Simply compost once the Christmas celebrations have ended.
3. Orange peel decorations
This Healthy Table shows you how to turn old orange peels into mini stars for the ultimate eco-friendly Christmas craft.
4. Embroidery hoop wreaths
Turn old or spare embroidery hoops into adorable Christmas wreaths with Love Create Celebrate's tutorial. Once Christmas is over you can turn your hoops back into embroidery holders and stitch one of our free embroidery patterns!
5. Leaf decorations
Decorations don't come more sustainable than Sweet Paul's rustic tree ornaments. Using just leaves, twine and scissors they've created a bunch of eco-friendly decorations for you to replicate.
6. Advent calendar stockings
These mini advent calendar stockings are the perfect stash-busting project. Use up all those spare Christmas materials and turn them into a DIY advent calendar. You could even fill them with eco-friendly presents and vegan treats.
7. Cinnamon stick decorations
Eco-friendly Christmas decorations don't come anymore au natural than Jojotastic's cinnamon stick himmeli ornaments.
8. Christmas sack
Avoid gift bags this Christmas and opt for the more eco-friendly choice, fabric Santa sacks! Learn how to make a Christmas gift sack with Rebecca Reid's free tutorial.
9. Eco-friendly Christmas wrapping
Ditch wrapping paper this year and make your own! We have everything from suminagashi gift wrap tutorials to handmade wrapping paper DIYs. You can also learn how to make gift bags out of wrapping paper so you can make this Christmas the most handmade yet.
10. Star place holders
Another stash-busting project is Anna Alicia's star place holders. These are great because you can use them again and again for New Year's Eve, birthday parties, dinner parties or you could even turn them into bunting for the little one's room.
11. Rosemary wreath decorations
Spoon Fork Bacon's mini rosemary wreaths make wonderful, eco-friendly gift decorations or place cards. They're even more sustainable if you grow the rosemary yourself!
12. Origami star decorations
Learn how to make origami stars from fabric scraps with Anna Alicia's free tutorial. We have lots of easy origami for beginners here on Gathered so get folding!
13. DIY clay decorations
Forget the cheap plastic decorations, air clay ornaments are simple to make, affordable and will keep the whole family entertained. Homemade Productions shows you how to make your own in their free tutorial. They also show you how to make little trinket dishes which would make fab gifts! For more clay tutorials check out our DIY coasters and Scandi Christmas star garland projects.
14. Christmas tree bunting
Turn old clothes into eco-friendly Christmas decorations with Anna Alicia's free Christmas bunting pattern.
15. Turn sweaters into stockings
Use Skip to my Lou's tutorial and turn an old fleece into a stocking. If you need all your fleeces to keep warm this winter then we recommend raiding the charity shops. We also show you how to refashion a blanket into embroidered Christmas stockings right here on Gathered!
16. Fabric scrap baubles
Collect up all your scrap materials and revamp last year's baubles with our fabric scrap bauble tutorial. You can also turn your scrap fabrics into eco-friendly Christmas decorations with our fabric paper chain tutorial.
17. Scrap yarn trees
Vicki Howell shows you how to make eco-friendly Christmas decorations using scrap yarn from your stash. Her free tutorial includes the pattern for this super cute knitted tree.
18. Toilet roll tube snowflakes
Eco-friendly Christmas decorations are ones you can easily recycle when the festivities are over. Save up your empty toilet rolls and transform them into these snowflake decorations with Vera's tutorial.
19. Quilted gift tags
If you're a quilter this is an eco-friendly project for you. Gather up those scraps and use our free Christmas foundation paper piecing patterns to create these lovely gift tags. Browse our modern quilt patterns and free Christmas quilt patterns for more stitchy projects.
20. Lollypop stick snowflakes
A Girl and a Glue Gun show you how to turn wooden lolly sticks into gorgeous wooden snowflakes over on her blog. As her name suggests you will need a glue gun for this tutorial so if you're on the hunt for one have a read of our best glue guns guide.
21. DIY Christmas cards
Shop-bought cards often come wrapped in plastic and contain lots of glitter which is both bad for the planet and for your carpet! Learn how to make your own cards with our knitted Christmas card patterns and for more card making projects check out our free card making downloads.
22. Recycled paper stars
The Mini Smallholder has a whole collection of eco-friendly Christmas crafts on their blog. They include a tutorial on how to turn old papers into these ornate Christmas stars.
23. Macrame decorations
Spruce up old baubles with A Place of My Taste's macrame tutorials. There are four designs to choose from so grab your rope and start knotting. If you're a macrame newbie then head to our basic macrame knots guide.
24. Make your own Christmas jumper
We all know the effects fast fashion has on the planet so rather than buying your 2020 Christmas jumper why not transform an old t-shirt? Simply Crochet show you how to make and add this T-shirt tree embellishment to your outfits. We also have a whole bunch of free Christmas decoration crochet patterns which will help you make your own handmade ornaments for the tree.
25. Pinecone swans
Pick up some pinecones on your winter walks then turn them into Handmade Charlotte's elegant swan decorations.
26. Peanut snowmen
Evermine shows you how to turn peanuts into little snowmen over on her blog. This would be a fab and festive afternoon activity to do with the kids. Look through our craft ideas for kids for more creative projects to do with the little ones.
27. Gold leaf placemats
Hello Honey shows you how to turn autumn leaves into personalised gold place cards in her tutorial. Eco-friendly Christmas crafts have never been so decadent.
28. Cardboard gingerbread banner
Transform cardboard boxes into a gingerbread garland with Pillar Box Blue's free tutorial.
29. Dried fruit garlands
Master the art of drying fruit with Evermine's tutorial. Oranges, grapefruits, limes and lemons all make for gorgeous, traditional and most importantly, eco-friendly Christmas decorations.
30. DIY Christmas crackers
Many high street Christmas crackers use lots of unrecyclable materials and are filled with plastic toys. Instead, make eco-friendly Christmas decorations by learning how to make Christmas crackers. We've also rounded up 11 of the best Christmas cracker kits which include several eco-friendly versions.
31. Sew your own gift tags
Stitch up your own gift tags with A Wonderful Thought's tutorial. She provides you with a printable template but for a more eco-friendly version why not just copy hers using your own hand?
32. DIY snow cones
These DIY snowy pinecones by Sew Historically use completely natural ingredients making them a fab eco-friendly Christmas craft.
33. Popcorn garlands
Here's a tasty twist on tradition! Add a splash of colour to your decoration with this popcorn and cranberry garland tutorial - just try not too eat too much of it!
34. Salt dough ornaments
Go old school with by learning how to make salt dough. It's an affordable eco-friendly Christmas craft that the whole family can make.
35. Star anise wreath
Who knew star anise could make pretty, eco-friendly Christmas decorations? This super simple wreath tutorial by Thistle Fig will look and smell lovely hanging in your home.
36. Floating candles
Every eco-friendly Christmas home needs candles. Today's Creative Life features this floating candle tutorial which uses easy to find and natural materials including ferns, berries and water!
37. Pomegranate table runner
Fruit and veg make great eco-friendly Christmas decorations. Spruce up your table with Julie Blanner's natural pomegranate table runner.
38. Minimalist Triangle Tree
Make My Green Closet's minimalist/Scandinavian style Christmas tree for your mantelpiece.
39. Paper stars
Turn old newspapers and books into traditional paper stars with Homemade Gifts Made Easy's tutorial. We also have some super cute and traditional paper Christmas decorations that will make these stars perfectly.
40. Herb garland
This herb banner will smell as good as it looks in your home. Follow A Fabulous Fete's tutorial and make your own eco-friendly banner.
41. Glass Christmas frames
Finally, make those unused frames (or go and raid the charity shops) into Christmassy signs with Northern Feelings tutorial.
42. Christmas table runner pattern
Use all your scrap festive fabrics to make Jessica Entwistle's festive Christmas table runner pattern. Once you've sewn yours you can bring it out year after year for all the family to enjoy.
43. Christmas patchwork coasters
Learn how to make Christmas patchwork coasters using Jess Entwistle charming pattern. These are great beginner-friendly eco-friendly Christmas decorations that are suitable for newbie sewers. Head over to our sewing for beginners guide for tips and tricks that will help you sew these coasters.
44. DIY Christmas baubles
Transform plain baubles into beautiful gold-dipped ones using nail varnish! Follow Lana Red’s DIY Christmas baubles tutorial to upcycle your old Christmas decorations.
45. Christmas calligraphy upcycled crate
Need some Christmas storage? Upcycle an old crate into a festive box with just a calligraphy pen and some red card! Use Kirsten Burke's Christmas calligraphy upcycled crate tutorial to make your own.
46. Clay Christmas star bunting
Clay is a great material for making eco-friendly Christmas decorations. Creature Comforts shows you how to make this Scandinavian Christmas star garland here on Gathered. If you fall in love with clay making (we bet you will) then head over to our air dry clay Christmas decorations tutorial after making your star garland.
47. DIY felt Christmas decorations
Everyone has spare felt in their craft stash! Use that felt to make Sabina Gibson’s DIY felt Christmas decorations. They're the cutest eco-friendly Christmas decorations and they'd make lovely gifts.
48. Button Christmas tree
Collect all your spare buttons and transform them into a tiny tree with our easy tutorial. Learn how to make Christmas tree decorations from buttons right here on Gathered.
49. Sustainable Christmas garland
Eco-friendly Christmas decorations don't come more sustainable than Miesje Chafer’s recycled Christmas card garland. Dig out all those old cards (or hit the charity shops) and turn them into this colourful sustainable Christmas garland.
50. Easy-sew DIY Christmas decorations
We've got another tutorial for those of you with loads of festive fat quarters left over. Follow Rebecca Ried's easy-sew DIY Christmas decorations and whip up your own eco-friendly Christmas decorations.
51. Origami Christmas tree
Gather up your leftover Christmas papers and turn them into a cute origami Christmas tree. If you don't have any spare papers then we have lots of colourful Christmas patterned papers that are perfect for paper crafting.
We hope you've enjoyed our eco-friendly Christmas decorations round-up. For more creative projects head to our five minutes crafts round-up.
