Walnut shells usually end up in the trash, yet they are a beautiful natural material perfect for autumn crafts. They have an interesting texture, a pleasant brown color, and are easy to combine with moss, leaves, acorns, or dried fruit.
You can use the shells to create a wreath, candle holder, garland, hanging ornament, or cute little figures. Most of the following ideas don’t require expensive supplies and you can also use materials gathered outdoors.
What you will need
- clean and dry walnut shells,
- a few whole walnuts, acorns, and pinecones,
- autumn leaves, moss, and dry twigs,
- jute string, ribbon, or florist wire,
- a straw, cardboard, or polystyrene base,
- hot glue gun and extra glue sticks,
- scissors and protective gloves,
- optionally a jar, flowerpot, or LED candle.
10 Walnut Shell Decorations Step by Step
1. Autumn Door Wreath
Gradually cover a round base with halves of walnut shells. Turn some with the inside facing out, others the opposite way, to create a textured surface. You can fill in gaps with small leaves, dry twigs, or moss.
Attach a large bow made from jute ribbon at the top, which will also serve for hanging. The neutral natural colors look beautiful on both wooden and light-colored doors.
2. Candle Holder on a Wooden Slice
Place moss on a round slice of wood and put a wide candle in the center. Decorate the area around the candle with walnut shells, acorns, small pinecones, and autumn plants.
Arrange the elements without glue first. Once you are happy with the result, fix them in place with a hot glue gun. For safe use, replace the regular candle with an LED version.
3. Garland with Walnuts and Dried Oranges
Thread or tie halves of shells, whole walnuts, and slices of dried orange onto a sturdy string. Separate the individual elements with wooden beads or knots.
Hang the finished garland in a window, on a shelf, or above the kitchen table. The dried citrus will add color and nicely break up the dominant brown tones.
4. Bowl Full of Shell Flowers
Glue several shell halves into a circle to resemble flower petals. Place the finished flowers in a ceramic bowl along with pinecones, acorns, and colorful autumn leaves.
The flowers can be of various sizes. For smaller ones, four to five shells are enough; for larger, you can make two overlapping rows.
5. Walnut Owls on Branches
A whole walnut serves as the owl’s body. Make eyes from small circles, beads, or acorn caps, and wings from pieces of bark or thin shell slices. Small points at the top can resemble ears.
Glue the finished owls onto a branched stick set in a flowerpot with moss. Several figures of different sizes will create a charming walnut family.
6. Heart from Walnut Shells
Cut a heart-shaped base from sturdy cardboard and densely cover it with shell halves. Place them close together and alternate their orientation so the base doesn’t show through.
Decorate the bottom part with a few autumn leaves and a simple jute bow. You can hang the heart on a wall, door, or the side of an old cabinet.
7. Autumn Tree in a Flowerpot
Cover a polystyrene ball with walnut shells and small autumn fruits. Attach the ball to a straight branch, which you secure firmly in a flowerpot.
Cover the surface of the pot with moss and a few walnuts. You can add red berries or dry leaves among the shells to brighten up the tree with color.
8. Walnut Shell Candle Holder from a Jar
Glue shell halves in neat rows to the bottom part of a clean jar. You can turn their open side towards the glass or outwards, depending on how much texture you want to create.
Leave the top part of the jar free so the light can shine through. Place an LED tealight inside and optionally decorate the rim with a thin string.
9. Hanging Snowflake or Flower for the Window
You can also use shells to make a regular star-shaped ornament. First, glue several halves into a small flower, then add more rays around the center.
Hang the ornament on a thin string in the window. Although it looks like a snowflake, thanks to the natural material it fits autumn decor and you can later use it during Advent as well.
10. Hanging Walnut Shell Grape Cluster
Glue the shells together into an elongated shape resembling a grape cluster. Place a few whole walnuts in the center to give the decoration more volume. Add dry fern leaves and jute string at the top.
The finished hanging piece will beautifully decorate a handle, door, old cabinet, or kitchen shelf. Before hanging, check that all shells are firmly attached.
How to Prepare Shells for Crafting
Carefully crack the walnuts along their natural seam to keep the halves intact. Remove any remaining kernels and partitions from inside. Then spread the shells in a single layer and let them dry thoroughly for several days.
You can clean dirty pieces with a dry brush. Do not soak the shells before gluing, as trapped moisture could later cause unpleasant odors or mold.
What Base to Use for a Wreath
The simplest is a cardboard ring cut from a sturdy box. It’s light and the shells stick well to it. For a sturdier wreath, use a straw, wicker, or polystyrene base.
Before you start gluing, wrap the light base with jute or paint it brown. Any gaps between the shells will then be less visible.
How to Glue the Shells Together
A hot glue gun works fastest and is suitable for cardboard, wooden, or glass bases. Apply a small amount of glue to the edge of the shell and hold it in place for a few seconds.
Be careful of sharp edges and hot glue. If children are crafting, they can select and arrange the shells, but the gluing itself should be done by an adult.
Safety When Making Candle Holders
Walnut shells, moss, and dry leaves are flammable. Therefore, always use LED candles in your decorations. They look similar to real ones but don’t heat the glass or surrounding materials.
If you use a real candle, it must stand in a separate tall glass container and the flame must not come close to the shells. Never leave a lit candle holder unattended.
Simple Crafting with Beautiful Results
Walnut shells are suitable not only for autumn decorations. If you add evergreen branches, white paint, and a string of lights, you can easily use them for winter or Christmas decor as well.
Keep especially undamaged halves of various sizes. Once you have enough, you can create an original decoration in a single afternoon that will cost you almost nothing.
Enjoy your crafting!
