Christmas Where the Gum Trees Grow
- Maria Taylor
- Dec 5, 2022
- 5 min read
Creating nature inspired, sustainable Christmas decorations have traditionally been part of the Australian school or kindy Christmas experience. Many Australian adults would remember decorating Christmas cards and making Christmas decorations with pinecones, gum nuts and iconic Aussie ‘bush’ treasures in their old school days.
Fun fact - my Mum has a decoration from over 60 years ago that (still) has a lovely scent of gum and cloves. And glitter covered pinecones seem to outlive the beautiful, delicate baubles on our tree at home – much to my dismay. But I do wonder if this is a thing of the past, with so many discount stores offering super cheap trinkets, thus providing a cheap and easy option…although not a very sustainable one.
A few weeks ago, I decided to collect the leaf litter and debris from just one local tree, to create some nature inspired Christmas craft. Due to recent storm damage, there is an abnormal amount of debris sitting roadside here in Adelaide, with an abundance of leaf litter, seed pods and pinecones in neighbourhoods all over. Most of it has blown away, been scooped up by councils or swept off footpaths.
I was hoping to save just a little of the tree that was lying in pieces all over the ground. Perhaps to honour it’s memory and also because I think I’m missing the lovely spirit of Christmas that I always enjoyed in my Reception classrooms at this time of year.
It was actually quite nice to sit on the floor of the lounge room and get crafty on a Sunday afternoon. It ended up being a family affair, with the children, grandparents and a willing Auntie joining in. With a bit of Christmas music playing in the background, it was just perfect.
The Mini Vinnies Get to Work
I then visited a school, where students of all ages took these ideas to a whole other level to create Christmas gifts. The best outcome is that the gifts will be sold to raise money for charity. The students were so incredibly engaged and connected to their purpose and 'why'.
A big shout out must go to Lauren Adams and the Mini Vinnies team at Emmaus Catholic School - you are a brilliant example of how sustainability and giving back go hand in hand. This is an approach that is embedded in the school and evident in conversations with these students.
Here are some of the creations that will be sold at the upcoming carols night.
Ideas & Inspiration
I’ve combined a ‘how to’ list of some of the things we made, with other ideas I’ve seen. I actually made this list to help me out with getting my own ideas sorted and if it helps you too, that’s an added bonus!
As many of these brilliant ideas come from elsewhere, I’ve added website or blog links where possible, so that you can disappear down a similar festive rabbit hole if the mood takes you.
Tiny Twig Trees
1. Get a twig and a small ball of clay.
2. Stick the twig into the clay.
3. Add decorations to the twigs.
The clay could be placed in a lid of some sort to keep it stable.
Gum Leaf Mobiles
Hole punch a series of gum leaves.
Thread them on to jute string or twine.
Add slices of cork, Christmas bells and other ornaments.
The idea of slicing cork came from a very clever friend, who is simply amazing at seeing the potential in using everyday items in creative ways. (Victoria, this is YOU.)
Woolen Mobile
1. Tie 2,3 or 4 sticks together with a rubber band.
2. Use various colours and weave in and out to create a festive pattern.
You will be surprised at how many different ways there are to join pieces of wood together, once you move away from thinking the ‘only’ way is to tie two sticks together at 90-degree angles.
Door Decorations with Twigs
1. Find a twig or branch.
2. Tie a length of jute or twine from one end to the other. This creates a point to hang it from.
3. Add nature treasures and Christmas ornaments to create a mobile.
4. Even better - use broken Christmas ornaments to turn Christmas tree trash into brand new treasure.
Twig Stars
Use craft glue to glue corners together with a small piece of fabric.
Nature Inspired Advent Spiral
A feature of the Steiner Waldorf calendar is the Advent spiral. The advent wreath also features in many Christian churches with ritual associated with preparations for Christmas. I know that children in the Anglican and Catholic schools I have taught in, thoroughly enjoyed lighting a candle on the Advent wreath. An Advent spiral or wreath can be made using sticks, pinecones, and log rounds. Clay could be an interesting addition to this.
https://thesmarthappyproject.com/waldorf-homeschool-advent-spiral/
Nature Gift Toppers
Make gift toppers and gift cards with small pieces of cardboard, twigs and twine.
Twig and Christmas ribbon Bunting
Use twigs, twine and Christmas ribbon to make bunting.
Twig Heart Ornament
Bend twigs to make a heart shape and secure it with twine.
Sticky Christmas Wreath
Cut out a round circle and make a hole in the centre. (Imagine you are creating a donut shape)
Glue sticks to this carboard shape to make a sunburst wreath. You will want to use light weight sticks for this one, unless you have very heavy-duty glue and cardboard!
Colourful Twig Stars
Use rubber bands to connect sticks and make a star shape.
Wrap raffia or twine around these to decorate.
A Loose Parts Nativity Scene
Create a Nativity scene with natural loose parts. In the world of loose parts, anything can be anything. With a little imagination, a nativity scene is born from whatever treasures you find.
A bit of calico could add some interest to this with a play mat drawn in it, to frame the scene, or it could be the backdrop. An old sheet or pillowcase could do the same thing.
Inspiration from Cosy Direct below, show a beautiful Christmas display. Many of these items ca also be purchased and would look lovely on display.
Jacaranda Craft
Forage for leaf litter and twigs from a Jacaranda tree to really bring an Aussie Christmas to life. Who remembers “When the bloom of the Jacaranda tree is here, Christmas time is near?”
Table Centre piece
Use loose parts to make a table display and something to decorate the middle of the Christmas table. Loose parts as a centre piece provide two functions; lovely natural decorations and the opportunity for little people to contribute to the celebration of Christmas and set up. Tiny etchings or marks made with a potato peeler, could add interest to these.
Advent Calendar with Stones
Create your own advent calendar with items from nature or with using stones in a bag. It could be a gratitude advent calendar with something to give or do each day written on a decorated stone. Create these together one year, to reuse every Christmas.
Miniature Christmas Game
Create a game in a little bag. Think about the games that most people know. Naughts and Crosses, a memory game and checkers are a few that come to mind. Use pebbles, calico and various natural items to create a game of your own. Bundle the calico up and wrap the game up in it’s own little ‘all-in-one’ parcel. I made these as an end of year gift for my students a few years back, They looked lovely and were well received.
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