Got Fallen Acorns In Your Yard? Here Are 20 Genius Ways To Repurpose Them

Dropping acorns is a natural part of the life cycle of oak trees. Though it's easy to become frustrated when an oak pelts you with nuts as you walk beneath it, a smattering of these . In other words, embracing the acorns tends to be a better approach than trying to stop your oak tree from producing them. If you think about it, these are gifts from Mother Nature: Not only are they rich in

If you're going to use your acorns for crafting and decorating, give them a thorough cleaning and a gentle toasting to keep them from bringing dirt, mold, or insects into your home. Get rid of any specimens that have . Then, . Finally, . If you want to use your acorns to enhance your garden's soil, consider chopping them into . When this prep work is done, the fun begins.

Make a wreath from  – or  – to infuse your living space with forest vibes. This project is an ideal companion for decor made of other organic materials, as well as a way to bring natural warmth to a space that might feel a bit too clinical. , or fashion a similar wreath base . , add a few acorns here and there, or pair acorns with and .

To create an instant seasonal centerpiece, place an acorn-studded ring . Fashion the ring much as you would when crafting an acorn wreath, vase as well. In addition to catching wax drips when the candle is lit, this container adds another material to the mix, increasing your centerpiece's visual interest. Customize your creation by complement your table setting.

Dreaming of an autumnal place setting for the festive season? Craft napkin rings that put acorns front and center. One simple — and adorable — approach involves making decorative acorns .

Add pops of color to nature-themed garlands by attaching real acorn caps to vibrant pompons. Unlike whole acorns from the great outdoors, which , .

If you're smitten with squirrels and their nutty antics, why not celebrate them with a wall hanging made of acorns? Thrift a picture frame that catches your eye, . Want your artwork to look more glam than rustic? Paint the caps with a glossy enamel and add a bit of shimmer to the frame. You could also experiment with bold background colors or with grains of sand or other small, textural objects.

Acorns also make nice embellishments for picture frames themselves, especially if you're designing an autumnal cottagecore space. Find a spare frame with several , and push the acorns into place. You might also incorporate other natural materials such as tree bark, or . Though any type of image can be housed in your frame, consider displaying a painting of something that summons cottagecore's rustic-meets-romantic spirit — perhaps a rose garden in the .

Speaking of enchanted places, acorns are perfect for crafting custom objects for fairy gardens. Many of these miniature scenes feel incomplete without a few mushrooms; if you find yourself yearning for more toadstools in your life, you can create a crop of faux fungi with wine corks then decorate the caps with a paint kit. Make sure to get one with a bright white paint, so you can paint some spots on your mushrooms' caps.

There are almost as many ways to reuse wine corks as there are to upcycle acorns. And you can r to give your fairy garden an extra dash of whimsy. No corks on hand? No worries — simply swap in some .

Acorns can add natural beauty to all kinds of display containers, from glass vases to decorative bowls. Looking for a way to add mood lighting to a living space or bedroom? . Or, treat your acorns more like easter eggs and , then pile your creations in a pretty tabletop dish.

Acorn caps are terrific at holding dollops of wax and itty-bitty wicks. These candles  beeswax pellets or another product designed for candle-making. .

Make your friends and family wonder if clever woodland creatures wrapped their gifts by p Brown acorns are good companions for kraft paper, pine cones, and burlap bows. Glue them to wrapping paper and present tags, or . Though , it might be best to avoid using them on gifts for these folks.

Whether you're seeking something to entertain a young houseguest or just need residents for a decorative dollhouse, acorns are ready to help. They're fantastic building blocks for all kinds of little characters, from snowmen to owls to elves.  your characters. Making , , and other accessories, while adding , craft paints, or permanent markers. You can even make your characters into ornaments by attaching twine loops.

Acorns can be transformed into all kinds of festive-looking Christmas ornaments, from to large, elegant orbs. Make a stunning . Then, spray-paint your creation gold or silver and . Or, decorate each of the caps by hand. You could also make the caps' interiors face outward and paint a face, animal, or holiday symbol on each. For a different style of ornament, , gorgeous pieces of , or .

Whether you're a textile artist or simply a repurposing aficionado, you can use your acorns to naturally dye macrame wall hangings, throw pillow covers, and more. To make a reused bed sheet once cool.

If you have leftover acorn dye, you can turn it into ink to use for a variety of DIY projects, including  and crafts involving printable letter stencils. Deposit this substance to make ink whenever you need it.

If you like organic looks and percussive sounds, put together a DIY wind chime made from fallen acorns. Find a small branch or wooden spoon to , as well as durable string such as jute twine or fishing line. . Position the acorns so they'll bump together when breezes pass through. You can add even more character by incorporating other objects found in nature.

Squirrels  so consider sharing some with the birds in your backyard. Though they're fussier eaters, many appreciate acorns just as much as squirrels do. . You can serve acorns on their own or make a trail mix that also includes .

The acorns littering your lawn are useful for mulching your flower beds. This nut mulch  that , so consider mixing modest amounts of them into a large supply of another organic mulch. Also, . 

Acorns that have . Run them to accelerate the breakdown process. It's .

If you're low on wood for your before you toss them in the fire pit.