Reuse Acorn Tops And Old Marbles For A Satisfying Home Decor DIY Your Guests Will Adore

If the oak trees near your home are raining acorns down left and right, don't ignore them. Scoop them up and turn them into charming home decor. You can repurpose fallen acorns in a number of ways, but for this DIY, save just the tops. Marbles, whether they be glass, stone, or resin, fit inside the acorn caps, replacing the nut with a jewel-like center. The result is a cute, colorful acorn decor you can use in a variety of ways around your home. Fill a small basket with them for a seasonal table decoration, or add them to garlands, wreaths, or suncatchers for added whimsy. All you need for this DIY is an equal number of marbles and acorn tops, plus strong glue. 

Marbles can be found online, at craft supply stores, and at thrift stores. If you're feeling extra crafty, it's also possible to make your own from clay. Acorn caps can be purchased, but you can also gather them yourself if you know when acorns fall off oak trees. In general, start looking for them around the base of these trees in fall, although some green ones may drop during summer. Leave the nuts for the squirrels, and gather just the caps if possible. If whole acorns are all you can find, you can simply twist or rotate the acorn and pop the cap off. For this project, choose tops that are sturdy and intact, and look for openings that will hold your marbles securely.

Before assembling your decorative acorns, sort the tops and dispose of any that are broken or falling apart. They also need to be washed and sanitized to remove dirt, debris, and pest eggs that might be waiting to hatch. To clean them, wash them in soapy water and let them air dry completely. Then spread them on a tinfoil-lined tray and bake them at around 175 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour or two. While they're baking, you may want to clean off your marbles as well. 

Once your acorn hats are sanitized and cool, place a marble inside each one to make sure they fit the way you want them to. Then add a dot of glue to the inside of the cap and press the marble firmly into it. Be careful not to spin them inside the acorn top, as this may smear glue across the marble, potentially getting glue on the outer face of the marble and on your work surface. When the glue is dried, you'll have the cutest mini decor pieces. 

The finished acorns would look charming paired with other farmhouse fall decor ideas, but they're also lovely on their own. Place them in a vintage basket in your entryway for guests to admire or add twine to the top to hang them from an archway.  When picking the marble colors, consider where you'll showcase the finished craft. For a rustic basket to accompany a fall display, opt for red and orange marbles. For a brighter, more eye-catching look, choose translucent marbles that catch the sunlight on a windowsill or jewel-toned hues that complement your existing decor.