For the first time ever, I set up my house for the holidays before Thanksgiving. I know—who am I? But honestly, why not? After a whirlwind summer, an intense election season, and the busy lead-up to the holidays, I needed a little extra joy. So, I decided to get crafty.

Now, let me tell you—I’m not a "crafty" person. I can barely sew a button without watching a YouTube tutorial, and all my cakes either come out burnt of collapsed in the middle. 

But I’ll be honest—this year, I couldn’t resist all the magical, DIY-filled content filling up my feed. You know the ones—those Instagram influencers who are basically making Pinterest look easy, with their perfectly curated farmhouse kitchens, or the woman in her apron casually making holiday wreaths from scratch, while her kids quietly play nearby. I’m over here just trying to figure out how to wrap a gift without the tape sticking to my fingers.

Every time I see one of these posts, I feel a mix of awe and mild panic—Who has time for this?! (Though, let’s be real—you might think the same about me brewing kombucha at home.) But something about the festive energy of the season inspired me to dive in and try my hand at creating a little holiday magic myself.

Keep reading for instructions. 

I flocked a garland (yes, flocked)—and if you know, you know. It was addicting. Next thing I knew, I was flocking pinecones, dried flowers—you name it. I baked gingersnap playdough ornaments and hung them all over the house, only to discover my second bird had eaten one. (Spoiler alert: It was all salt.)

Will my Christmas tree die a week before the big day? Probably. Do I care? Yes—but I’m not telling my husband, who warned me this could happen. Because honestly, let’s not live in coulds. The whole process of decorating early and diving into DIY chaos felt whimsical and a little impractical—and that’s exactly why it brought me so much joy.

This holiday season, I’m embracing the silly, the new, and the imperfect. It’s a reminder to slow down, not get caught up in the hustle, and just try something fun. Whether it’s crafting, baking, or flocking something with your flock, there’s magic in the unexpected.

DIY Holiday Craft Ideas: Let’s Get Crafty (and Flock Some Stuff!)

Ready to dive into the DIY chaos? Here are a couple of crafts I tried, and while they didn’t turn out perfect, they brought a lot of joy and helped me get into the holiday spirit.

Ginger Spice Salt Dough Ornaments

These gingersnap-scented ornaments are not only fun to make, but they also fill your house with that warm holiday spice. Plus, they’re totally customizable—hang them on your tree or give them away as homemade gifts. Here’s the recipe to get started:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 cup water (add 1 tbsp more if it’s too dry)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 250°F.
2. Mix the flour, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves in a stand mixer (or by hand if you don’t have one). Gradually add the water until the dough is firm but still workable.
3. Roll out the dough to about 1/4” thick.
4. Use a small star ornament or your favorite cookie cutter to cut out shapes. (Be sure to poke a hole at the top using a chopstick for hanging later—make it big enough for a needle or wire to fit through, as the hole shrinks slightly while baking.)
5. Lay the cut-outs on a baking sheet (they don’t need much space between them).
6. Bake for 1 to 1.5 hours, then let them cool.
7. If you want to darken them to a deeper brown, rub or spray a little oil on them.

Let's Flock Some Stuff: Make Your Own Crystallized Nature Holiday Decorations

I went a little overboard by crystallizing everything we could find—pinecones, evergreen branches, dead plants from the garden. The best part? These beauties are all-natural, unlike plastic-coated ornaments, and are compostable (hello, sustainability). Here’s how we did it:

Ingredients:

• Borax (found in the laundry detergent aisle)
• Boiling water

Instructions:

1. Make a super-saturated borax solution by mixing 1.5 cups of borax with 4 cups of hot water. Whisk until the borax dissolves completely.
2. Submerge your items (pinecones, evergreen sprigs, orange slices, etc.) in the solution for about an hour to 2.5 hours. (the longer you leave the items in the solution, the more crystals you'll have.)  You’ll see crystals start to form on the surfaces.
3. Once you’re happy with the crystallization, remove the items and lay them on a towel to dry.
4. For added longevity, you can lightly spray them with acrylic spray—but be warned, that will make them non-compostable. (We love the idea of making these every year, so no biggie if they eventually break off a little!)

Conclusion: Crafting, Kombucha, and Creating Holiday Magic

The beauty of these crafts isn’t in their perfection but in their reflection of what 3rd Bird Kombucha is all about: connection, creativity, and a little bit of chaos. Sure, your garland might shed a few crystals, and someone in your house might mistake salt dough for a cookie (oops). But those moments—the laughter, the learning, and the unexpected surprises—are what make the holidays memorable.

And if this season has you craving a fresh adventure, why not dive into the art of fermentation? Our Kombucha Homebrew Kit transforms crafting into a delicious experience, perfect for anyone who loves a hands-on project with a rewarding twist. To keep the process simple and stress-free, pair it with our No-Stress Kombucha Online Course—your ultimate guide to becoming a confident brewer with the best kombucha kit for beginners by your side.

Whether you’re a seasoned creator or just dipping your toes into DIY territory, these projects (and homebrewing) are about embracing creativity and having fun. Put your spin on it, revel in the imperfections, and enjoy the unexpected joys along the way. Let’s make this season a celebration of whimsy, connection, and discovery.

And if you're looking to add something extra special to your holiday routine, I can’t recommend brewing kombucha enough. It’s the perfect companion to any DIY adventure—and if you’ve ever wanted to try brewing your own kombucha, our No Stress Kombucha Course is here to help you brew with ease. Plus, with our Homebrew Kit, you’ll have everything you need to get started, so you can sip on your very own kombucha while making your next DIY masterpiece.

So, this holiday season, let’s slow down, embrace the imperfections, and maybe even try something new—whether that’s crafting with your kids or brewing up a batch of kombucha. There’s joy to be found in the unexpected, and a lot of magic in the simple moments. Happy crafting (and brewing)!