Winter Botanical DIY Craft Checklist

A chill is in the air, and the world outside is slowing down. Winter has a way of calling us inward,  toward warmth, creativity, and the comforting presence of herbs and plants. This is a season made for simmering pots, crafting tables, wool socks, and hands busy with meaningful work. Winter botanical crafting not only fills our homes with fragrance and beauty, but it also gives us a way to stay connected to the natural world long after the garden has gone to sleep.

As winter settles in, gathering a small collection of herbs, evergreens, spices, and botanicals means you’ll always have materials ready for seasonal projects when inspiration arrives. Stocking your crafting basket now lets you make, decorate, and gift without rushing or waiting for supplies. Think of this as your gentle guide to preparing for herbal crafting throughout the season, collecting ingredients that can be dried, bundled, stored, and enjoyed on cozy afternoons with tea in hand.

Ideas and Ingredients to Gather for Winter Crafting

Below you’ll find some simple botanicals and materials to gather so you’re ready for winter crafting whenever creativity calls. A few thoughtful supplies collected ahead of time will make your winter crafting smooth, stress-free, and spontaneous. Use this list to gather ingredients you can dry, bundle, and pull from whenever inspiration strikes.

Sprigs of Conifers for Garlands and Wreaths

Gather fresh sprigs of pine (Pinus spp.), fir (Abies spp.), or spruce (Picea spp.) to weave into garlands, wreaths, or candle rings. Evergreen branches add instant beauty to mantels, tables, and doorways, providing a simple way to bring the outdoors in. For ideas on decorating with fresh greenery, see our post, How to Decorate Your Home with Fresh Greenery.

Pressed Flowers for Lanterns, Journals, and Candles

Stock up on pressed petals or press blooms ahead of time so you have plenty for decorating lanterns, adding a botanical touch to paper crafts, creating journal accents, or adorning candles. If the garden is looking bare, you can press flowers from bouquets you receive or dry petals from store-bought stems, giving them new life and brightening the darker days of winter. 

DIY Herbal Stamps for Gift Wrapping

Gather botanical sprigs that can be used to stamp patterns on gift wrap and cards, or try your hand at carving botanical-themed stamps from soft rubber with a linoleum carving tool. If you plan to make herbal prints with fresh herbs or flowers, be sure to collect some paint sponges, paint, and kraft paper so you’ll be ready to create when the time is right. For inspiration, see DIY Herbal Wrapping Paper Craft.

Plantable Seed Paper for Greeting Cards

Make a batch of plantable seed paper using recycled paper and wildflower seed. Turn your homemade seed paper into cards to create a gift that grows! Having these on hand will enable you to send greeting cards or notes that can be planted come spring. 

Cultivated or Foraged Mistletoe for Bell-Making

Collect cultivated or responsibly foraged mistletoe (Viscum album) to pair with ribbon, bells, or evergreen to hang in the doorway. This old-world decoration adds a touch of whimsy and tradition to winter gatherings. 

Seasonal Herbs and Spices for Culinary Crafts

Stock up on seasonal herbs and spices, such as rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), sage (Salvia officinalis), cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.), and cloves (Syzygium aromaticum), so you can easily create infused honey, herbal salts, mulling blends, simmer pots, herbal baking mixes, and other warming winter culinary crafts.

Pinecones and Herbs for Aromatic Firestarters

Gather pinecones, rosemary, or sage and dry them for herbal firestarters or an aromatic fire starter basket to assemble on a slow winter afternoon. Their smoky, woodsy scent brings warmth to winter evenings and makes the hearth feel especially inviting. 

Dried citrus for vibrant table and home décor

Slice and dehydrate oranges, lemons, or grapefruit to have plenty for garlands, ornaments, simmer pots, and table arrangements. Citrus adds brightness that winter rooms often crave. 

Adaptogenic herbs for giftable hot cocoa mixes

Gather adaptogens like reishi (Ganoderma spp.) mushroom, maca (Lepidium meyenii) root, or ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root to blend into nourishing herbal hot chocolate mixes. A jar tied with twine makes an instant wellness-minded gift.

Bundles of fresh or dried herbs for festive soup rings

A simple bouquet of rosemary, thyme, and bay (Laurus nobilis) leaf adds instant flavor to winter stews. It’s also beautiful, tied with a ribbon for gifting, and it creates a lovely DIY herbal soup ring. 

Dried Herbs and Spices for Holiday Ornaments

Gather dried herbs like lavender (Lavandula spp.), rose (Rosa spp.), rosemary, thyme, cinnamon, and clove to create holiday ornaments. Ground cinnamon can be incorporated into dough to make various holiday shapes, while loose herbs can be tucked into small sachets for a fragrant addition to the tree. You can also tie herbs like rosemary or lavender into petite hanging bundles, turning simple stems into charming, aromatic ornaments.

Seasonal aromatics for spice-dried potpourri

Stock cinnamon, clove, star anise (Illicium verum), and evergreen tips so you can assemble potpourri in bowls or sachets whenever needed. 

Clove Buds for Fragrant Pomanders

Stud oranges with cloves for an old-fashioned pomander that looks beautiful on a holiday table. This makes for a satisfying, tactile craft that also smells amazing! 

Seed Mix, Dried Berries, and Conifers for Bird Feeders

Set aside birdseed, dried berries, and small pinecones for winter feeders. To make these feeders, cover the pinecones with a nut butter and stick the birdseed and berries to them. Crafting these brings nature closer to the window and is an easy way to invite children into the process. 

Calming Herbs for Candles and Botanical Baths

Keep chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), lavender, rose, and conifer needles on hand for bath salts or candle making. These herbs encourage rest, care, and slow winter evenings. 

In Closing,

Winter crafting doesn’t have to be elaborate to be meaningful. With simple botanicals, we can create gifts and home rituals that feel grounding, joyful, and connected to the season. These little acts of creativity help to remind us to slow our pace, work with what we have, and savor the beauty nature offers, even in the quiet months.

If this list has your creative wheels turning, you’ll love exploring the Maker’s Holiday Herb & Spice DIY Intensive, available inside The Herbarium. This seasonal Intensive is filled with inspiration, offering historical insight, culinary and wellness uses, and decorative beauty for four classic holiday herbs.

The Herbarium members can dive into the Intensive at any time! If you’re not yet a member, this is a wonderful reason to join and receive:

• Seasonal recipes and herbal formulations to stock your apothecary
• Thoughtfully crafted DIY gift and decor ideas for the whole family
• Creative herbal projects to savor throughout the season.

Inside, you’ll find guidance for making orange–clove garlands, rosemary salt seasoning, botanical ornaments, soothing sage bath soaks, and more. Many of the projects use ingredients you likely already have in your pantry, and if not, consider this a gentle reminder to gather a few before cozy snow days have everyone indoors and ready to craft.

Whether you’re decorating naturally, creating homemade gifts, or adding herbal comfort to winter days, this Intensive offers inspiration you can return to year after year.