DIY: Cute mushroom made from orange peel

Lovely project for cozy December nights

Once again this year, we have created a cozy DIY guide where you can craft beautiful and personalized Christmas decorations with a focus on recycling. Last year, it was zero-waste drums, the year before that charming angels made from recycled paper - this year, we show you how to transform something as simple as orange peels into unique, beautiful, and more environmentally friendly Christmas ornaments - charming mushroom decorations in classic Christmas colors.

Christmas is the time of year when oranges and clementines fill our homes with their fresh scent and tangy flavor. But did you know that in 2019, a total of 70,000 crates of oranges, equivalent to 25 million pieces, were shipped to Denmark during the Christmas season alone? This also means that we produce enormous amounts of orange peels - which often just end up as waste.

But it doesn't have to be that way. Where some see trash, we see creative potential!

With this guide, you will learn step by step how to create decorative Christmas ornaments, small hostess gifts, or personal Christmas table decorations. It's not only good for the environment - it's also a perfect opportunity to gather family or friends for a cozy time where recycling meets Christmas cheer.

Let's create memories together and make Christmas even greener. After all, Christmas is about love, community, and caring for each other - and our planet.

Materials Needed

• Clementine or Orange (clementines are easier, and that's what we've used here)
• Knife
• Paint - white and red (a thick paint is recommended. Available from Hobbylack and can be purchased at Panduro, among others)
• Brush
• String
• Hot Glue Gun
• Tissue Paper
• Stick (from the forest)
• Cardboard (preferably recycled from previous purchases - e.g., a cornflakes box)
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Ruler

Optional materials for enhanced designs

• Glue
• Glitter (e.g., red)
• Dried/Pressed Flowers
• Various Colors of Tissue Paper
• Additional Paint Colors
• Sewing Thread
• Beads (for decorating the string)

Step 1-3

Cut the Clementine/Orange
Take a clementine or orange and halve it. 

Separate the Peel from the Flesh
To loosen the flesh from the peel, gently press your fingers down between them and rotate while slowly working your way deeper until the flesh is completely separated from the peel. Now you can enjoy eating the clementine while continuing to be creative with the peel.

Drying the Clementine Peel
Let the clementine peel dry - preferably in a windowsill or on a radiator. If you want to make several (or just one extra), we recommend also drying the other half of the clementine (without flesh) so you don't have to repeat the drying process.

Step 4-6

Painting
Paint the peel red on the outside (the orange side). You can also paint the bottom and the inner start of the peel for a nicer finish.

Drying the Paint
Allow the red paint to dry completely before proceeding. This ensures a smooth surface for adding details.

Creating a Hole in the Clementine Peel
Carefully make a small hole at the top of the peel with the tip of your scissors. The hole should be large enough for the two ends of the string to pass through. If you want the string to be "invisible," you can use sewing thread. In that case, the hole should be very small.

Step 7-9

String hanger
Tie the two string ends together to form a knot that is large enough so it cannot pass through the hole. Adjust the length of the string depending on where the mushroom will hang (a classic length is about 25 cm when folded). Thread the top of the loop (string) through the hole so that the knot is inside the peel.

Preparing the cardboard
Take your cardboard and trace out a size matching the clementine peel. Cut it out and adjust it so it fits precisely inside the peel. If the tissue paper is slightly transparent, the cardboard should have a blank side (without print).

Creating a hole in the cardboard
Carefully use the tip of your scissors to make a hole in the center of your round piece of cardboard. The hole should fit so that the stick can just pass through the top. The hole should not be too large, as the stick needs to sit firmly in the cardboard. The nice side of the cardboard should face the long side of the stick.

Step 10

Design 1

• Measure approximately 15x15 cm (depending on the desired look) on your tissue paper and cut it out.
• Fold the tissue paper in half, then in half again, creating a triangle that marks the center of the paper.
• Cut a small hole at the tip, and unfold the tissue paper.

Design 2

• Draw approximately 2 cm around the peel, forming a circle.
• Fold and cut the hole in the same way as Design 1.

Step 11

(The stick is temporarily removed from the cardboard)

Design 1

• Attach the small hole of the tissue paper to the "inside" side of the cardboard.
• Insert the stick again, and fold the tissue paper down along the long side of the stick.
• Tie a small string around it and trim the string to the desired length.

Design 2

• Attach the small hole to the "outside" side of the cardboard.
• Fold the ends over the back side of the cardboard.
• Optionally, create some wrinkles to form more lamellae for added texture.

Step 12

Hot glue gun

• Turn on the hot glue gun and glue the knot (string) so it stays in place.
• Glue the tip of the stick that attaches to the cardboard.
• Finally, glue along the edge of the tissue paper (cardboard) and insert it into the clementine peel.
• Remember to work quickly, as the glue dries fast.

Optional enhancements

• Add some glitter to the edge of the peel.
• Attach a dried flower for extra decoration.

The beautiful mushroom ornaments and this guide are crafted with love and care by our talented marketing assistant, Laura Aller.