If you have access to an abundance of free acorns, lucky you! They can be used in a variety of ways and turn out lovely pieces for both Fall and Winter decorations. Here are a few different crafts you can make along with tips for preparing them first (cleaning and drying). Have fun!
How To Dry & Clean Them For Crafting
Just as with pine cones, acorns need to be washed and debugged before using in crafts. The process is simple:
- Fill a bowl of acorns with water then rinse them one by one and scrub with a nylon scrubber or toothbrush (if needed). Examine each and toss those that have small holes drilled through the shell (indicates the presence of insects).
- Pat each dry then arrange on a foil lined baking sheet. Let them dry for about an hour then preheat the oven to 350°F.
- When the oven is ready, place the baking sheet on the middle rack. Bake for approximately 10 minutes, stir with a wooden spoon and bake for another 10 minutes.
- After 20 minutes remove from the oven and allow to completely cool before using in crafts.
Projects
Fall Basket: Paint a woven basket brown then hot glue acorns around the bottom (both with and without caps). Fill basket with florist’s foam, fruit and Fall foliage.
Two Projects: Instructions for making an acorn mirror (or frame) and napkin rings made with acorns and oak leaves.
Cap Ornaments: Styrofoam balls are covered with acorn caps and decorated with craft paint, glitter, ribbon and jute twine.
Christmas Tree Craft: A cardboard cone is painted brown then acorns are hot glued to the outside.
Magnets: The caps are removed then all the meat is taken out so a magnet can be inserted. Fill space with hot glue and replace cap.
After cleaning the dirt chunks and soaking acorns, after laying them out to dry (1hour-overnight) preheat oven at lowest temp. (I did 170 degrees) bake them on a covered cookie sheet w a lip. Leave them in there for ab 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Give them a good shake every 30 mins to flip them some. Let them completely cool before handling them.
I did the same thing, and lost half of the acorns even though I was careful not to bake any cracked ones. Lost about 1/3 of them, but worst was the microwave suggestion. Oh my gosh, they were like popcorn but made a big mess in the micro oven! Don’t do it! lol Next time I am doing a 175* oven for 10 minutes. If they are oily looking I’m guessing they are hot enough to kill critters!
I found that soaking them overnite in some water with dish soap, letting them dry and then putting them in a zip lock bag in the freezer for 24 hours does the same thing, and they don’t split. I also polish mine with furniture polish afterwards!!
maybe try 175 degrees and longer time in the oven
OK, it’s the perfect time to gather acorns, they are dropping like slow rain. Yesterday I spent a happy hour doing so. Today I baked them, and more than half split open vertically from end to end on one side. It’s as if they were expanding and had to split. What does that mean? Can I still use them if I glue the split side down, or not? I am so disappointed. The ones that are whole look great, but that’s only about a third of them.