Loggin’ This Christmas: A Simple, Creative Festive Craft Anyone Can Try

Close-up of a decorative branch featuring a weathered wooden piece partially gilded with gold leaf, set against a cream-colored scroll-shaped ornament with a cracked paint finish. The background includes a carved floral pattern, creating a layered, vintage aesthetic with rich textures and artistic detail.


Feeling creative this Christmas? Looking for something arty before the fartyness of Brussels sprouts on the big day? 🎄
If you’re craving a calm, hands-on festive activity that’s both stylish and sustainable, loggin’ might be exactly what you’re after.

This simple decorative technique turns a humble branch into a beautiful Christmas log centrepiece—perfect for a mantelpiece, dining table, or festive shelf. It’s quick, inexpensive, and surprisingly effective.

Close-up of a painted surface in pale blue-gray with irregular patches of gold leaf, some loosely adhered, suggesting a work-in-progress gilding technique. In the background, a vivid abstract image of a tiger’s face in orange, black, and yellow adds contrast and energy to the composition.
Gold leaf being added to branch

What Is Loggin’?

Loggin’ is the art of decorating a natural wooden log or branch to create a rustic yet elegant Christmas decoration. Using acrylic paint, gold leaf, and a few festive embellishments, you can transform found wood into a seasonal statement piece.

It’s a brilliant way to slow down during the holidays, reuse natural materials, and create something truly unique.

Why Try Loggin’ This Christmas?

  • ✔️ Sustainable and nature-inspired
  • ✔️ Minimal tools and materials required
  • ✔️ Perfect for winter decorating
  • ✔️ A relaxing alternative to busy festive prep

What You’ll Need

Loggin’ in 5 Easy Steps

1. Find Your Log

Head to your local park or woodland and look for a discarded branch. Make sure it’s dry or allow it to dry fully at home in a warm space before decorating.

2. Paint the Base

Lightly coat the log with white acrylic paint, allowing the bark to show through. Once dry, repeat the process with silver acrylic paint for added depth and wintery shimmer.

Artist’s workspace featuring a black circular surface with PVA and scattered granular material, sand and pebbles. A paintbrush rests nearby, surrounded by a splattered background of red, yellow, and white paint. A curved, textured wooden piece and a tube of paint, a mixed-media project.
Pebbles and sand applied to branch

3. Add Gold Leaf

Break the gold leaf into small sections. Using a paintbrush and PVA glue, gently stipple the gold leaf onto the branch. Leave to dry overnight.

4. Build Texture

Add more gold using silver pebbles mixed with PVA to create texture. You can substitute or combine the silver pebbles with sand, grit, or another grainy medium if preferred.

5. Decorate and Display

Hang small festive decorations, ribbons, or ornaments from the branch. Place it on a mantelpiece or as a table centrepiece, then step back and enjoy your creation.

A Calm Moment in the Christmas Rush

Loggin’ is more than just a craft—it’s a pause. A moment of creativity before the chaos of Christmas dinner, wrapping paper, and family gatherings. It’s arty, grounding, and just a little bit golden.

So this Christmas, before the Brussels sprouts kick in, why not give loggin’ a go?


Decorative mantelpiece with a vintage-style oval clock. A painted mug holding a brush sits beside a long, curved decorative tree branch. On the right, a white-handled magnifying glass rests near ornate wall molding, creating a visually rich mix of natural textures and vintage decor.
The Final Branch

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