this is a quick, down and dirty little Make-to-Mend DIY on making surprise treasure walnut ornaments. when we make and give/gift to others, we heal. it feels good. we can show our love and care by taking the time to hand make with loving healing intentions. my kids and i made a lot of these sweet treats when they were small and since i just made one for a dear friend, i thought i would snap a few images and show you how simple, yet sweet, this easy Make-to-Mend craft is.

English walnuts work best, because they are large and split easily down the side seams of the nut. you can order them online if you don't have a local source where you live or ask a well connected friend to send/trade you some!

i always start my Making sessions by smudging myself and my space with white sage, palo santo, or yerba santa, to clear the energy while seducing and welcoming in Mystery, Spirit and the Muse. i also make my tea, tune in my music or podcast, and sometimes pull a card for insight and guidance.

here i've used a regular old store bought walnut because i was out of the english variety. i use my nut cracking tools, namely a pick, and i do this part myself if kids are trying to help out, so that i am the only one with a chance of getting stabbed! once you get the nuts cracked open on the nut seam, scoop out the nut meat and set it aside for a snack or eat as you go!

basically you will want to find any and all tiny miniature treasures that will suit your recipient and fit within the shell. i like to fill one half of the shell with the loot and leave the other half empty. then i simply find a ribbon or string and make a loop for hanging while tying a square knot that will fit just within the shell when it gets sealed. (see next photo)

now you are ready to seal your walnut with melted beeswax. i do this by lighting a beeswax candle and, over a paper plate, paper towel, or paper from the recycling, start dripping wax around the edge of the half shell that isn't filled. i quickly press the empty side to the full side and left it sit a minute. then i slowly and methodical drip melted wax from the candle all around the outside edge of the shell. voila! fini!

there will be lots of drips so just be sure to protect your surfaces

while the wax is soft you can form it and move it around a bit with your finger or tool

you can scrape off extra wax for a cleaner, sleeker look or leave it a bit rough and natural, how i like it

i added this tag to the ornament i made before sending it off to my friend

so the fun and silly thing is, once you make and gift these, they get cracked back open! it's like a sweet little surprise package. a thoughtful small token of love. my kids and i used to make several before winter solstice, tag them so we knew who they would go to, and then hang them on our tree until it was time to package and send them. they loved making them for their friends and they also loved when i made them some in secret as well. these would be a fun way to do advent for your kids or for someone you love, a fun hanukkah or twelfth night celebration gift, and would be fun at the spring equinox and Ostara as well.

love, sweet love,

jennette

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