wide closeup of two placecards with bunnies whose ears are fresh lambs ear leaves

13 Charming Decor Items to Make With Fresh Lambs Ear

Bring that soft fuzzy, sage green Lamb’s Ears in from the garden and use it throughout your home decor and while entertaining — so charming!

Don’t we all love a soft texture, specifically a soft, fuzzy texture?

Combine it with soft sage green coloring and we’re talking heaven!

Yes, that sweet herbaceous perennial ground cover of the genus stachys, also known as woolly betony (or woolly hedgenettle), but most commonly known as lamb’s ears is both wonderfully soft in texture and color when it’s fresh in your garden year round.

super closeup of two Lambs Ear leaves showing their fuzzy texture

TIP: Did you know it retains that soft texture and silvery green color as it dries indoor in arrangements and so much more? IT DOES!

Yes, truly! Check out my first lamb ears blog post for all the details on preserving your garden lamb’s ear plants.

I LOVE to use fresh Lamb’s Ear stems and fresh leaves in all types of decorating and crafts around my home and while entertaining. I mean, really . . . .who can resist those velvety leaves?

This popular plant has a long history of culinary uses and herbal tea. Plus it contains many medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory properties, treatment for sore throats, insect bites, bee stings. It’s healing oil combined with the soft texture and absorption properties makes it excellent for wound care.

Closeup of Cluster of Lambs Ear drying

But today, I’m all about crafting and making home decor with fresh Lambs Ear.

Decor Made With Fresh Lambs Ear

1) Partially Cover Christmas Ornament –

Closeup of an ornament covered in Lamb's Ear leaves is hanging on a fir branch

This is THE project that had everyone talking! 

I started with a lot of old string Christmas ornaments that had been my sweet Mother-in-Law’s. 

First, I updated them in this super simple way — but oh my the results are so much more impressive!

And then I decided the painted texture was a lovely counterpoint to the soft, fuzzy lambs ear. So some of these revived ornaments became the base for the Lambs Ear partially covered ornaments.

three Lambs ear Christmas bulbs shown hanging from a vintage spindle topped with mistletoe

This blog post includes all the details for making these ornaments.

NOTE: Because of the curve of the of the bulbs and you want the leaves to lay flat for layering, you need fresh, pliable leaves for this project.

2) Fully Covered Christmas Ornament –

Closeup of the bottom of a Lambs ear rapped ornament showing the leaves meeting at the bottom

The fully covered ornament was actually my starting point.

It was inspired by traditional ornaments I remembered seeing many years ago, from maybe one of the Nordic (?) cultures I believe. I wish I could remember, and surprisingly my internet searches have not turned up what I somewhat remember.

I really liked this ornament, but with the thickness of the leaves building up, the bulbs were no longer truly round. And between you and me, they looked a bit too much like artichokes. Heck, I didn’t even take a really good picture of this one.

From there, I came up with the partially covered ornaments.

NOTE: Because of the curve of the of the bulbs and you want the leaves to lay flat for layering, you need fresh, pliable leaves for this project.

3) Lamb’s Ear Trees –

two small lambs ear trees in foreground with large tree and poinsettia tree in background wit linen runner

Aren’t these the absolute cutest? I made these with gradient sizes of those wonderful fuzzy leaves hot glued (using low heat hot glue setting) to poster board cones, floating on stick trunks I made. Talk about virtually free! All the details can be found here.

NOTE: You don’t need curves for this one, but you do want the leaves to lay fairly flat for the layering, so you want fresh, pliable leaves for the trees.

4) Fresh Lamb’s Ear Bow Napkin Ring –

Closeup of a napkin held in a napkin ring with a bow made of fresh Lamb's Ear

This charmer is from my extremely talented friend Wendy [WM Design House] who came up with this sweet bow — and it’s so easy!

Just five Lamb’s Ear leaves and a bit if hot glue is all you need. Here she used it on a napkin ring.

I loved it so much I adapted it for a project on down the list.

NOTE: Because you need to bend the leaves, you need the fresh and pliable for the bow.

5) Buffet Dish ID Cards –

Fresh Lambs Ear adorns the buffet food ID cards

These are a great way to help ID the dishes on a buffet table and carry a theme throughout if you include a few Lamb’s Ear trees,  trees and bulbs as part of your table display. See 17 Tips for a Beautiful + Functional Christmas Buffet Table Tablescape.

Print your dish names and add a dab of white glue to hold the leaves in place.

NOTE: I like to use semi-dried to dried leaves for these so they don’t lay limp and I didn’t want them to lay perfectly flat.

6) Place Cards –

Two placecards with the names "Wendy" and "Amy" have a sprig of fresh lambs ear above the names.

You can keep it very simple like the ones above or how about the sweetest bunny ears for an Easter or Spring gathering — or even a Hunny Bunny themed baby shower.

closeup of a place card on a transferware plate with the outline of thhe back of a bunny with fresh lambs ear for the ears and fuzzy tail.

Two place cards with sketches of bunny rabbits beside the names and the bunny's ear are tiny fresh lambs ear leaves

You can make all these place cards with the FREE Printables in the South House Designs Printables Library, open 24/7 to all subscribers.

The options are endless!

NOTE: I like to use semi-dried to dried leaves for these so they don’t lay limp and I didn’t want them to lay perfectly flat.

7) Nosegay Bundle –

bundle of lambs ear tied with ribbon on a table

This was actually the first item I made when I started drying Lambs Ear. 

They seemed so sweet and old-fashioned at the time. This is what jumped into my mind first. I pictured bundles of them hanging in bundles like lavender and other herbs hanging to dry. It’s all detailed in this blog post.

At that time, I didn’t have any pegs or rack to hang from, so I bundled them, added a bit of ribbon and laid them on a book to dry or as part of a table vignette.

NOTE: I like to use semi-dried to dried leaves for these so they don’t lay limp and I didn’t want them to lay perfectly flat.

8) Embellish a Wreath –

a small wood woven wreath with bundles of fresh lambs ear and faux berries is hanging on interior shutters

My second project with fresh Lambs Ear was this wreath I embellished with two bundles of leaves and berries for accent

Here is a detailed blog post with all the how-to info.

NOTE: I like to use semi-dried to dried leaves for these so they don’t lay limp and I didn’t want them to lay perfectly flat.

9) Embellish a Photo Frame –

a small frame sitting on a desk holds a reminder "Progress over Perfection" and the frame is embellishhed with a bow made of fresh lambs ear.

This is deceptively easy! I just followed Wendy’s directions for the bow on her napkin rings.

Sidenote: Do you need this daily reminder too? I hope this cute encouragement helps me accomplish more in less time. Everyone’s dream, right?

NOTE: This project works best with leaves within 3 days of harvesting.

10) Candle Ring –

Closeup of a fresh lambs ear candle ring on a tall candlestick

The sweetest, right?  

I used a wood curtain ring, minus the small eye screw, for the structure. I added a small length of pipe cleaner for the individual lambs ears leaves to attach to as them cascaded over the edge of the tall candleholders.

Hot glue and a couple of berries “borrowed” from another spray was all it took. 

I love “free” projects! You, too? Great! I knew we’d be friends.

Speaking of being friends, are you a subscriber or House Mate? Not yet? This is a great time to join us:

Thanks Bunches! Now back to more ideas:

NOTE: This project works best with leaves that are semi dry, but still pliable. Mine were about a week from harvesting.

11) Cluster Floral Centerpiece –

Lambs Ear in a glass bulb vase on a counter with two leaves on the counter and acorns beside

An assortment of tiny vases, bottles and votive candles down the length of a table is so pretty, and sooo darn easy.

Until you’re doing 24 tables of them, halfway across the country. Then it’s not difficult, it just takes a well organized Mother-of-the-Bride, her creative friend (see my hand waving in the air?) and a super-spirited bride, sister and best friend. You can read all about that adventure and the fabulous results as well as step-by-step how-to for any other wedding-planner-wanna-be’s.

NOTE: Just about any leaves can be used for these.

12) Hanging Globe Arrangement –

Hanging from a porch ceiling is a globe that's partially covered in fresh lambs ear with a candle in a hurricane in the center

Wouldn’t a set of three hanging on the porch with candles lit inside set the tone for a lovely evening?

This is the metal orb, sphere or globe (choose your name) that I have recently discovered at Dollar Tree. I started by covering them in Fall leaves preserved with Mod Podge. Then I covered them with rope and faux leaves that I colored for my style. Seriously, it’s actually very easy — and so gratifying!

So of course, I couldn’t skip covering one with fresh Lamb’s Ear. Then I perched a glass hurricane inside with a flameless votive candle.

NOTE: Leaves that are a few days old is best — they are still pliable to match the curve of the sphere, but not too limp to hold their shape.

13) Small, Simple Flower Arrangements –

a small arrangement featuring lambs ear is in a sugar dish and sitting on a wall shelf beside votive candle and a ceramic pear

This is just an old sugar dish. I add a piece of oasis, but used it dry.

I gently bent several of my larger leaves to lay over the edge of the dish and then added a number of dried leaves that were a bit twisted for an interesting arrangement. Some of these were from a box of last year’s leftovers and even another box from the year before!!!

I added some additional dried stems (statice perhaps?) that I had on hand and then stuffed the top with dried moss.

NOTE: Dried is best for the inner leaves. The outer leaves were still a bit pliable, but mostly dry, harvested 2 – 3 weeks ago

Tips For Crafting With Fresh Lambs Ear

What Adhesive to use?

I’m not usually a fan of hot glue. But it works great with the fresh lambs ear, just be sure to use low-temp or a low setting on your glue gun!

Does it Really Dry Soft?

YES! the texture stays soft and fuzzy, however the structure becomes brittle as it dries (kind of like us, right?).

So if your project needs curved leaves, like the bows, the bulbs, the covered sphere, and the frame above, it’s best to do those within a couple of days of harvesting the lambs ear. If you want the leaves to be more or less straight, you can really use them anytime. See the original “How to Preserve Lambs Ear” post for more details on shaping them.

Due to the eventual brittleness, I’d shy away from wiring the stems. Use hot glue (on low) instead.

How to Mold Lambs Ear to the Perfect Shape?

If your project requires a specific shape, such as the loops of the bow or bending over the edge of the candleholder, work with your leaf within the first 2 or 3 days of cutting.

While it is still pliable, wrap it around or over a household item that will help it maintain its shape while drying for a few days

If your projects requires your lambs ears to be mostly flat, Lay them out on a flat work surface, upside down (spine facing up). This will keep the sides of the leaves from curling in on themselves. For thee tiny leaves that became the bunny ears, I had to gently force those leaves open and laid them on the table like that.

For the leaves I wanted to use in the small arrangement, I left some to curl and dry as they wanted. I used some that had been left over in last years box. And some I dried for two days by laying the stem and bottom half of the leaves on a book. I let the part of the leaf hanging over the edge dry at a bit of an angle.

​And that’s just a few examples of how you can manipulate these amicable sweeties.

Are You Sold on Growing Lamb’s Ears, Yet?

If you’re still on the fence, a few growing details and you’ll be racing to the nursery or working out a swap with a gardening neighbor.

Not only are they a perennial ground cover, they are also an evergreen perennial with a long growing season. 

They are a good choice for both rock gardens and children’s gardens. Plus they perform beautifully as an edging plant and as filler in potted plants.

More good news: They are deer resistant!!!! More accurately, deer don’t care anything about them. They totally leave them alone.

And it gets even better . . . . they are a low-maintenance plant. 

Lamb’s Ears like

  • well-drained soil
  • are drought tolerant
  • like full sun but are happy in partial shade too.

Really? They’re a novice, or lazy gardeners dream come true!

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I am so glad you’re here! I hope you’ve taken away some great nuggets of inspiration.

Wishing you a Joy-filled and creative day!

round image of Diane smiling next to a Signature that reads: With Joy, Diane

9 Comments

  1. Wendy McMonigle

    So many great ideas Diane. Love them all! Thanks for including me in your round-up.

    Reply
    • Diane

      Thanks Wendy! Of course! I’ll be adding to this as I get more done. I hope to add more of yours too!

      Reply
  2. Dianne Baker

    I love lambs ear and have it in several of my flower beds and lard pots.

    Reply
    • Diane

      Then you are set Dianne! I can’t wait to see what you make — send me some pics.

      Reply
  3. Tony Volkas @ 1PLs

    God, how cool it looks, I think I’m in love!!! What a beautiful plant and how cool is what you did and showed us so many decorative items! Now I really want to buy the leaves of this plant. It is very cool. It seems to me that it is very cool and inspiring to create decorative items from elements of nature, some plants and stones, because in this way the connection with nature is traced. This is very important to me, otherwise I feel absorbed into the world of huge concrete soulless buildings. No, it’s not for me. Thank you very much for the post. I will definitely make something like this.

    Reply
    • Diane

      I’m so glad you feel inspired by these ideas. I wouldlove to see pictures of what you create!

      Reply
  4. Barbara Chapman

    Oh my goodness, Diane! What a cute idea – ALL of them!!! I do have lamb’s ear growing out in the garden and surprisingly all clumps made it through our 115 degree heat and I know it’ll come back next spring after getting down to 7 degrees (I’m buying for zone 5-zone 9 now for all plants, lol!). I will definitely go pick some and make soft Christmas ornaments and send one to our grandson. He will love it!!!

    Thanks for the great ideas,
    Barb

    p.s. Please come link up at Share Your Style later this week so I can feature your post for early Christmas ideas. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Mary Barnard

    Love these so much! Do they last for years or only one season?

    Reply
    • Diane

      Hi Mary, thanks for asking. I just opened the bag of the ones I made last year. Yes, sadly, I just tossed them all in a plastic produce bag,. Didn’t even wrap themm in tissue or anything. But happy to report I’ll be using them again. They look really good.

      Reply

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Weekender Newsletter 10-14-23 - South House Designs - […] I spent the week in knee deep in Lambs Ear and published a comprehensive post of 13 projects! […]
  2. Easy to Make: A Beautiful Dried Arrangement on the Wall! - South House Designs - […] Yes, Lambs Ear dries beautifully and it is so fun to work with. So much fun I even compiled a list…
  3. Flashback: Most Popular Posts of 2023 - South House Designs - […] In fact this wreath and the ornament (remember No. 10?) have been so popular, I made a post of…

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Diane Sudhoff
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