• Rustic decorating is all about a natural look.wicker baskets image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
  
  Country style and rustic decorating are excellent ways to create a relaxed and uncomplicated atmosphere in your home. Another advantage is that you can achieve the look with very little money. Rustic decorating is a great way to get creative with children. You can collect many of the materials you need in nature and have hours of fun transforming them into unique works of art.
  
  

Setting the Stage

• For the all-over country look, you need natural materials in your house. Think wood paneling, a fireplace made of natural stone, and furniture made of wood, wicker, or cane. Trail jumble sales for one-off pieces of old floral crockery, old coal shuttles, wagon wheels, and the like. However, if that is too much "country" for you, boldly mix modern and rustic pieces for a striking effect.
  
  

Decoupage

• Decoupage is a craft from the Victorian era. Make stunning pieces without spending much money. Take any object you want to decorate, give it a lick of paint, and let it dry. Then cut out paper motifs of your choice. For the country look you'll want flowers or birds or landscapes. Glue them to your object and varnish the surface. Repeat the varnishing at least three times. When dry, sand it down until the surface is smooth and even. The object will look as if the motif is part of the original design.
  
  

Pine Cones

• Children love to get creative with pine cones.Three pinecone image by C.Y.Ronnie.W from Fotolia.com
  
  Decorating with pine cones will give you and your children lots of fun and healthy exercise in the fresh air. Go walking in the woods with your family and look for particularly attractive specimens of pine cones. You can spread them around the house as they are, possibly together with fruit. Or you can keep your kids busy and let them make little owls from them. Two cones, two buttons, a bit of felt, and a bit of wire will result in a number of very realistic looking owlish birds. Or you can paint them gold and silver to use as rustic Christmas decorations.
  
  

Leaves and Flowers

• Make your own artwork with leaves and flowers.leaves image by pearlguy from Fotolia.com
  
  Do what our grandmothers loved to do: collect leaves and flowers and press them between the pages of a heavy book. Once they are dry, you and your children can assemble them into unique displays ready for framing. Or use a more modern take on the leaves-and-flowers theme. By scanning them you can create stunning arrangements, and you don't even have to wait long. Once scanned, you can print them out as often as you like, which means you have an infinite supply of unique cards or whatever you wish to use them for. After scanning, you can still press them granny-style.
  
  

Embroidery and Needlepoint

• Embroidery is always a good look in a country house.embroidery 3 image by Kostyantyn Ivanyshen from Fotolia.com
  
  Raid your grandmother's closet for embroidered cushions, tableware, or cross-stitched samples. If she does not let you, get stitching yourself. Needlework is said to be really addictive and calming.
  
  

Shells, Rocks and Stones

• More rustic decorations from the seaside.shells n rocks image by PD-Images.com from Fotolia.com
  
  When you are at the seaside or in nature, keep your eyes open for unusual shells, rocks, and stones. Some stones seem to "speak" to you. Take them home and put them on display. They will always remind you of a lovely day out and the outdoors.
  
  

Salt Dough

• Very rustic and popular with parents and children alike is salt dough. It is easily made with ingredients you find in your kitchen cupboard and the possibilities are endless. Traditionally it is used to make cute kitchen scenes, "Welcome" signs, and Christmas decorations. Try it out with two parts salt, two parts flour, and one part water. Knead together and start modeling. Color your ornaments either by mixing paint into the water or by painting them after they have dried.