Camping crafts for campfire nights aren’t just about keeping your hands busy – they turn basic supplies into cozy comforts, survival tools, and warm memories.
Whether you’re sipping cocoa under a starry sky or prepping gear by firelight, these DIYs blend function with fireside fun.
I’ve made every single one of these around crackling logs, and let me tell you – they’re game changers for chilly nights, wild mornings, and everything in between.
1. Twig + Twine Lantern Holders
I once made one of these with nothing but a spool of jute, four sturdy twigs, and an old mason jar. It’s rustic, yes, but when that candle flickers inside – it’s magic.
Tie the twigs into a frame, cradle the jar in the center, and suspend it from a nearby branch. Boom – mood lighting for marshmallows and memories.
2. Pinecone Fire Bombs
These look like something straight out of a woodland witch’s starter kit. Collect big, open pinecones.
Dip them in wax tinted with crayon shavings. Let them dry, and boom – they’re colorful, fragrant, and burn like a dream.
I like to tuck a cinnamon stick inside one. Your campfire will smell like a bakery in the woods.
3. DIY S’more Skewer Kit
You haven’t lived until you’ve roasted marshmallows on a skewer you wrapped in paracord with your own hands.
Choose a long, sturdy stick (or metal skewer), wrap the handle end in braided paracord for grip and style, and hang a little leather loop for portability.
It’s half craft, half survival gear – and it’ll outlast every graham cracker you bring.
4. Log Slice Coasters
One afternoon, I found a fallen branch thick enough to slice into coasters.
A pocket saw, a little patience, and some sanding later – bam! Nature-made drink rests for your cocoa or cider.
If you’ve got a woodburning pen, add initials, trees, or tiny tents. These little guys don’t just protect your log table – they add rustic charm like nothing else.
5. Tin Can Lanterns
Old baked bean cans deserve a second life.
Punch tiny holes in patterns – stars, bears, or even your initials. Pop in a tealight, and you’ve got a trail of glowing magic down your camp path.
I use a towel and a nail to hammer the holes. Just be sure to prep them at home, unless you love late-night hammering in the wild.
6. Mini Paracord Utility Bracelets
This one’s more than a craft – it’s a tool. I like to prep a few mini paracord bracelets in bright colors.
They look cute on your wrist or backpack, but when you need to tie something down, hang wet socks, or secure a tarp – you’re grateful.
Plus, weaving them beside the fire is soothing. Think of it as survival-meets-style.
7. Charcloth Tins
This is old-school wilderness wisdom.
Take a small metal tin (an Altoids box works), stuff in some 100% cotton scraps, and toss it in the fire for a few minutes until it’s charred but not gone. Let it cool. What you have now? Fire-starting gold.
I keep one in every pack I own – because lighters break, and lighters don’t make you feel this cool.
8. Campfire Memory Flags
Each time we camp, we make one. Just a square of canvas, painted with a memory – whether it’s a squirrel that stole our bread or that one perfect s’more.
We string them up like mini bunting around our tent. Over time, the memories flutter in the breeze. And isn’t that what it’s all about?
9. Burlap Hanging Camp Organizer
Call me a packing nerd, but this one changed the game.
I stitched together a few squares of burlap into a vertical hanging organizer using twine and a stick from the ground.
Pop it up beside your tent. Now your flashlight, bug spray, and headlamp have homes – no more late-night fumbling. Looks like something out of a bushcraft magazine too.
10. Ember-Kissed Leaf Art
I’m not saying play with fire. I’m saying carefully use a glowing stick like a stylus and a piece of driftwood or light bark as your canvas.
Trace leaves or initials gently – like wood-burning, but primitive. The glow leaves a soft charred line. It’s calming. And kind of addictive.
11. Pocket-Sized Survival Notebook
It starts with cardboard scraps and duct tape. I staple in a few index cards, wrap the whole thing in waterproof tape or fabric, and stash it in my pack.
Notes, trails, to-dos, even the recipe for that killer camp chili – this little book becomes a memory keeper. My son once drew a map to where we saw deer. I still carry it.
12. DIY Tinder Tube
This one’s fire magic in a tube. Grab a used paper straw or cotton fabric rolled up tight, soaked lightly in melted wax.
Cap the ends with foil or twist them like old candy wrappers. It lights up easily, burns slow, and fits in your pocket.
I keep three in my tin box – because dry kindling is never guaranteed.
13. Fold-Up Campfire Utensil Roll
No more forks rolling under logs or knives lost in backpacks. I stitched together a canvas rectangle with stitched slots for each utensil – fork, spoon, spork, even a marshmallow skewer.
When you’re done? Roll it up, tie with a strip of leather, and toss it in your gear. Keeps everything in one snug, stylish bundle.
14. Campsite Signal Stones
My son came up with this one. We gathered flat rocks and painted symbols on them – like a cup for “water here,” a star for “look up,” and a smiley for “good spot to sit.” We place them around the site like secret markers.
The little messages make the forest feel like ours.
15. DIY Bug-Repelling Herb Bundles
Forget store-bought sprays that smell like a chemical storm.
I bundle dried rosemary, sage, and a bit of lavender, wrap it tight in cheesecloth or muslin, and toss it near the fire. As it burns, it smokes gently – and the bugs hate it. Feels like incense for the wild.
Final Thoughts
The best crafts aren’t just made – they’re remembered.
Each one you try builds confidence, adds a layer of self-reliance, and connects you to the rhythm of nature.
You start seeing the forest not just as scenery, but as a supply shelf.
You pack lighter, think smarter, and solve creatively.
That’s the beauty of hands-on camping. Let your next trip be more than just scenic – let it be skillful. Now go, craft something wild.
