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 Uses for Walnut Shells
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader

4928 Posts



USA
4928 Posts

Posted - Oct 09 2013 :  12:26:55 PM  Show Profile
I recently learned that you can crush walnut shells (I have English walnut shells) and use them to fill pin cushions (and they sharpen your needles too). I would have never known this, if a farmgirl had not blogged about it.

I have a few bag fulls of these, and I am wondering what else I could use them for?

I have seen them used for Christmas ornaments in various ways too.

Farmgirl Sister #800

My Family and My Crazy Life: http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl

1511 Posts

tina
quartz hill ca
USA
1511 Posts

Posted - Oct 09 2013 :  1:22:20 PM  Show Profile
my daughter did a mosaic for a school project in high school, useing nothing but organic things, she used walnut shells for her differant shades of browns and shadowing, in the trees and animals, glueded it all down on a MDF board

"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad"
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prariehawk
True Blue Farmgirl

2914 Posts

Cindy

2914 Posts

Posted - Oct 09 2013 :  6:50:24 PM  Show Profile
I found directions in an old magazine for making little purses out of walnut shells--you cover them with fabric (which you've embroidered) and stitch the fabric in one place so it forms a hinge. I used an old button and a little loop to keep it closed. I attached a ribbon to mine and sometimes wear it as a necklace.
Cindy

"Vast floods can't quench love, no matter what love did/ Rivers can't drown love, no matter where love's hid"--Sinead O'Connor
"In many ways, you don't just live in the country, it lives inside you"--Ellen Eilers

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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl

4179 Posts

Michele
Bruce Wisconsin
USA
4179 Posts

Posted - Oct 10 2013 :  04:17:50 AM  Show Profile
Kristina, I have used the crushed walnut shells for pin cushions, they work nice. How would you go about crushing them? The ones I bought were very finely crushed.



just a girl farming in WI

Michele
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader

4928 Posts



USA
4928 Posts

Posted - Oct 10 2013 :  05:24:07 AM  Show Profile
That was going to be my next questions. How do you crush them? I read you can smack them with a hammer then put them in an old food processor. I do use an old one for soap mixing, but I wonder if it would ruin the machine, considering the shells are pretty hard.

Farmgirl Sister #800

My Family and My Crazy Life: http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
Recycle Art Ideas: http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl

1511 Posts

tina
quartz hill ca
USA
1511 Posts

Posted - Oct 10 2013 :  09:27:56 AM  Show Profile
put them in a cloth bag (like a pillow case)and then I used my heavy duty marble pastry roller and then smashed and rolled, needed them in differant degrees of size, so it worked very well for us...

"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad"
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader

4928 Posts



USA
4928 Posts

Posted - Oct 11 2013 :  10:00:34 AM  Show Profile
Thanks. I don't have a marble pasty roller, but I could come up with something.

Farmgirl Sister #800

My Family and My Crazy Life: http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
Recycle Art Ideas: http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
Our Family Store: http://roosterscrowfarm.blogspot.com/

2011 Farmgirl of the Year
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HealingTouch
True Blue Farmgirl

3448 Posts

Darlene
Kunkletown Pa
USA
3448 Posts

Posted - Oct 11 2013 :  10:17:35 AM  Show Profile  Send HealingTouch a Yahoo! Message
My sister made little mice Christmas ornaments for me way back in the 80's and they are so cute. We have black walnut trees and it's even a chore to get the green outer shells off. My husband was just looking for an old fashion nutcracker but so far no luck! It sounds like a sledge hammer would work! LOL!

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Darlene
Sister 1922

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Calicogirl
True Blue Farmgirl

5216 Posts

Sharon
Bruce Crossing Michigan
USA
5216 Posts

Posted - Oct 11 2013 :  12:00:55 PM  Show Profile
Kristina,

I was going to post about making walnut ink but you need the husks too.

I wish I knew what else you could use them for. I just use nut shells for fire starters.

Farmgirl Sister #5392

By His Grace, For His Glory
~Sharon

Edited by - Calicogirl on Oct 11 2013 12:04:52 PM
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader

4928 Posts



USA
4928 Posts

Posted - Oct 12 2013 :  05:52:35 AM  Show Profile
Sharon,
So you are saying the shells are good fire starters too? I bet that would help with starting our campfires more easily. Thanks for this tip.

Farmgirl Sister #800

My Family and My Crazy Life: http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
Recycle Art Ideas: http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
Our Family Store: http://roosterscrowfarm.blogspot.com/

2011 Farmgirl of the Year
July 2012 Farmgirl of the Month
Farmgirl #800
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl

4179 Posts

Michele
Bruce Wisconsin
USA
4179 Posts

Posted - Oct 12 2013 :  4:08:19 PM  Show Profile
We got my dad a nut cracker from Lehmans on line. It really works great on the black walnuts. I made some dye for my wool from the walnuts too.

just a girl farming in WI

Michele
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader

4928 Posts



USA
4928 Posts

Posted - Oct 13 2013 :  11:11:25 AM  Show Profile
I have lots of black walnuts in my yard, and have used them for dye before, but we were gifted a bunch of English walnuts, locally grown. I may make some ornaments from some of the halves.

Farmgirl Sister #800

My Family and My Crazy Life: http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
Recycle Art Ideas: http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
Our Family Store: http://roosterscrowfarm.blogspot.com/

2011 Farmgirl of the Year
July 2012 Farmgirl of the Month
Farmgirl #800
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Calicogirl
True Blue Farmgirl

5216 Posts

Sharon
Bruce Crossing Michigan
USA
5216 Posts

Posted - Oct 13 2013 :  1:31:12 PM  Show Profile
Kristina,

I put the shells in egg cartons or cupcake liners (had some that I found at the thrift, unopened but they were too big) I drizzled candle wax on them too.

I want to try and make ink. We discovered a nut tree, I'm not sure if it is Hickory Nut or Walnut, they are on the small side. I'm going to freeze them for ink making purposes. They fell from the tree because of winds and are too green.

Farmgirl Sister #5392

By His Grace, For His Glory
~Sharon
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader

4928 Posts



USA
4928 Posts

Posted - Oct 15 2013 :  04:15:37 AM  Show Profile
I saved an ink recipe from a while back, but have not made it yet. Thanks for the tip on the fire starters.

Farmgirl Sister #800

My Family and My Crazy Life: http://pioneerwomanatheart.blogspot.com/
Recycle Art Ideas: http://scrapreusedandrecycledartprojects.blogspot.com/
Our Family Store: http://roosterscrowfarm.blogspot.com/

2011 Farmgirl of the Year
July 2012 Farmgirl of the Month
Farmgirl #800
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