I'm never one to spend a lot of money on Christmas decorations, except maybe on poinsettias. So this past weekend, I took a stroll around the yard to see what I could find in the way of holiday charm. I wove a bunch of young branches together and gathered up some pine cones. There's a huge bittersweet vine towards the back of our yard but unfortunately, the berries are about 20 feet high and out of reach. Oh well. I don't know exactly how it will come together, but hopefully I can come up with a pretty decent looking wreath.
Any ideas on what I can do with a bag full of pine cones? I thought I would just plop them into a glass vase or something.
If you have a glue gun you could turn them into a wreath also.
ReplyDeleteFun project!
It's not necessarily Christmas-y...but my friend just made bird feeders with pine cones. Smear them with suet and roll in bird seed. Then wrap with a sturdy piece of twine and hang in a tree! Or...give a few to neighbors as gifts. They came out surprisingly cute!
ReplyDeleteYou could drench them in scented oil and use them as centerpieces.
ReplyDeleteHey is that a Hannafords bag you used to collect your cones? hehe....I don't use pine cones for much - too much pitch. Sorry, no ideas.
ReplyDeleteMy mom used to make pinecone wreaths. She bought forms and wired them all on. They were quite pretty.
ReplyDeleteYou could cover them with peanut butter and seeds and hang them for the birds.
The peanut butter thing is a good idea! I just have bowls of them around the house with silver glass ornaments tucked in randomly, gives a nice modern-homey look (an oxymoron, lol)! I also have a tall glass cylinder with pinecones, silver balls, and a string of white lights shoved in there too! I know you will think of something, they are so versatile. I actually showed the kids how to string popcorn and cranberries this year and we are going to hang them on our outdoor Christmas tree for the birds today.
ReplyDeleteHi Thomas, I've just been doing a bit of catching up! I LOVE your snow photos -well, and your snow too!
ReplyDeletePine cones mostly go on the fire here as they burn and glow for ages, but I also make a wreath out of the or plonk them in a tall glass cylander vase with small red and gold baubles - and then burn them after Christmas!
A block of parafin melted in an saved coffee can, some pine cones, and some glitter make wonderful Christmas decorations.
ReplyDeleteMelt the parafin (buy it at the grocery store)and dip the pine cones to coat. Use some tongs to lift them and drain on some newspaper. Sprinkle with the glitter, (buy it in the craft department). You can staple a bit of cotton twine onto the fat end of the pinecone, and you have wonderful fire starters.
Pinecones are valuable. These are very pretty in big baskets, set on a table in the entry hall. or close to the fireplace.
We used to sell them, wrapped in pretty cellophane and tied with a ribbon-$18.00 a dozen. We always sold out!
Hmmm, nice secateurs :-)
ReplyDeleteCones in fire were my favourite when I was little.
Hi Thomas..I love how you use nature for Christmas decorations..that is my favorite way of decorating too....all natural...it's the best way to go...
ReplyDeleteas far as the pinecones go..i like the peanut butter/bridfeeder idea too...sometimes I just fill one of my big wooden or yelloware bowls with them and tuck in green pineboughs....
more later,
kary
xx
I think the pine cones are beautiful just piled in that bag! LOL! I would be inclined just to dump them into an interesting basket and call it "seasonal art".
ReplyDeleteI love pinecones. I just saw some in a house in a beautiful flat colored glass bowl tossed in with a few ball ornaments to match the bowl, very simple & pretty. They would look just as pretty in your glass vase.
ReplyDeleteWhat great ideas! Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I think I'll follow the simpler is better approach.
ReplyDeleteI vote for peanut butter and bird seed. It's one of our favorite traditions...
ReplyDeleteI have put them (pinecones) in vases or large bowls in the past. I think your wreath will come out wonderfully, you have such a good eye.
ReplyDeleteWe keep a basket of pine cones by the fireplace for decoration, even though we converted our wood-burning fireplace to a gas-burner with fake logs. Hate the fake thing, but our fireplace was too smoky for a real log fire. We have more pinecones in a pedastaled hammered metal bowl. The granddaughters love playing with them.
ReplyDelete