My favorite Christmas DIY: Pinecone wreath

I’ve told you a lot about this project and now that it’s finally done, I can show you how to make it. I’m a little extra proud of this DIY because of the improvised foam ring (those are usually very expensive, at least where I live) that the wreath is built around. Last year I covered my hanger in scraps and wrapping materials, but the idea (H’s idea, actually) with the insulator is much faster and easier! This is a very zen and fun DIY and gives a massive outlet for your creativity – the possibilities are endless. Make it with only one type and size of cones, paint it, don’t paint it, do red berries and green leaves in stead of golden ones… the sky is the limit! I’ll show you what auntie J’s turned out like later, but until then:
{CLICK THE IMAGES FOR A CLOSER LOOK!}
a lot of pine cones (in all different shapes and sizes, small ones are great for filling in gaps) // a wire hanger (for the framing) // a foam isolator (they’re used for pipe insulation and cost 0.50€ at the hardware store; a LOT cheaper than foam rings) // cutting pliers // glue gun & glue sticks // duct (or any other kind of) tape (not shown in the picture)
1. Bend your hanger into shape (we used a cook-pot to bend it around to create a nice round shape; doesn’t have to be perfectly round, though)
2. Cut through the wire using your pliers
3. Thread the wire through the isolator. If the cut end of the hanger is sharp and cuts into the foam, wrap some duct tape around it to make the job easier.
4. Tape the ends together using duct tape (wrap it around the bottom, cut the other end in half and wrap each half around the hook)
5. Your foam ring is done! Face the hook downward so you can use it to hang up your wreath once it’s done.
6. Pick out cones that match the shape of the ring (ones that are bent) and start gluing them to the outermost side of the ring to create an even shape.
7. Glue another round on top of the first one
8. Start filling in the gaps. Make sure you keep track of the shape of your wreath – the inner circle has to be perfectly round or your wreath will end up looking crooked. Same goes for the outer ring – symmetry is everything (this is where having different sized cones comes in handy)!
All of the above is optional, how you choose to decorate your wreath is completely up to you!
1. Go to your garage or balcony, grab a can of spray paint and cover your wreath in white paint.
2. If the spray doesn’t whiten it enough, brush on some white acrylic paint.
3. If there’s still thin strings of glue covering your wreath, remove them.
4. Spray paint the leaves (they’ll fly around when you start spraying them so grab something to hold them in place with) golden.
4. Do the same with the “berries”.
6. Decorate the wreath evenly…
7. …with little “nests” of berries and leaves.
8. Tie a ribbon in a bow around the top of the wreath (I didn’t have the wide golden ribbon I’d like), hang it above the fireplace or on a door (hang the hook over the door, it should close without a problem) and voilà – you’ve created a beautiful wreath and barely spent any money on the supplies!