DIY: An evergreen arrangement for the holidays
I have the craftiest neighbor, Terry Mathews, whose outdoor holiday decor has really forced the rest of us on the street to step up our decorating.
Thankfully, Terry agreed to show me — and you — how to make this fantastic Christmas decoration, perfect for hanging on a porch or in a tree. I have mine hanging from the eves right in front of my front windows. It’s beautiful.
The project is easy and affordable. Terry estimates the supplies will cost you less than $20 and you’ll have some leftover for future projects. The affordable price comes in part because you’ll collect some of the main ingredients right outside your front door.
“I wanted this to have a natural look,” Terry told me. “So I went out into the yard and collected some of the things I needed.”
So here’s the supply list and instructions:
Supplies & tools
- Fresh cut evergreen branches, twigs, dried grasses or other natural elements you collect in the yard
Grapevine cone shaped hollow tree
- Bag of Spanish moss
- Ribbon
- A rustic, metal Christmas ornament
- Accents, such as these little red birds
- Wire – we used 19-gauge galvanized steel wire
- 3 bamboo skewers typically used for the grill
- Half brick of wet floral foam
- Paddle wire – very thin green floral wire
- Wire cutters
- Garden snips
You really can use almost any garden elements you find -berries, rose hips, or dried flowers would look great.
Instructions
1. The first step is to make a hanger. Cut three pieces of wire, each about three feet long. Flip the tree upside down and thread one piece through what is now the top rim of the cone. Pull the two ends together and twist until the entire wire is twisted to the rim.
Repeat with the other two wires, spacing them equally around the rim. Then bring the three twisted wires together at the top and twist together. Bend the wires into a hook, as shown at right.
2. Stuff the Spanish moss inside, filling up the cone so you see the pretty green color through the nooks and crannies of the grapevine.
Next, nestle the wet floral foam into the top of the cone. The wet foam helps keep the branches fresher and — if it freezes — really locks all the greenery in tight. Tuck some of the moss around the foam so it’s not so obvious.
At this point, you might want to hang the cone up in a tree or from a hook so you have better access to the top.
3. Now the creative process begins. Clip your evergreen boughs to about 18 inches long — longer if you want a larger, fuller arrangement and shorter if you want a more compact arrangement.
Poke the ends of the boughs into the floral foam, alternating their positions so that some provide height while others drape over the sides of the cone.
Add enough to give your arrangement a great structure and provide a full backdrop for your other pieces, which will serve more as accessories.
Fill in with twigs, berries, grasses or other natural elements.
4. Terry used small red birds made of foam to accent our piece.
Poke a bamboo skewer through the bottom of the bird and wrap the wire from the bottom of the bird around the skewer.
Repeat with the second bird.
Stick the skewers into the floral foam, arranging the birds so they can be seen from one side of the arrangement.
5. Make a bow using the ribbon or use Terry’s shortcut: Take two strips of ribbon, each about four feet long. Holding them together, fold them over so there is a loop at the top. Using the paddle wire, cinch the ribbon about one-third of the way down, so the loop is about six to eight inches long. (See above.)
Then separate the loops to make a bow-like look.
Cut the ends of the ribbon at angles or into Vs — or tie knots at the ends. Terry did both.
Then, wire the bow onto the third skewer, being careful to keep the top of the skewer below the bottom of the loops. Poke the skewer into the floral foam.
6. It’s time to hang the ornament on the bottom of the cone.
Wrap several lengths of wire around the bottom of the cone, then string the wire through the hole on the ornament. Twist wire to secure.
Voila! That’s it.
Doesn’t it look just like something you’d pay $50 for at the flower shop?
Hang it up and enjoy.
And thanks to Terry for showing us how to do this fantastic project and letting me keep this one for my own home!
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#1 bamboo on December 16, 2009:
i am writing the blog about bamboo home decor , such using of the backet is pretty cool!