Asked on Nov 01, 2014

Amateur decorating. Would like some tips & helpful hints

I want to begin with Christmas decorating pine cones. Also, I want to have all my Christmas tree decorations homemade. I do not have much money so I need some really creative ideas for a poor budget. I appreciate any help. I am a Christian and want this reflected in my decorations.
  11 answers
  • Jill Feigelman Jill Feigelman on Nov 01, 2014
    This is a great project using pine cones for dinner card place holders from @Laura Trevey. http://www.hometalk.com/diy/craft/centerpieces/glitter-pine-cone-place-cards-2176062 You can find other easy Christmas crafts using pine cones here: http://www.hometalk.com/search/posts?filter=christmas+pinecone
  • Jo Jo on Nov 01, 2014
    Paint the tops of the cones white. If you can afford small stirofoam balls use squares of cloth to cover with some material hanging down. Then use white pipe cleaners for wings. The angels can be any color. Shop the dollar tree for. Inspiration
  • Jo Jo on Nov 01, 2014
    Have been doing this type of decoration for years.
  • Lucia medeiros cabral Lucia medeiros cabral on Nov 01, 2014
    Old christmas cards make beautiful tree ornaments. Just cut them in various shapes and with pieces of scrap lace and fabric trim,s glue around an hang on the tree also make vintage boots small fill them with some batting hand sew and add bit of lave or satin bow. And you have another trim. I have done before. Its good therapy. Happy. Crafting
  • Michelle Speiser Michelle Speiser on Nov 02, 2014
    Dried oranges and apple slices tied to your tree(look online to find out how to dry them in your oven. Bunches of cinnamon sticks (3 tied together ) raffia bows ( inexpensive to purchase at local craft store sold in natural or holiday colors). String popped popcorn. To tie the look together purchase dollar store wreaths and decorate with the same items. Don't forget ...pine cones look lovely in a bowl or glass jar on a table!
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Nov 02, 2014
    Daughter made me a delightful table piece at school one year. It was a piece of split log, bark on, that sat level. There was a hole drilled in the centre for a candle. Pine cones were glued on the piece and frosted with something. Forget what else was glued on. Used it for years. You can also string popcorn for deco.
  • Morgan Morgan on Nov 02, 2014
    My mom collected pine cones and trimmed pine and fir branches to make wreaths and grave blankets. She would spray paint the cones in different colors then brush white paint onto just the tips for a snow effect, very pretty!
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    • Morgan Morgan on Nov 02, 2014
      Nice family activity, too. We kids loved to help collect the cones, paint the tips, and wire them to the florist pegs. We didn't have much money, and my mom never spent much. She got fancier cones and greens by asking to clean up and trim friend's trees, and even made the scrap wood frames herself. She really did beautiful work.
  • Love glitter pine cones! You can also have a look here to see my post on bark candle holders, if you dont have the bark just an old jam jar and epsom salts/glitter work well! http://www.hometalk.com/diy/decorate/rooms/frosted-birch-bark-candle-holder-epsom-salt-5380887 Also, you could make salt dough ornaments :)
  • Bkr762926 Bkr762926 on Nov 03, 2014
    Since you live where it is still warm, look for wild flowers (aka weeds!) that you can press in a phone book or weighted down between sheets of paper for a week or two. Queen Ann's Lace is lovely this way and the white color shows up well on a tree.
  • Allie Wade Allie Wade on Nov 03, 2014
    Why not make paper German stars? You could hang those or cut paper snowflakes. Either are really pretty. Plus, I used to make ornaments with small pinecones with fake snow (aka: white glue and white glitter) brushed a little on the edges. Turn the pinecone upside down, glue a little bit of greenery or Spanish moss on the wide end, then glue a small mushroom bird on top. It looks like a bird on a nest. I have located mushroom birds at the Dollar Store.
  • Dana, I like decorating with pine cones too. I fill a basket with pine cones and use different sizes of colored glass ornaments to nestle among them. I use this on my dining room table. You can also use them as mini trees by decorating them with little balls and display in clear votive holders.