I wanted to try something different to decorate my front door this year. This is the time of year I stalk the local grocery stores, trying to find an inexpensive wreath to hang on my door. Since I don’t have a storm door, I like to get a real wreath so that it can hold up to the elements. But I’ve also been trying to keep the holidays as simple as possible. When I noticed my local supermarket was selling real pine wreathes for over $20, I decided this was the year I was going to look to my yard for inspiration for a door-hanging.
Every fall my yard is literally bathed in pine cones, needles and leaves. My yard has several large trees, most of them evergreen. On one side of my yard is a giant Norway spruce. I call it the “monster tree” because when I first saw it, I thought it was quite scary looking. With long sweeping branches of pine, the tree truly is monstrous. I’m always trimming its large branches back away from the house. So, I thought, why not try to use some of these branches to make a festive piece for my front door?
Out to my yard I went with a pair of branch trimmers. The hanging pine branches are thin and all that is needed is a pair of hand clippers to cut them. It only takes a few of the hanging branches to make a decent swag, and the tree in my yard is so full that you can barely notice where I trimmed. I decided to take a few branches with pine cones still attached for an added rustic feel.
For the bow, I used some buffalo check ribbon found at Michael’s craft store and an inexpensive red bow from Walmart. I took the red bow apart and used the wire to attach it and the buffalo check together. I’m not the best bow maker, but I did my best. Then I added some simple plastic berries I picked up on sale at JoAnn Fabrics.
Next I gathered the tops of my Norway spruce clippings and tied them together with what was left of the bow wire. Then it was time to hang it on my front door.
This craft illustrates how you don’t have to spend a lot of money to “spruce” up your exterior for the holidays. Don’t forget, you can always re-use the picks and bows on another swag or wreath next year. Not only was it cheap, but it took me no time to do. Using natural elements, you can have a door hanging that is elegant and inexpensive. Happy Holidays!
The Quaint Crafter 