Zinnia pinecone wreath

From NZ Gardener magazine

Jacob Leaf turns tradition on its head and makes a summery Christmas wreath by transforming pine cones into heat-loving zinnias.

How to make a zinnia pinecone wreath
Make a summery Christmas wreath

You will need

Materials:

Pine cones
Tin snips
Metal-wire wreath frame
(available from Spotlight stores)
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Bendy wire strong enough
Small paintbrush
Resene Colorpak aerosol spray gun (available at Resene stores)

Paint colours:

Zinnia colours: I used Resene Half Limerick, Cabaret, Buttercup, Chilean Fire and Turbo (stamen)
Blue wreath: Resene metallics Obelisk, Magnetic and Lucifer
Gold wreath: Resene metallics Gold Dust, Magma and Copper Fire

Cost: $34.50 excluding paint.

Instructions

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Step one: Create a zinnia flower shape by removing some of the scales from the pointy end of the pinecones with tin snips. Leave the very centre scales intact as these will form your zinnia stamen.

Step two: Apply paint to the pine cones using an aerosol spray gun or a paintbrush. Leave to dry, then apply a second coat, then a third for an even finish. If you want a more rustic look, do only one or two coats.

Step three: Paint the stamens yellow with a paintbrush.

Step four: Use a hot glue gun to attach your zinnia flowers to the wreath frame. Exposure to the elements will weaken the glue, so if you are going to hang your wreath outside, wire the bottom end of each pine cone flower to the wreath frame using strong, bendy wire.

Step five: If you want to create a more traditional Christmas-sy pine cone wreath, leave the pine cones intact and paint them with metallic paints. For added texture and visual interest, wire small bunches of fir, manuka, totara or tussock around the frame, so that they splay out behind the pine cones.

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