Zinnia pinecone wreath

You will need

Cost: $34.50 excluding paint.

Instructions

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.