DIY Pine-Cone Bouquet

GUEST BLOGGER: ELISA YOON

Saw this cute DIY at Once Wed

{Image from Once Wed}

I have never seen this before, but I found the idea of it intriguing.  A bouquet made out of pine cones to go along with the winter theme.

I just went to my first wedding as Esther's intern and we used pine cones to add more flavor to the centerpieces and even though there was no flower girl at her most recent wedding can you just imagine  the flower girl going down the aisle with this cute and definitely unique bouquet?

{Image from Once Wed}

"What You'll Need: 15 - 20 small pine cones 15 - 20 strands of floral wire Brown floral corsage tape A lovely hankie Dried and preserved glittered babies breath or similar dried filler flower 1 yard of ribbon l ( I used two different colors and  widths) 1 short zip-tie (rubber bands will work too) Wire cutters Scissors Resources: Most of the supplies are  available at any craft store. Take a walk and collect your pine cones. Velvet ribbon is made by Midori. Directions: 1.  Take one of your wires and run the middle of the strand between the lowest layers of "scales" on the pine cone.   Fold both ends of the wire down, and twist the wire tight until the pine cone is secure.  (see figure 1) 2.  Wrap the floral tape around the two wire ends, starting at the base of the pine cone and working your way down.  Pull the tape as you wrap. It becomes sticky as you stretch it.  (see figure 2) 3.  Wire and tape all of the remaining  cones.  For a small bouquet, it will take 15 to 20 pine cones. 4.  Once you have all the cones wired, bundle the pine cone "stems" together to form a round bouquet. (see figure 3) 5.   Wrap the bundled stems  together with  floral tape.  Use your wire cutter to trim the stems so the bouquet handle is about 5 inches long.  (see figure 4) 6.  Break your filler flower into small sprigs. (see figure 5) 7.  Tuck the springs in between the pine cones.  (see figure 6)  When you've added all of your filler flower, wrap the bouquet handle with another layer of floral tape to secure the filler. 8.  Neatly press your hankie. 9.  Turn your bouquet upside down and put the center of the hankie on the end of the bouquet handle.   Pull the hankie up towards the pine cones to make a "cuff" around the base of the pine cones.   Take your zip tie or rubber band and secure the hankie around the "neck" of the bouquet. (see figure 7) 10.   Tie your ribbons around the neck of the bouquet to conceal the zip-tie or rubber band.  Trim the ribbon ends to desired length.  (see figure 8) What it Cost: Pine cones - Free from the neighbor's yard! Hankie - A wedding shower gift Wire - Pennies a strand Midori ribbon - $3.80 a yard Glittered babies breath - $7 for a bundle (with plenty of extra left over) Floral tape $2 - a roll" {These instructions are from Once Wed}