(Easy and Economical) Winter Pine Branch Arrangement
Do you have some last minute holiday decorating to do? If the answer is “yes,” how about a homemade winter pine branch arrangement? It’s can be an easy and inexpensive way to bring some “fresh” indoors for the season.
Winter Pine Branch Arrangement
I got the idea many years ago when my stepfather had a knee replacement right before Christmas. One of his “get well” gifts was a beautiful arrangement of pines and holly that looked like it cost a fortune. As I looked at the contents, I realized that this was something that even I could do.
Here’s the “recipe”
Winter Pine Branch Arrangement
Ingredients
- Large vase
- Floral foam
- 4-5 evergreen branches of a soft texture
- 4-5 evergreen branches in a contrasting texture
- 4-5 red twig dogwood branches
- Fresh holly or a holly berry floral pick
- Colorful bow
Directions
1) Arrange soft textured greens in a layer. ( I usually use white pine trimmings from the bottom of the Christmas tree. This year there weren’t any so we cut some off the back–shhhh)
2) Insert contrasting textured branches in front (we used blue spruce from an overgrown tree in our yard).
3) Add red twig dogwood branches throughout the green layers.
4) Insert holly in front, then add bow.
Side View Pine Branch Arrangement
Best part–it’s easy. If are a regular reader, you know you don’t see beautifully decorated cookies or cute fondant penguins here. I drool over these in other people’s blogs, but I know my limits. So believe me… anyone can do this!
Next best part–it’s inexpensive the first year and free after that. If you have a vase and the fresh foliage, the first year purchases will include floral foam (about $2, with leftovers for later years), wired ribbon (around $4, also with leftovers, slightly more for a pre-made bow) and a holly pick (approximately $3). Michael’s and Joann’s have abundant coupons and sales (price estimates are based on sale prices) and you can reuse your purchases for free decor in future years!
If you don’t have a yard with pines, the greens can be purchased at garden centers or you can go local for your area. My daughter in Phoenix briefly considered decorating a cactus though in the end couldn’t do it. You can take the girl out of the Midwest, but she’ll always love her pines…
wow! you are talented… that’s a beautiful arrangement! so simple yet it makes a strong impression 🙂
Thanks. Actually it’s so easy you don’t need to be talented! If you didn’t catch it, the “fondant penguin” reference is to your recent post, which is seriously clever (as usual). Ohhh, now I realize the part got edited out, but I will include your link here anyway since it was really so cute.
http://cakewhiz.com/cakewhiz/post/2012/11/28/Winter-cake.aspx
What a good idea, Inger. Wondering if it would be possible to stick all of this in a hollowed-out piece of birch bark (which could serve as the vase)? It’s worth a try…if I get as inspired as you have been here.
Oh that would be beautiful, Kathy! If you try it be sure to take pictures!
Great idea! I only wish I could decorate with something like this…unfortunately my cats would think it was purely for their chewing pleasure 🙂
Our kitten has my hosta seedlings for (what he considers) his personal salad bar 😉 . So perhaps that is why this has escaped…
Cute idea!
Thanks!
Beautiful and Christmas-y! Reminds me of pines on Banner Mountain–my home place.
That’s a true compliment indeed–to remind you of Banner Mountain!
🙂
🙂
A DIY Christmassy piece which looks gorgeous!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks–it was fun to do too!
…and another advantage to making such an arrangements that this is the time to prune evergreen trees. So you’re doing the trees a favor and getting some beautiful decorations at the same time.
Wow, an added bonus even (we usually trim when the school bus drives by because the driver can’t see our kids anymore). Thanks for the tip!
Ahh, looking forward to visiting the pines over the holidays.
In case I don’t get back to you again, I want to wish you a wonderful holiday season! I am looking forward to (hopefully) a big bag of grapefruit coming home with my daughter!