Is it just me or is the holiday decor going up earlier each year?
It can't be my imagination. Costco had Christmas trees on display by the end of August this year. Who can think about Christmas when it's 30 degrees outside? Come November, though, and the holidays are top of mind.
This will be our third Christmas as Nova Scotians - and it was to be our second driving back to Ontario to celebrate with our families - until the weather headed south (and not in the warm, sunny way).
Anticipating that we'd be away for Christmas, we put up our tree right after Remembrance Day. And so the obsessive decorating began. Now, days before Christmas, I'm still coming up with more fun ways to decorate and re-use ornaments - all in my modern-minimalist fashion, of course.
One of the advantages of living in Nova Scotia is that we're surrounded by nature. We chose our house because of the stunning landscape, and my reno/decorating goal is to create a flow between the inside and the outside. This holiday DIY project achieves that goal!
Pine Cone Garland Perusing the Christmas decor at one of my favourite home decor stores, I fell in love with strands of garland lined with pine cones. The price tag (too much) instantly convinced me that this was a meant-to-be DIY project. It turned out to be one of the easiest crafts I have ever made, and one of the prettiest too!
Here's what you need:
Materials:
Pinecones of various sizes (about 20)
Craft glue (the environmentally friendly type)
Salt (regular salt or Epsom salt)
Silver or gold sparkles (optional)
Floral wire
Twine (5 to 8 feet depending on how long you want your garland to be)
1. Find a forest, park, or just a beautiful tall pine tree in the backyard. Collect pine cones of varying sizes that are in good shape (and free of bird or squirrel poop). Or buy them at the craft store.
2. Cover your table with newspaper to protect it. This will get a little messy.
3. Using craft glue, drizzle some glue over the pine cones. With your fingers or a paint brush, spread the glue over the part of the pine cone you want to appear frosted. If you're going for a frost-tipped look, rub glue over the top of the pine cone only (not the stem end).
4. Sprinkle salt over the pine cones, adding a little extra on the parts with the glue. Allow the pine cones to dry for at least an hour. Overnight is even better. If you like, after you've added the salt, sprinkle silver or gold (or both) sparkles over top to give your pine cones a little extra shimmer.
5. When the glue has dried, cut about two inches of floral wire and tie a few tight loops around the stem of a pine cone. Leave one inch to tie around the twine. Repeat for the remaining pine cones. 6. Cut from 5 to 8 feet of twine or yarn. Use a longer length for a large tree. If it's too long, you can always cut it down to size later. Scan your pine cones and decide in which order you'd like them to appear. Alternate larger pine cones with a couple of small ones. Plan to leave about 6 inches or more of space between each (or each set). Attach the pine cones to the twine with the end of the floral wire, twisting it around a couple of times to secure it.
Stretch out your garland to admire it and to ensure the pine cones are spaced out nicely. Wrap the garland around your tree and smile. You're all done. Oh, wait, clean up the mess and then smile.
Use any extra pine cones to decorate other areas of your home. Place them in a decorative bowl or basket. Add them to a wreath. Place one or two on a washroom counter top or on your dining room table. Have a couple sit next to candles. Instead of a bow, use one or more pine cones to top a gift. 
