Step-by-Step instructions for How-to Make a Pine Cone Wreath.
The holiday period will soon be upon us, so how about making a pine cone wreath to celebrate the season. A pine cone wreath can be hung on a door, placed flat on a dining room table or buffet as a centerpiece, or used in place of a picture or mirror over a fireplace during the Winter months. Small pine cone wreaths can even be used as decorative candle stick bases. In this post you’ll see how really easy it is to make a wreath that you will have for years; they also make great gifts for friends, relatives and neighbors.
Supplies needed to make the wreath…
(1) A wire wreath frame (bought at craft stores everywhere; mine was 14 inches wide)
(2) New freshly fallen pine cones (not grayed and weathered ones that fell a previous year)
(3) florist wire (I used size 24 GA)
(4) wire cutters
and newspapers or an old cloth to protect your work table
Step 1… Working close as possible to a cross wire (as seen in the above photo), take your first pine cone and twist it in a clock wise direction, pointed side down, in-between the two center wires that make up your wreath frame. After inserted, push the cone side-wards into the cross wire, that will help to anchor it. After that twist in your second pine cone, just as you did the first, and then push it into the first cone you placed on your wreath form. By pushing the cones together, the cone petals will mesh into each other which makes the wreath both structurally and visually solid looking.
This photo, looking from the side of the wreath, shows how the first three pine cones have been inserted into the wreath frame.
The above photo shows the completed center part of the wreath, looking at the front side.
This photo shows the completed back side of the wreath with the pointed ends of the pine cones facing you.
Step 2… Take the end of your florist wire and lash it to any one of the cross wires that make up your wreath frame. After that twist the florist wire once round the top of the pine cone nearest it (as seen in the above photo). After wiring your first cone, take your wire over to the top of the cone next to it and do the same; continue twisting the florist wire, from one cone to another until you have completed the circle of cones, then twist the wire around a cross wire again. By doing this step you have secured all the cones to each other and the wreath form.
Step 3… Working from the back side of your wreath, you will next be forming the inner circle. First attach your florist wire to the inner wire of your wreath base at a cross wire. Next take your pine cone and push it tightly up against the florist wire and your wreath frame; then lash the cone to the frame.
The above photo shows a side view of how the cones are pushed up tightly next to each other and how they are positioned on the wreath frame.
This is the completed backside of the inner circle.
The is the completed front side of the inner circle.
Step 4… Working from the backside of the wreath, pine cones are next added to form the outer ring. Start by attaching your florist wire to the outer wire of your wreath frame at a cross wire, and begin attaching your cones. 
The above photo shows the first two cones that were attached. Notice how they have been pushed up close to each other, and how their petals are pushed into the wire wreath base.
The above photo shows the completed back,
and this photo shows the completed front.
Step 5 … To make the wreath even more solid, florist wire was run tightly around the outside edge of the wreath between the cones’ petals, as shown in the above photo .
Next some cross support was added to the pine cone wreath in three or four places, which is similar to the cross supports on the wire wreath form. Take your florist wire and attach it to the back side of your wreath on the frame (you can see it where I’m pointing in the photo). Bring the wire from the outside of your wreath to the front hiding the wire between the petals of the pine cones as it goes over the front and again moves to the back of the wreath through its center; then lash it to the back of the wreath frame again. By doing these two steps the wreath is held tightly together in both directions.
Step 6… Decorating the Wreath… Supplies needed
(1) a can of Rust-oleum spray Crystal Clear Enamel (gloss) (optional, but I used it)
(2) wired ribbon ( I used 1 1/2 inch thick)
(3) assorted nuts in their shells ( I used hazelnuts and filberts)
(4) decorative picks with berries (available at craft stores everywhere)
(5) florist wire and wire cutters
(6) not shown an electric drill and a 5/64 inch drill bit
(A) ..Cut berries from picks (as seen in the photo) and attach florist wire to them leaving about 6 inches of wire to attach to wreath.
(B) ..Wearing safety glasses drill a hole through the base of each nut. Pass florist wire through holes, and wire as berries were done, leaving about 6 inches of wire to attach to wreath.
If you are good with a hot glue gun you could possibly attach the berries and nuts to the wreath using it, instead of doing the wiring and drilling.
After attaching the pine cones to the wreath base, no matter how tightly you positioned them, there will be spaces, here and there, between the cones. Take you nuts and berries and use them to fill in empty spots. Try to place things a bit symmetrically when you lay out your nuts and berries. Before permanently wiring or gluing berries and nuts to the wreath do a dry run to see what looks best. When you finally get your berries and nuts where you want them, pass the florist wire through the wreath to its back side and wire the berries and nuts to the tops of the cones that form the center of your wreath.
Next look at the three photos showing my wreath with no bow, but berries and different kinds of nuts on it. Each one has a different look.
Here hazelnuts and berries have been used (the wreath looks kind of rustic and has an Adirondack kind of vibe).
This is with berries, hazelnuts and filberts (a bit more colorful with the addition of the lighter filbert shells).
This is just berries and filberts (the filberts being a light color create a more high contrast paired with the pine cones).
The three wreaths just shown show the pine cones and nuts in their natural colors; I would say a bit more rustic and earthy. The next picture shows it after being varnished with the Rust-oleum Crystal Clear Enamel. The Crystal Clear brought out all of the deeper-richer colors that the cones and nuts have, and I think protects the wreath a bit; the look is a bit more elegant and Victorian. 
If you decide to varnish the wreath spray it with the nuts attached. After varnishing then attach the berries and bow. Spray it first face down, so you can get the back and sides. After that (when it has dried), spray its front and sides a bit more. When I sprayed mine, I had it suspended up on some old 4×4 inch wooden blocks so it was not touching the cardboard that I put on the floor of my garage under it.
Step 6… To hang the wreath, take a length of florist wire and double it. Attach it to the top of your wreath on the back center and wire it to the wreath’s wire frame.
Step 7…To make the Bow, as seen on the wreath, read my post Making an Easy No Tie Bow for Your Christmas Wreath
So there you have it, instructions on how to make a Pine Cone Christmas Wreath. Years ago, when I did art and craft fairs, I made many of them and sold them seasonally. Making the wreath brought back happy memories of doing shows and of all the really nice/wonderful people who I came across during that period of my life.
This, my 161 post, marks the 5 Anniversary of Fred Gonsowski Garden Home.com. Thanks You to all of the people who have written comments, pinned me on Pinterest, The San Francisco Chronicle, eHOW, and Face Book. Seeing that my articles on interior decorating and gardening have been read, so far, over a million and a half times by people world-wide has really been a JOY.
Companion Posts on Fred Gonsowski Garden Home.com
It’s EASY to Fluff a Fake / Artificial Christmas Wreath 11-30-0211,
Putting Lights on a Christmas Tree..The Easy Way 11-3-2011,
Christmas Tree Decorating..Step-by-Step, Like a Pro 11-13-2011,
Cutting/Making Paper Snowflakes 10-27-2011,
A paper Craft project for Kids..Make a Christmas Tree out of Your Name 11-18-2011,
It’s Easy to Make a Tulle Christmas Wreath 11-8-2012,
How to Decorate a Christmas Tree with Tulle 10-20-2012.
Fred Gonsowski Garden Home 
Thank you for all the inspiration and well-written how-to articles on your most excellent blog. I have pinned several of your Christmas articles (especially) to several of my Pinterest boards – which I know you know link back to you. (I read Cease and Desist – can’t you tell? SHAMEFUL of them!) Happy [upcoming] Holidays!
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMore dot com)
– ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder –
“It takes a village to transform a world!”
Hi there Madelyn, I never have a problem with all the wonderful people who pin me on Pinterest; they are the best. The people who don’t link, I have a problem with. Madelyn you are a bit of a rare bird…For the, I think, hundreds of thousands of pins on Pinterest of my posts, only a handful have commented. But in the end, being pined is really a compliment, if the pinner writes me a note or not. Merry Christmas and the Happiest of 2016 to you!
Crazy how few people will take the time to comment, huh? To me, while I agree that pinning is a compliment, I think it’s insensitive-bordering-on-rude, personally, to jump all over somebody’s blog, enjoying the fruits of their talent and/or hard work, and not even taking the time to say a quick thank you (even Kilroy left comments saying he was there, right?!)
I know how lonely “message in a bottle” blogging can make one feel. After a while you start to wonder if anybody’s out there. As long as the blog is well-behaved (doesn’t slow down or shut down my browser – many do, btw, usually those with tons of ads with scripts that hang), I try to leave at least a brief thank you. Thank YOU for taking the time to comment back.
As for any flavor of “stealing” – it makes me crazy! Every once in a while a link gets “blown” – but how hard is it, really, to add a link to the source? lol – it’s kinda’ like how I feel about tipping: if you can’t afford to tip, you can’t afford to eat out.
May 2016 be your best year ever – and may you get gobs of positive comments.
xx,
mgh
Hi there Madelyn, your comment got me looking at things from this side. First of all as of a few minutes ago I’m at 1,600,006 page views/articles read. I’ve posted 161 articles in the last five years. 68 posts of the 161 ever got comments. I’ve commented 481 times back to people who have made a comment, I try to write something to everyone. How interesting is that!
When I first started this blog, I did find it odd that no one commented. When I started seeing that I get 1.60 or above, articles read by my viewers, and on a slow day, close to 2000 articles are looked at, I don’t care any more. (I don’t count anything, WordPress comes up with the numbers that I’m telling you)
I do find that when I get a comment it is most times a question. I do feel if my posts are helpful, and the person can understand what I’ve written, they probably don’t need to write anything. When a person did ask a question it was something that I did not cover in the post. In a way, the comment helped to add something extra to the piece.
I do have about four hundred something followers, but most of my readers are people looking to do a certain project. I do think that some of them, once their question is answered are onto something else.
I knew, right up front, when I started this blog, that no one owed me anything, and this was a project I chose to do, so if a person comments fine, and if they don’t that is fine also, and I don’t have to write something back. SO there you have it Madelyn, my feelings on the subject.
That’s a wonderful attitude, Fred – thanks for sharing it. I’m thrilled for you that your stats are so high and that you are happy with that. For me, it’s not about the statistics, it’s the *relating* I seem to crave, even in a sort-of pen-pal format.
As an entrepreneur who works virtually, I have spent more time totally alone than suits my extremely social temperament throughout much of my life. I have done what I did to make a difference in the lives of others – so it lights me up to hear or see that I have (thus the “message in a bottle” reference).
I don’t feel they *owe* me anything, it’s just that I was raised to engage and feed back (Air Force brat -always moving – so it seemed simply “what people do”). It feels rude and/or intentional to me when large groups of others do it another way (especially when I see dozens and dozens of comments on some of the other blogs out there and sometimes none on an article I thought was fairly thought provoking and/or helpful).
As long as I lived in Manhattan, social life/alone time balance was really fine. In addition, the first [html only] websites didn’t have the blog comment format ability anyway, so I already spent way too much time on email correspondence – being a pioneer in my field and one of the few who could/would answer functional questions without charge).
The South is very “neighborly,” so the balance was still okay when I moved to the mid-size college town where I got my BA (and knew a few people who never left). Working “alone” actually suited me (ADD Poster Girl – highly distractible), even though the move from THE big city to a comparatively small one was quite the adjustment.
Here in a slightly more northern city in Ohio it has been very strange, people-wise, especially since a series of unfortunate events with my business partners forced me to put my training arm on a protracted hiatus while I regroup. I have to pay attention to keep from slipping into depression from lack of human contact, some days.
Even though I moved to a walking neighborhood with porches and sidewalks, folks tend to keep to themselves and don’t really extend to “strangers.” Frequently, even a simple smile and hello is unreturned. I don’t take it personally, but it does keep me isolated. More than a few days I have felt like one of those “living ghosts” that nobody can see (reference to that old Ghost Whisperer television show about a women who could interact with dead people to help them “move on”).
So I suppose I have become more sensitive to lack of communication in the relationship vacuum that is my life these days – vacancies in the blog comment fields included. My response to your response helped me understand the dynamic and my response to it – so THANKS!
xx, mgh
Hi there Madelyn, As for blog articles with many comments, sometimes those comments are more about people wanting to see their name and comment made, versus really about the post. Some people with websites comment hoping that readers of blogs will read their comment, click on their name, and they will get traffic on their site. I also do feel that in the blog world, some people have followers that are enamored by the writer, and they want to be repetitively seen to the blog author as someone. In a way it is like someone wanting to be a friend of someone, but it is not real, but just in their mind. I also see that there are blogs where, the so called famous post things, and there are many who write comments, but the author of the post never says anything back to the commentors. I do feel comments from the blog author are a must, at least some of the time. I do know that there are blogs that get thousands of comments a day, and if a person gets that many comments, it would be impossible to comment every time. Writing a blog is really like painting a picture, it is a solitary activity. For me, at this point in time, writing the blog articles is really about letting a part of the creative process out of me, and it happens to be seen by a good amount of people world wide on this website.
Lots of food for thought in your latest response – thanks! I’m with you about enjoying the creative process that blogging provides – maybe I need to spend more time with my stats than my comments? xx, mgh
Hi there Madelyn, looking at your stats is the way to go. Comments are nice, but not all that important. You never know who is looking at your site. I know that a lot, maybe even all, of the big boys and girls in the blog-design-gardening-decorating-creative world have read my posts at one time or another. There is a person who is on national TV in the morning, and one day that person was doing a spot that was just too much like my post Turn your Deck Planter into a Drink Station for your next party. I posted it a year before that person presented my idea as their own. I painted my deck planter blue for a party I had here, and filled it with bottles of champagne, that I drew for the blog illustration. The TV personality painted theirs blue and had the bottles of champagne in their presentation. Red Rook Magazine used one of my posts for a piece they did. Click here is see it. If you look under Categories on the right side of the screen you will see References or Resources for San Francisco and eHow. Those venues used my posts twenty something times as parts of their articles; but never told me they were going it. I found they were doing it as I was getting track backs from those sites (How nice was that!). I have seen things written in shelter magazines that were presented just too similar to what I’ve written. None of those so called experts would ever admit to looking, but everyone, or their staffs are constantly looking all over the internet for ideas. It’s just part of life.
I say to you Madelyn, just do as your are doing and write your blog as long as it interests you. Everything has its season. Some seasons are short, and others last for years. Life has its chapters, and blogging is part of your life at this point in time..
Oh how hateful it is when you see YOUR intellectual property tagged with someone else’s “by-line.” It has happened to me as well – and I am always, always, always dismayed and disappointed. I don’t care WHO they are or WHY they do it, how hard is it to credit your sources? (Don’t schools flunk students for plagiarism anymore?)
Congrats on your trackbacks – your site is great, your ideas are clever, and you deserve it (too bad Pinterest doesn’t track back, huh?)
Here’s to the chapters and seasons to come – may they ALL be satisfying — for both of us.
xx,
mgh
Pingback: 30 Decorative DIYs to Make a Pine Cone Wreath | Guide Patterns
Pingback: Craft: 30 Decorative DIYs to Make a Pine Cone Wreath – CrochetingHearts.org
Pingback: Pine Cone Crafts - MakingFunCrafts.com