Pine cone basket with lights

I got this idea for a basket filled with various shaped pine cones and Christmas lights years ago when I was at a craft fair.  It is an extremely easy and very inexpensive gift idea or home decor item.  All you need to do is go pine cone hunting with your kids and dig around for an old basket you have kicking around.
Warning: once you have your pine cones collected, place them into a garbage bag and spray them with spider killer! Did you know that spiders love to live in pine cones? I did not know this and I found this out the hard way. I hate spiders! 

So after all the spiders are gone :) start gluing, with hot glue, the pine cones into the basket. If you have holes in the side of your basket, like I did, start putting the lights around starting at the bottom. If you have a solid basket, you can fill the basket almost full and then start adding lights.

Note: I used just used an old set of mini lights but be aware these lights get pretty hot in confined spaces. My basket is very open and the heat can escape easily. I would have loved to use the new LED lights for this because they produce almost no heat. So just be aware of this when you have it on.

Keep piling the pine cones and lights until you are to the top of the basket. At this point try to hid the light chords as much as possible but they do not have to be 100% hidden.

Once the pine cones are to a height you like, add some dried baby's breathe flowers and red berries to hide the light chords you weren't able to hide with the pine cones.

Plug in the lights and add a bow. You are done! 

 
 What do you think?

Stephanie

Comments

  1. Very nice indeed! Looks so cozy. I would love for you to link this up to Wickedly Crafty Saturdays at Wiccan Make Some Too!
    http://wiccanmakesometoo.blogspot.com/2010/11/wickedly-crafty-saturdays_27.html
    Found this post surfing my list of blogs I follow!

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a great idea. I have a bird cage that this would look great in!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cute! I remember my mom using the old mason jars and chicken feed bottoms to put potpourri and Christmas lights in. They were always very pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hey Cadiedid,

    My niece gave me a mason jar years ago with potpourri and Christmas lights too. I loved how it smelled and looked. This year when we plugged it in, after less than an hour, the jar and potpourri started to heat up and smell like it was burning. The jar got so hot is could have burned someone. This is why I put the caution note in my blog :) Thanks for the ideas.
    Stephanie

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is a great idea. I have tons of pine cones and baskets galore! Great inspiration and blog!

    ReplyDelete
  6. LOVE this idea! I have a glass hurricane vase filled with pinecones that just looks, BLAH. I'm going to add lights today! Thanks!

    http://www.amaskellantics.com/

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very cute! And, it's cheap & easy! My 2 favorite prereq's for projects. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Loved this idea a have to have it! Going for pine cones!
    hugs

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is a great way to Christmas-ify a dark corner. I have plenty of those!

    www.uvinyl.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. How simple and pretty - Lord knows I have enough baskets to pull this off.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love the idea. The basket is beautiful...I am inspired! Think I will start to hunt down a basket and pine cones and bug spray...yuk, hate spiders too!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Another idea would be to place the pine cones in a bag and place them in the freezer until frozen, thaw and then decorate. This way you wouldn't have to worry about the pesticide residue on your pine cones. Just a thought.....

    ReplyDelete
  13. Or you can boil the pine cones in liquid potpourri - makes them smell awesome and kills the bugs :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I soak my pine cones first and then put them in the oven @200 degrees for about 30-40 minutes. Doing this kills the bugs and bakes the sap. After they come out it looks like the sap is still there but it isn't sticky. Giving this as a Christmas gift for sure!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I have always loved this look. This year I decided to spray paint a few of the pinecones silver, plus added a few cinnamon sticks, it looks beautiful, plus the heat/warmth of the lights makes the cinnamon smell lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Howdy! I simply ωant to offer yоu a huge thumbs up for the exсеllent informatіon
    you have here on this post. I will be coming baсk to your blog for more soon.



    Also visit mу web blog special occasion shoes

    ReplyDelete
  17. hi!,I reаllу like your ωrіting so much!
    share we bе іn contaсt extra approximatеly
    youг artіcle on AOL? I requіrе
    а speсialist in this area tо unravel my problem.
    Maybе that's you! Taking a look ahead to peer you.

    Here is my web site; ice cream Makers electric

    ReplyDelete
  18. I seriοuѕlу love уour websitе.
    . Eхсellent сolors & theme.

    Did you build this ωеbsite уourself?

    Ρlease reply back as I'm looking to create my very own blog and would like to learn where you got this from or just what the theme is named. Appreciate it!

    Also visit my blog; built in ovens

    ReplyDelete
  19. Greаt article. I am expeгienсing mаnу οf thеsе iѕѕuеs as well.

    .

    Alѕo νisit my homepagе :: Restaurant Vouchers

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hеу ѵery nice blοg!

    Have a look at my web sіte: deep fried turkey

    ReplyDelete
  21. My partnеr and I stumblеd over here from a different ωеb аddгеѕs and thought I
    might as well сheck things οut. I like what I sее so nοw i am fοllowing you.
    Lοοκ forward to checκing out yοur web page for a ѕeconԁ tіme.


    My page - compare epilators

    ReplyDelete
  22. Ӏt's genuinely very complex in this active life to listen news on Television, thus I just use world wide web for that reason, and take the newest news.

    My homepage :: slow cooker reviews

    ReplyDelete
  23. ӏ liκe ωhat уou guys are usuаllу up too.
    This sort of clеver work and reporting! Keep uр thе grеаt workѕ guys I've added you guys to blogroll.

    my webpage: eylure lashes boots

    ReplyDelete
  24. I am really іmρressеԁ togetheг with your wrіting talents as
    smartly aѕ with the layout for your weblοg.
    Is that thiѕ a ρaid subjеct or did
    you сustοmize it yourself? Anyway stay up the nice quality writing, it іѕ rare tо peeг a nice weblog like this οne tοԁay.

    .

    Feel free tо visit my webρage how to clean a deep fat fryer

    ReplyDelete
  25. It's awesome to go to see this website and reading the views of all mates concerning this post, while I am also eager of getting know-how.

    Feel free to visit my homepage: cuisinart Mix it in soft Serve ice cream maker

    ReplyDelete
  26. Ridiculous story there. What occurred after? Good luck!

    Review my web site ... chalet frankrijk

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thankfulness to my father who stated to me regarding this blog, this webpage is in fact remarkable.


    my website; frances bavier

    ReplyDelete
  28. Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it
    seems as though you relied on the video to make your point.
    You obviously know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your
    site when you could be giving us something informative
    to read?

    Also visit my blog; vakantiehuizen

    ReplyDelete
  29. Very soon this site will be famous amid all blog users, due to it's pleasant posts

    Feel free to visit my web page :: vakantiehuisjes frankrijk

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hi there! I'm at work surfing around your blog from my new apple iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Carry on the excellent work!

    My weblog: what oil for deep fryer

    ReplyDelete
  31. i would have never thought about spiders being in pine cones but now that you mentioned it, it is possible. spiders can be anywheres..Somebody mentioned soaking them..in what? How can one add some cinnamon oil to those that you are going to bake in the overn? I love to go to
    Bed, Bath&Beyond and smell those cinnamon pine cones they sell in a net bag. I bought some and I bring them into the living room at Christmas time in a basket, but they could be used anytime of the year.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thank you so much sharing this informative blog. Visit Ogen Infosystem for the best Website Designing & Development Services.
    Website Designing Company in Delhi

    ReplyDelete
  33. Your blog is really awesome, thank you so much for sharing with us this valuable information. Visit Y&H Cargo India for Shipping and Freight Forwarding Services.
    Shipping Company in India

    ReplyDelete
  34. Nice Blog, if you are interested to invest in mutual fund and do not found any best guidance. Mutual Fund Wala is best investment advisors of Mutual Fund.
    Investment Advisor in Delhi

    ReplyDelete
  35. Kalakutir Pvt Ltd is the best company for Vinyl Signage Printing and School Bus Painting service provider in delhi, India. Visit kalakutir page for more information.
    School Bus Painting

    ReplyDelete
  36. I think this is an informative post and it is very useful and knowledgeable. therefore, I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. halco lighting technologies

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts