Yesterday I shared how to hide everyday artwork by just covering it with fabric and adding a wreath.
Today I’m almost embarrassed to show you this stupid-easy way to turn the fake, plastic greenery into something that looks totally real. For free. It’s fast, easy and literally anyone can do it.
When it’s fake, you know it.
When it’s fake, it can look skimpy.
How do you fix these so they look real and lush?
For free?
Without needing a lot of time or talent?
With these. Pine clippings.
Go to your local Christmas tree lot and ask them for the clippings. They will give you all that you want. We get real trees and Handsome Hubby always saves me the clippings from the bottom of the tree (there are always a few branches that need to be trimmed to get the tree into the stand) but I always end up needing more, so I hit my local tree lots too.
Take your free greenery and clip small pieces off.
That was the free part.
Here’s the easy part: take those little pieces of real (free!) greenery and start tucking it into your garlands and wreaths. There is no need to wire it in or secure it in any way. Just by poking the end of the pine clipping into the fake stuff, it’s like they interlock and stay in there securely. (When it’s time to put everything away, the real stuff is easy to pull out of the garlands and wreaths.)
Whether you’re adding them to a garland or a wreath, make sure they are all tucked in going the same direction.
1. The fake, skimpy garland.
2. Start adding in the real clippings.
3. Unless you’re looking closely, you can’t tell it isn’t all real greenery.
The wreaths above the garland were also fake and had the real greenery tucked into them.
Do they dry out? Yep. But they stay green and pretty, so you will only know they are dried out if you go and touch them. (So, um, don’t touch them, K?)
******UPDATED to address the anonymous comment below: Yes, clean-up will require you to vacuum up a few pine needles, but I personally think that 10 minutes of vacuuming is worth a month of December beauty in my home.*******
Anonymous says
December 21, 2011 at 1:46 PMLove the look of it, but really… one will have to clean until summer to get rid of all the needles that will fall as they dry.
Colleen says
December 21, 2011 at 3:21 PMThat is a great idea. I’m going to have to try this out. Um, if I ever get around to decorating . . .
Maybe next year 😉
Jessica @ O. Alouette says
December 21, 2011 at 3:27 PMGenius idea! Love the wreaths.
THIS IS ME....ONLINE says
December 21, 2011 at 5:04 PMThat’s a GREAT idea! Wish I had thought of it. Bonus: your house smells amazing!
Maggie @ Midwestern {Sewing} Girl says
December 21, 2011 at 6:34 PMsmarty pants…love this idea!
Merry Christmas, sweet girl!
MiMi says
December 21, 2011 at 7:05 PMI KNEW that’s what you did to make em look real! 🙂
Emmy says
December 21, 2011 at 7:10 PMOh tricky tricky!! What a great idea. We have a tree farm right around the corner- might have to head over there… well might way next year to do this since Christmas is this Sunday!! What!!
Screaming Sardine says
December 21, 2011 at 8:24 PMGreat idea!! Love that it’s free and that it really makes all the fake stuff look so lush and real. Bet it smells a bit like pine, too.
Cheers,
Tracy Screaming Sardine
Elz says
December 22, 2011 at 3:56 AMMy friend does this too. I think it’s a great idea. A perfect way to add some real beauty without tons of effort.
Good Time Charlie says
December 22, 2011 at 6:04 AMThis is a great idea. I always save the clippings from the tree and get the clippings from the Tree Store (Home Depot) when we are there. I put them in vases and a Maple Bucket that hangs on my door, but what a great idea to tuck into the fake stuff! Definitely doing this next year.