Autographed Copy
 |
 |
 |
|
Arthur Approved Decorations CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOOK
Idea #1: ARTHUR'S WELCOME WREATH --- a great way to develop patience and finger dexterity. Go into the backyard, or into a forest, or along the highway. Collect one plastic grocery store bag full of small pinecones --- always leave plenty for the squirrels by taking some from several trees --- milkweed pods, berries, and other interesting items. Be sure to remove the milk weed seed from the pods before you leave, so the seeds fly where they would have if you hadn't come along, and look for pods that are still fresh, but ready to open. You'll also need: a strong scissors, florist's wire, a styrofoam ring the size you'd like for your wreath, a hot glue gun and glue sticks, some artificial fruit (if you didn't find any berries). TIP: IT HELPS TO LET THE PINECONES DRY FOR A WEEK OR TWO SO THE SEEDS FALL OUT MORE EASILY. ALSO, PAINT THE STYROFOAM BROWN, AND/OR COVER WITH MESH TO KEEP IT FROM CRUMBLING. ALSO THIS PROJECT TAKES PATIENCE AND LOTS OF TIME --- TWO LONG AFTERNOONS AT LEAST. TAKE BREAKS. COME BACK AND DO MORE.
Natural Material and Wire mesh ribbon, hot glue gun, strong scissors,
artificial items florist's wire, newspaper spread on the table  Putting wire mesh ribbon on styrofoam ring with pleats and florist's wire staples   STEP 1: Cut wire about 8 inches long. STEP 2: Make a loop of the wire.
  STEP 3: Place loop into base of the first pinecone. STEP 4: Twist the wire once.  STEP 5: Place one wire around base of the second pinecone.  STEP 6: Twist the wire from the second pinecone around the first wire.
 STEP 7: Place the longer wire around the third pinecone as you did before.  FINISHED PINECONE TRIPLET. You'll get good at this because
you'll make a lot of these to cover the ring. Get ready to be patient.  STEP 9: Place a large drop of hot glue.
 STEP 10: Place wire into the glue and through the mesh. Be careful to place both wires into the same hole --- it' easier to push into the styrofoam. You'll do this for each triplet you make.
 STEP 11: Add more glue to the bottoms of the pinecones.This makes the wreath virtually indestructible.
 MILKWEED STEP 1: Make a loop for the milkweed pod.  MILKWEED STEP 2: Twist the wires together.
 MILKWEED STEP 3: Twist the wire all the way and trim to about 2 inches.  REPEAT THE ABOVE STEPS OVER AND OVER TILL YOU'VE COMPLETELY COVERED THE STYROFOAM. Fill in spaces with singleton pinecones, real or artificial berries, and artifical fruit shapes by hot-gluing them on. They will hold firmly once the glue is set. Place the milkweed along the edges of the wreath. Your wreath might have greenery --- if using natural evergreens, don't glue them in, and when they dry out, you can remove them and next year put in fresh ones.   FINISHED WREATH --- Hang it inside on a wall, or outside on the door. |
