MintLife Blog | Personal Finance News & Advice | DIY Holiday: 3 ...

Let?s face it ? the holiday season is expensive. By the time you?ve budgeted out your holiday shopping, food and party expenses and secured any travel plans, there may not be funds aplenty for festive decorations.

You don?t need to dip into your savings account or rack up credit card debt to infuse your home with a little holiday spirit ? simply collect a few pinecones from your backyard instead. With a splash of glitter or a little colored string, pinecones can change your dining room table from bland to festive in a heartbeat.

If your neighborhood isn?t full of pinecones, you can grab a bag of them at your local craft store for less than $5.

Here are three ways to turn a pinecone into a perfect piece of seasonal d?cor:

Glitter

You?ll need: Pinecones, spray adhesive, a paper plate and glitter in the color (or colors) of your choice.

Hold the pinecone over your plate and spray an even coat of adhesive. Then, liberally apply your glitter, using the plate to catch any debris.

Give your pinecone a soft shake to shed the excess glitter and set it aside to dry. It won?t take long!

Yarn

You?ll need: Pinecones and yarn in the color of your choice. Take your yarn and wrap the string evenly around your pinecone, working your way from top to bottom.?The more you layer, the more colorful your pinecone will be.

If you?re planning to hang your pinecone, leave a little extra string at the top and tie it in a loop.

Paint

You?ll need: Paintbrush, acrylic paint (we used neon pink to make the color pop) and pinecones. Dab each prong of the pinecone with paint. If you want a more colorful decoration, paint more of the cone.

Note: You may have to apply more than one layer of paint if you?ve chosen a lighter color.

To turn your paint-tipped pinecone into a place card holder, take a slip of paper and write or stamp the name of your guest on it.?Then, simply wedge the card holder between the prongs at the top of your pine cone.

Viola! Pinecone placeholder.

BrightNest is a free site that provides tools and tips to homeowners to help them save money, get organized and keep their home in great shape.

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Source: http://www.mint.com/blog/how-to/diy-holiday-3-inexpensive-ways-to-decorate-with-pinecones/

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