What you need : basket ( any kind you want to use.you can get them cheap at a thrift store, or buy a fancy one.)

large, medium, small, and tiny pinecones ( the size of your basket will determine how many you will need, so have plenty when you start. best of all, you can pick them up off the ground for free.)

cans of silver and gold spray paint ( I usually keep several in stocks, because when you get done with the first, you will want to do another) small strand of christmas lights several plastic or glass christmas ornaments or knic knacs

roll of christmasy ribbon ( the kind with the wire) artificial christmas flowers some sprigs of gold and silver ferny looking flowers hot glue gun amd glue sticks

 

What to do:

1. You can spray paint your basket, or leave it as it is.

2. Start with your biggest pine cones- you will take the big pinecones and hot glue them into the bottom of your basket ( fill the basket about 3/4 full)

3. spray paint your medium and small pinecones . Paint some silver, and paint some gold. When they are dry, get ready to hot glue the first layer of medium pinecones into the baskets on top of the large ones. ( they will hide the unpainted large ones ).

4. Glue a few mediums cones into the basket, then take your lights and start weaving them on top of the cones ( just somes of the lights )

5. Start gluing your small pinecones ontop of the medium ones, being careful not to get the hot glue on the light wires. Add as many cones as you want, and as you go, keep weaving your lights till you get to about 4 or 5 inches away from the end of the plug. You need to leave at least that much out so you can plug them in later. Try to end up with the plug at the back of your basket.

6. After you finish weaving your lights, you can add a few of the tiny pinecones to hide any wire showing.

7. Take your ribbon and wind it around the handle of your basket. If you do it just right, you can save enough to make a bow at the side of the handle.

8. Now take your ornaments and glue them on top of your pinecones ( you decide where you want to place them ) It's best to just set them in place first so you can look and see if you want them there.

9. Take your artificial flowers, and cut each branch away from the other. Cut the stems short ( about 5 or 6 inches long). Take them and put hot glue on the edges of the wires and stick them in between the pinecones. You can set them at different heights. You also place them where you want them just like the ornaments.

10. Cut your spriggy leaves to different lengths, and do the same with them in the pinecones.

 

I also get these little tiny artificial birds at the craft dept. at Wal Mart, and  hot glue them on the handles. Have fun. This is really easier than it sounds. You will be a pro in no time. And when you plug them in and look at them, they are gorgeous !!