These rustic DIY cotton stems were SO simple to make and they look so darn cute!
Hello friends and welcome back to another round up of beautiful decorating ideas that you can whip up in just 10 minutes or less!
Y’all, I’m seriously SO excited about this series! I mean honestly, who doesn’t have 10 minutes to spare?
On the first Wednesday of each month, I’ve been teaming up with an amazing group of bloggers to bring you all sorts of inspiration that you’re sure to love. This month’s theme was {Fall} and I cannot wait to see what everyone came up with!
It may only be the beginning of October, but here in Northen Alberta, we’re actually nearing the end of our Fall season – yes, already!
Most of the leaves have made their way from the branches to the ground and lately, we’ve even been waking up to a white layer of frost over everything. There’s no mistaking it, Winter is just around the corner…
But friends, I plan to soak up every last minute before the snow flies! Fall is my very favourite season and I definitely plan to enjoy it while I can!
I’ve mentioned before how much I love to decorate for Fall, but obviously spending a ton of money on decorations I can only leave up for just a few weeks isn’t very practical. Instead, I’ve made a few of my own and it’s been a lot of fun watching my collection of Fall decor grow…
This year, I really wanted to try my hand at making a few of those lovely cotton stems I’ve been seeing everywhere and I was so surprised at how simple they were to whip up!
The stems were just a few branches the Carson and I picked up on a walk through the forest – we grabbed a few from the ground that looked like they might give me the height I was looking for.
To add the cotton balls, I simply tore some pieces from a large pinecone to attach to the back of each cotton ball with a dab of hot glue and then, once dry, I used another bit of hot glue to attach each one to my stems.
Friends, it was SO simple! These sweet DIY Cotton Stems took just minutes to whip up, but they look so darn cute!
I’m thinking I may use them to decorate our new farmhouse style porch for Fall, but in the mean time, I think they look so pretty in my new office space!
Now I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to check out what the other gals came up with…
Wishing you SUCH a lovely day!
Kelly @ mysoulfulhome says
Brilliant ! I love this project. The addition of the pinecone bits makes them look so real !
Kristi says
Thank you so, so much Kelly!!!
stonegable333 says
How cute are these cotton bolls? Wow! Who would know. Don’t you love things like this that are so creative and look so good! YOU GO GIRL!!!
Kristi says
Awwww, you’re the sweetest Yvonne! Thank you SO much! I LOVE how they turned out too. 🙂
Lainie says
I love cotton stems as they always remind me of my travels down South with my (late) husband. We loved the South so much that we went for decades usually twice a year! I have a jug of it (faux) on my kitchen counter and every time, I look at it, it brings up memories. I bought mine at Michael’s but no longer see it there and need more for a wreath so I’m definitely going to make your easy – but realistic – version! Thank you!
PS: You may want to check out Lucy (a Toronto gal) who makes them from cardboard egg cartons – her blog is: “Craftberry Bush”.
Kristi says
Oh Lainie, that’s such a lovely story – what a beautiful reminder of such special memories. I’m so happy you’re feeling inspired! And I know just the tutorial you’re talking about, Lucy is SO talented!!!
Lainie says
Thanks Kristi – I just collected some pine cones this afternoon. Guess what I’m making tomorrow. By the way, my husband and I spent almost a week in your beautiful province and a year ago, my granddaughter went out to Banff and placed some of her grandfather’s ashes in the Bow River as we loved the scenery so much!
Kristi says
Oh good! Sounds like a perfect afternoon! And thank you, we absolutely LOVE it here – the rocky mountains are just so majestic!
Susan says
I love anything with branches and this is darling!!
Kristi says
Well thank you so much Susan!!!
MARY-ANN (FROM CANADA!) says
Kristi! What a great idea! The cotton stems are so cute! Will definitely be making some of these for my “country” friends — and me! Thanks! Bless you!
We live along the southern shore of Lake Winnipeg (Manitoba) and today it feels like winter is coming fast! We still have gorgeous colored leaves on our birch and oak trees among our pine trees. We live across from an island and the color of the leaves over there is so beautiful. Love the fall! I am still watering the flowers in the planters on our deck railing! So will enjoy them while we can!
Kristi says
Thank you so, so much Mary-Ann! I’m thrilled to hear you’re going to make some of your own! And how lovely that you’ve still got some Fall left to enjoy!!!
kristinsalazar597020196 says
These are simply adorable! I think I need to get busy making some!
Kristi says
Awwww, well thank you Kristin!!!
Sarah @ Making Joy and Pretty Things says
SO cute! How creative to use pieces of pinecones to adhere to cotton to the stick. I absolutely LOVE this.
Kristi says
Thank you so, so much Sarah! I love how they turned out too!
Debbie Westbrooks says
Beautiful and creative!! You rock!
thejohnsonplusdog says
I’ve been dying to make some of these too! Can’t believe how easy they look. Thanks for sharing the great tutorial. They look perfect in your new office space.
Kristi says
Thanks so much!!! They were SO simple to make, I definitely wish I’d tried it sooner!!!
Kendra @ www.joyinourhome.com says
What a fabulous idea, Kristi!! They look fabulous!
Kristi says
Awwww, well thanks Kendra!
Heather Luckhurst says
LOVE this DIY Kristi!! So clever to use pinecones! Love your entire vignette too – pinned!
Kristi says
Thank you so, so much Heather!!!
Diane@InMyOwnStyle says
These are so pretty and what I love even more…unique. I have tons of pinecones in my yard and am always bringing the little pieces into the house on my shoes. 🙁 Now I know how to use them.
Kristi says
Hahaha! I know just what you mean!!! Thanks so much Diane!!!
Katie @ UpcycledTreasures says
Kristi, these are awesome and look so realistic!
Kristi says
Thank you so, so much Katie!!!
vrmm26 says
These are very real looking. Love that you used pinecones. May have to make some myself for autumn. Visiting from Show + Tell party.
Kristi says
Thank you! I’m thrilled that you’re feeling inspired!
Kreativk Net says
They look super real and are so easy and quick to make, I love this! I’ll be trying this out for sure!
Kristi says
Thank you so, so much Katrin!!!
Jen Panguluri says
Love them! (pinned)
Kristi says
Thanks so much Jen!!!
Kati says
I really need to make some of these! I even have a plethora of pine cones in my front yard from our giant pine tree! Maybe I’ll get around to it this week 😉
Kristi says
SO happy you’re feeling inspired Kati! They were so, so simple to make, it took just a few minutes to whip them all up!
Kim~madeinaday says
Oh my gosh I love these! Very clever! Thanks for linking up to Merry Monday! Pinned & Sharing on FB! Have a great week!
Kim
Kristi says
Thank you so, so much Kim!
Sherry says
So smart! Thank you for sharing at Home Sweet Home!
Kristi says
Thanks so much Sherry!!!
JP says
Holy, clever!!! LOve your idea….thanks for sharing!
JP
Kristi says
Awww, well thanks so much JP!
Mary-The Boondocks Blog says
Kristi you were not kidding when you said they were that easy to make. I love when something is easy and it has major impact like these cototn stems. Hope you enjoy every last bit of your fall. When do the leaves start to fall to the ground over there? We have just gotten rid of summer down here in Greece and I for one, am glad to be done with it. Haha! I guess no one is satisfied with where they are.
Kristi says
Thanks Mary! They really are SO easy to make! Wishing you a beautiful Fall – we’ve sort of skipped right through ours actually and have landed smack dab in the middle of Winter, having been buried in snow these last few weeks! Typically we wouldn’t expect snow until November, but it’s not totally abnormal to see it this early either. I bet Fall in Greece is AMAZING!
Cindy says
Great idea; they look amazing!
Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
Blessings,
Cindy
Kristi says
Thanks so much Cindy!