Don't Throw Away Your Pistachio Shells! Christmas Is Coming 🎄🎁🌟 DIY CHRISTMAS WREATH

Christmas is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to craft beautiful decorations that fill our homes with joy and holiday spirit. However, the holiday season can also be the most expensive time of the year, even when we try to save money. That’s why I bring you this budget-friendly DIY tutorial to kickstart your Christmas decorations with minimal expense.

Start collecting all the pistachio shells you can, and don’t hesitate to ask friends or family who enjoy pistachios to save their shells for you!

1. A large styrofoam donut (wreath base)
2. A piece of fabric
3. Pins
4. Hot glue
5. Pistachio shells
6. Paints: green, yellow, red, and white
7. White glue

The first step is to cut the styrofoam donut in half horizontally, as shown in the images. This will give you two semi-circular pieces, we will use just one for this instructable.

Take one half of the styrofoam donut and place it on the fabric. Use a marker to trace its outline onto the fabric. Cut out a piece slightly larger than the traced shape and make small perpendicular cuts around it. These extra flaps will help you attach the fabric to the styrofoam.

Using hot glue and pins, carefully attach the fabric to the back of the styrofoam, folding the flaps over the edges and securing them at the front. This fabric layer protects the styrofoam from breaking apart over time and ensures a clean finish.

Tip: Don't worry too much about the appearance of the top side, as it will be completely covered by the pistachio shells in later steps.

Attach a small fabric ribbon to serve as the loop for hanging the wreath on the wall. Use hot glue to secure the ribbon onto the fabric-covered back of the styrofoam from the previous step. For extra security, reinforce it with a few pins.

It’s time to start gluing the pistachio shells! Begin by adding a small drop of hot glue to one shell and pressing another shell into it. Repeat this process, adding a third shell to create a cluster of three.

Glue the clusters of three shells onto the styrofoam base.

Gradually add more shells around each cluster using hot glue, forming a flower-like shape. The result will resemble a dahlia or a succulent plant.

Start creating additional flowers around the wreath. At this stage, don’t aim to cover the entire surface. It’s easier to paint some of the flowers before the wreath is completely filled, preventing accidental smudges on other areas.

Mix paint with white glue to create a thicker, more durable paint. Begin painting your pistachio flowers, focusing on one color at a time. Allow each color to dry completely before starting with a new one.

Continue painting the flowers with the colors you love, and gradually create more pistachio flowers to fill in the wreath. Alternate between adding new flowers and painting them to keep the process manageable and enjoyable.

Continue adding more pistachio flowers and painting them. Your goal is to fill every empty space on the styrofoam base, ensuring the wreath looks full and vibrant. Keep layering until the base is completely covered.

It may be easier to create flowers along the edges by starting from the outside and working your way in, as shown in the images.

I chose to leave some pistachios unpainted to create a mix of dark greens, light greens, reds, whites, and natural pistachio colors for a more dynamic look.

Your beautiful pistachio shell wreath is ready to hang. I hope you’ve enjoyed this instructable and found inspiration to add your personal touch. Feel free to experiment with your favorite colors and designs – the possibilities are endless.

Happy crafting and Merry Christmas! 🎄