Nespresso Bluebells

These coffee pods make surprisingly realistic bluebells, as well as making a pleasing bell like sound.

Nespresso pods are an interesting material. It's very light, easy to work with, beautifully coloured metal, but to get that metal involves messing about with used pods.

I'm not wearing gloves in any photos, but you might find it useful to do so. I did end up getting very small cuts a bit like paper cuts, but they weren't painful.

Cut the top off using sharp scissors. I'm using an old pair of nail scissors, but anything will do, as long as you don't mind getting coffee on them.

Peel away the top. It's a bit like a yoghurt pot lid, and will come off in small pieces and be very irritating!

Tap upside down into a bag, and wipe around to get most of it out.

This is what an empty pod looks like.

To wash them, I simply put them in the sink in some water for a bit to soak off the stubborn bits.

Using a piece of tissue, dry each one individually. There is a kind of filter in the bottom of the pod, and leaving it to dry naturally can make them smell.

You will need the following:

1. Washed out nespresso pods
2. thin florist wire - 15cm is perfect.
3. a long piece of thick wire (not shown in picture) - 30cm is perfect
4. floristry tape
5. beads
6. pliers
7. an awl (or similar)
8. scissors

Using pliers, press around the edge of the pod and flatten to make the pod into a bell shape.

To make a hole in the bottom of the pod, put the pod flat onto a cutting board (or just a piece of scrap card or wood) and push the awl through carefully in the centre. The metal is really thin and it doesn't take much pressure.

Take a bead and a piece of thin wire. Thread the bead onto the wire, and bend the wire in half so the bead is on the fold. Push the free ends through the hole in the pod, then twist the wire to keep the bead and pod in place.

Wrap floristy tape around the wire, paying attention to where the wire joins the pod. Cover the length if wire in tape, making it a bit thicker where it meets the pod. You should still be able to bend the wire.

Once you have made a few of these, attach them to one end of the thick piece of wire.

Wrap the thin wire around the thick wire until it is secure. Attach a few close to each other all at one end.

Once you have enough bells added to the thick wire, you will need to wrap more florist tape around the thick wire to strengthen the structure.

You will need to weave floristry tape in and out between the bells, and it is a bit tricky, but it's worth it for a stronger finish and it looks more like a real flower too.

The final thing should be bent slightly when displayed so the bells hang in a realistic way.