Nature's Quick and Easy Ornaments

Handmade ornaments showcase the colors of nature, including pumpkin seeds, chili peppers, dried peas and moss.

Materials:

• STYROFOAM Brand Products:
  • Ball, 4"
• Dried materials: pumpkin seeds, chili peppers, dried split peas, moss, pinecones
• Straight pins
• Acrylic finish, low gloss (optional)
• Ribbon, 12" per ornament
• Thick, white craft glue or low temperature glue gun and glue sticks
• Nature's Quick & Easy Ornaments

Steps:

1. General directions: Working on a small section at a time, cover portion of ball with glue and glue on dried materials; continue, working a section at a time, until ball is covered. Let dry.
    
2. Split Peas: Glue split peas as close together as possible. Model pictured has alternating quadrants of yellow and green split peas. Stripes and swirls are other design options.
    
3. Moss: Cover ball entirely with moss. Wrap ribbon around ball, pinning at top and bottom of ball (optional).
    
4. Pumpkin Seeds: Glue pumpkin seeds as close together as possible.
    
5. Pinecones: Cut apart pinecone; starting at the bottom, glue individual leaves in a row around ball. Add another row, overlapping the first. Continue adding rows, overlapping each row, until ball is covered.
    
6. Chile Peppers: Glue peppers as close together as possible; to keep peppers in place, pin top and bottom of each pepper to the ball.
    
7. Spray ornaments with acrylic finish (optional).
    
8. Tie ends of ribbon together, forming a bow. Place dab of glue on top of ornament; pin and glue bow to ball, forming hanger.
    

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For more project ideas, please see styrofoamstyle.com.