How To Craft A Stunning DIY Sunflower Wreath With Pinecones

Looking for an inexpensive Fall wreath idea? You will love this DIY Sunflower wreath tutorial because it’s easy and you can make it for almost free. It’s actually a DIY pinecone wreath, but the pinecones are crafted into sunflowers. This rustic sunflower wreath will instantly add a refreshing fall ambiance to your home.

Y’all know I love to forage for free materials to decorate my home, and this wreath is no exception.

Pinecones are easily found around our property and, therefore, a natural option for many craft ideas.

Inspiration For A Sunflower Wreath

The idea to make a DIY Pinecone wreath was inspired by a recent trip to the beach, where I saw many large pinecones along the roadside. They were much larger than the ones falling beneath our trees, and I stopped to pick up a few.

However, when I looked at the bottom of the cone, I envisioned it as a sunflower and a new wreath idea was born.

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Where To Get Pinecones For Free

Did you know you can purchase pinecones? For someone who lives in the south, the idea of paying for pinecones seems silly.

However, pine trees are found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere, so I understand that the availability of pinecones for purchase is needed.

If you have pine trees in your area, you also have pinecones that are available for free. I often stop along the roadsides to pick free flowers, pinecones, and other materials to use for my crafts.

I recommend taking a drive into the country to find your free supplies.

How To Make A DIY Pinecone Wreath For Almost Free

In addition to foraging for free pinecones, you can make a DIY pinecone wreath for free by recycling an old wreath.

This project doesn’t require a new wreath because you will cover the entire surface with pinecone sunflowers.

If you don’t have a wreath you can recycle, you may find one cheap at a thrift store or consignment shop.

Look for a sturdy grapevine or rattan base and remove all the old florals.

If you have craft paints and hot glue on hand, you can make this wreath for FREE.

Supplies Needed For DIY Sunflower Wreath

• Large Pinecones (Approximately 6 – 10 depending on the size of the cones and wreath)
• 1 Recycled Grapevine Wreath or 15 inch wreath
• Craft Paint Deep Ochre
• Marigold Craft Paint
• Raw Umber Craft Paint
• Basil Craft Paint
• White Chalk Paint
• White Spray Paint (Matte)
• Hot Glue Gun
• Pruning Loppers
• Small Pruning Shears

How To Cut Pinecones Into Sunflowers

Pinecones have a very sturdy core, and the only tricky part of this project is cutting the pinecones.

After attempting to cut the cones with regular pruning shears, we quickly moved on to larger Pruning Loppers. They have a larger open range and cut the core of the pinecones easily.

I enlisted the help of my husband, as he is much stronger than me, and made quick work of cutting the cones.

I could have done the task but with much more effort. LOL

To cut the core of the pinecones, begin at the bottom, leaving several rows of petals above the separation line.

You should be able to get two to three sections from each large pinecone. Several of the petals will break away during the separation process. Save them to make leaves for the sunflower wreath.

You will also need to trim the centers of the pinecones to remove any broken or jagged petals.

How To Paint The Pinecones To Look Like Sunflowers

Begin by preparing a spot to spray paint your pinecones. I used cardboard and some wax paper to cover a small table.

Next, lay the cut cones upright and paint with the white matte spray paint.

Try to allow the paint to get in between the petals as much as possible. You don’t need perfect coverage.

The spray paint will dry quickly if you don’t over-saturate the pinecones.

To hand paint the sunflower design, use an uneven mixture of the three colors to create a rustic, neutral style.

Paint each petal along the upper rows and work some color into the lower petals if possible. Once again, don’t worry about perfection. You will see lighter and darker areas on each one, which adds a handcrafted authentic appeal to your project.

You can look at the video to see how I mixed the colors as I painted.

I wanted to keep my wreath semi-neutral and used white chalk paint to mellow the yellow tones. However, you can use bright yellows if you prefer.

After the petals are painted, add the sunflower centers by painting the core with raw umber craft paint.

Finally, paint the broken petals with basil green to represent the leaves for the flowers.

Add Pinecones To Make Sunflower Wreath

Now you are ready to add the painted pinecones to craft the DIY Sunflower Wreath.

Add hot glue to the back side of the pinecone sunflowers and press them into the grapevine wreath. Hold them in place until the glue sets.

Once all the sunflowers are in place, fill in any gaps with the green petals.

Hang DIY Sunflower Wreath

The DIY Sunflower Wreath will look lovely indoors or outside on a porch. I recommend a covered area to protect your new wreath from water damage.

It’s hard to believe this is a pinecone wreath. Don’t you love how the colors pop against the black shutter? Thanks for stopping by today.

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