Nesting Instincts... (A Tutorial)

This was such fun!  It's very messy, so I recommend doing this project outside ~ :)

The only items I purchased were the coconut fiber hanging basket liner (Walmart, 77 cents) and the spray adhesive (Elmer's Craft Bond) ~ I had some spaghnum and Spanish moss left from where I had used it around the base of some of my potted plants. You can use any wire or twine ~ the rest is all "found" plant material from your yard or the roadside.

Choose the longest pieces of grass or vine...(I used dried lemon grass and the nice twisty Cypress vines off our trellis (I knew there was a reason I hadn't cleaned up my herb beds/annuals from last year!)  Just lay them out straight ~ I spread some Spanish moss and a few dried leaves on top ~ you really can't go wrong with this, just use what you have ~ birds do!  ~ if your nice layered vine mix is too long, just fold it in half... then give it a good spray of the Elmer's adhesive. Let it set for a few minutes, then take an end in each hand and give it a gentle twist...not too much; you just want it to have a little of that "woven" look" ~ not tight. The spray adhesive will help everything stay in place.

Form your dried materials into a circle, whatever size you like ~ overlap the ends quite a bit if you need to. Spray with a little more adhesive if you think it needs it ~ especially where the ends overlap. I tied mine at this point with some weathered twine we had the Cypress vines growing on, and then gently wrapped the rest of the wreath with kraft wire ~ again, not tight ~ and just a few times around the whole circle ~ this is just to help everything stay together until the adhesive is really set. You can cut it off later, or leave it if you want. (There are no set rules ~ :)

Here I'm starting a small nest ~ (this is my first attempt at this, too, so bear with me! ~ I think I'm going to like the smallest best!)...

Three sizes! (They could also be wreaths at this point...)

You know you're on the right track when robins watch you (coveting your nesting materials)  from the edge of the yard...:)

Now we have to find something to support the "inside-nest" material... a few straight sticks, stuck through the bottom edge of the nest, will do the trick...you don't even have to glue them.

 

Now take the coconut fiber and cut a circle that's just a little larger than the inside of your nest...clip around the edges a little (like darts in dress-making) to make it fit better (you can also pull the fiber apart if it's too thick). You can even use just pieces of the fiber for this...it tends to stick to itself, and you're going to cover it up, anyway. Just stick it in there!

Now for the most fun!... Take little sheets of the spaghnum moss and give them a spray of adhesive, and place in the bottom of the nest...add some Spanish moss, too, for good measure. Then you can find other little pretty dried bits...(I used some of last year's Hydrangea blossoms that were still hanging on)...and add them here and there...

...I also added some dried asparagus fern that I just cut off my plant (it's spent the winter in the basement, and was kind of sad...but the delicate little dried fronds look great!

I added my little Orphaned Eggs from two years ago, and Voila! ~ what a fun little nest!

I will probably continue to add little bits of this and that from the garden, just playing...♥

I hope I've explained everything ~ as I said, there really is no right or wrong way...just do what you think looks good ~ please e-mail me if I can answer a question about a step that I did, though. ♥



(As some of you have probably guessed, I needed to do this project this afternoon to avoid working on that big watercolor...;)

Have a great week!

♥ ♥ ♥

Anne



Adding this tutorial to "Frugalicious Friday" at http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/ ~ fun, frugal decorating ideas!