A little PVC pipe and a very Merry Christmas
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| Photos by Scripps Howard News Service Inexpensive PVC pipe can be used to create wreaths, ornaments and even jewelry. For your wreath, gather various sized PVC pipe, cut them into pieces, paint and decorate. |
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Where has the time gone? Seems like the last time I walked outside my grass chairs were lush and green and the flowers were still in bloom. I am just now noticing my chairs have turned brown and a foot of wet, soggy leaves have gathered outside my door.
Must mean winter is on its way, bringing with it another round of the holidays!
This is an exciting time for those of us who produce how-to television. Why, you ask? Because there are so many creative doors open this time of year it's hard to know which ones to walk through first.
Behind door No. 1, for example, there's the exciting opportunity to create all of our gifts for people this year! Behind door No. 2, there's that all-white winter wonderland dinner party we've been anxious to prepare. Door No. 3 could reveal the dazzling decorating ideas we've been dying to unwrap since the last holiday season.
The point to all this: Creative efforts take time, so whenever you can double duty ... take advantage! For instance, 10 feet of PVC pipe is plumb full of creative opportunity and, if you start now, you can have some hip, new decorations for your home and yourself this holiday season.
Simple, inexpensive PVC pipe can be used to create wreaths, ornaments and even jewelry. Here's how:
For a contemporary looking wreath, gather up various sized PVC pipe from your home improvement store. We used everything from 3/4- to 4-inch diameter pipe.
You'll also need some clear, heavy-duty PVC cement: and some clear PVC cleaner.
For a cutting tool we prefer a powered miter box (bonus: the leftover "sawdust" makes beautiful snow!)
You can purchase a macrame hoop to serve as your round frame. Or you can substitute with anything round and suitable to mold your inner pieces around.
You'll also need some 50-pound monofilament fishing line or other suitable wire and a picture hanging hook, as well as a drill with a small bit and some ornaments to use with your various sizes of pipe.
Work on a flat, level surface covered with a canvas drop cloth. Decide what thickness you want your wreath to be and cut all your pieces the same length. Or you can mix things up and cut them at various lengths. Our shortest piece was 1-1/4 inch and our longest was four inches. Clean all your cut pipe with PVC cleaner. Start with some sort of a circular template to work around.... I use a macrame hoop.
You can do a dry fit by placing all of your cut pieces of pipe around and then go back in and glue, or you can just jump right in and start gluing, working out the design as you go. Apply glue where needed and slide pieces together. Caution: this glue sets pretty quickly. Once you have your wreath how you like it, let the glue set up properly and then paint. Use a spray paint suitable for plastic, or prime with a plastic primer and follow up with standard sprays.
To hang, we drilled a couple of holes and secured with some strong fishing line. I double it over, run it through the holes and knot. Just like picture hanging wire, except I use the monofilament fishing line because it doesn't show like the silver wire would. Hang from a hook and fill with various ornaments.
I secured mine in place with a sticky-tac product. You can even add a bough of evergreen or a bow.
After the holidays you can remove the holiday stuff and leave as a piece of wall art or add other season-appropriate items throughout the year.
And the PVC magic doesn't have to stop there. You can also create PVC ornaments by gluing thin strips of PVC rings together in various fashions. Drill a hole through the top and run wire through to hang.
For stylish PVC jewelry, you'll use the same process as the ornaments; only you'll connect with jewelry findings like eye pins, jump rings, etc., and dress it up with beads and paint! Link together to create a variety of earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Stunning.
