17. Delicate Metallic Leaf & Silver Dipped Pinecone Garland

A shimmering, winter-inspired piece where the tips of each pinecone scale are gilded with genuine silver leaf or chrome pigment.

  • What This Idea Means: A modern take on winter metallics that pairs silver and nickel hues with cool-toned neutral interiors and modern stone mantels.
  • Materials Needed:
    • 20 small-to-medium pinecones
    • Silver leaf sheets and gilding adhesive (size)
    • Soft mop gilding brush
    • Fine silver jewelry wire or slate-gray satin cord
  • How to Make It:
    1. Apply a thin layer of gilding adhesive exclusively to the outer scale tips of each pinecone.
    2. Let the adhesive become tacky (about 10 minutes).
    3. Carefully apply sheets of silver leaf over the cones, pressing the foil into the scales with a dry mop brush.
    4. Brush away excess silver leaf, leaving clean, shimmering metallic edges on the scale tips.
    5. String the silver-tipped cones onto a fine slate-gray satin ribbon.
  • Tips and Variations: Combine silver leaf with matte gunmetal spray paint on the inner core for a striking, moody multi-metal contrast.