It's no secret that I love protea. And I'm a firm believer that it's never too early to start preparing for Christmas! I’ve been watching the Hallmark’s Christmas in July movies and getting into the spirit. If you want to start doing a little Christmas in July crafting read on for a fun project, you can start making today!
DIY Protea Angels - Is there anything better than Christmas decor that is hand-made and natural?
Protea angels are not only pretty ornaments on a tree though… Imagine how sweet they could be sitting on a shelf, or adorning a holiday table? Best of all, they only take a few minutes to make.
First, you need to gather your supplies. Here's what I used:
-
Dried protea blooms and pods
- Protea leaves
- Everlastings and other decorative flowers
- Small wooden doll head
- Sharpie markers
- Hot glue gun
- Twine
To make these you need to drill a small whole in the bottom of the wooden doll head and then design the face (eyes, nose, mouth and hair) with the colored markers. Repeat this step for as many angels as you'd like to make.
Then select the dried protea blooms you prefer to use for the body of the angels. Next you need to affix the wood doll head to the stem of the protea flower using the hot glue to secure it in place.
Cut a small piece of twine, twist it in half and attach it to the head with a dab of the hot glue. Finally, use the everlastings and other decorative blooms to fashion the angels with a floral crown and dress garnishing.
Just like a snowflake, no two protea angels you create will be exactly alike. That’s the beauty of nature and handmaking your own Christmas ornaments. Each is unique and different and beautiful.
If you’re looking for thriving organic floral displays in your home or office, you need to ponder beyond just flowers – the foliage is just as important as the blooms you choose. Leaves come in all shapes, sizes and colors and now, Banksia integrifolia is in the limelight. If you are not familiar with integrifolia or sometimes called Coast banksia or white honeysuckle, the foliage is fickle: the younger leaves are usually broad and irregular toothed, while the mature leaves are smooth and spear shaped. They have white undersides that tend to give the leaves a silvery look.
Integrifolia is lush and long-lasting, making it the perfect textured foliage for any wreath. Plus, it blends well with just about any flowers or greens enabling you to create your own unique display.
Did you know Proteas are ever-flowers? With proper post-harvest care blooms can last two to three weeks in the vase. Then they don’t die – they dry! Many Proteas retain their structural design and to some extent their color. When mixed in arrangements, they are as permanent as almost anything the botanical world provides.
Is there a second life? According to Martha Stewart Living Magazine Nov. 2015, “It’s a Perfect Union - There’s no rule against combining dried plants with fresh blooms; the effect. In fact, can be unexpectedly striking.” We couldn’t agree more, dried flowers can add unique texture and color to designs.
A Protea Pod or sometimes called “Protea Flat” is the wood-like base and stem of the flower that’s left after the long bracts and center dome is removed. They are great when added to arrangements, bouquets, wreaths and topiaries.
Feeling creative and enjoy crafts? Use dried flowers as raw materials for sculptural inventions. By themselves or in combination with other natural materials, proteas make fascinating ornaments, dolls and other creations.
