Last Updated on October 11, 2012 by Kristi Linauer
Yesterday I was torn between making a piece of artwork to hang on the wall with my pistachio shell flowers, and a wreath for my front door. So, I ended up making a piece of artwork that is currently hanging on my front door in lieu of a fall wreath. It’s the best of both worlds! 😀
It’s dark and rainy outside so I didn’t get the best pictures this morning. For now, these will have to do. I have the best intentions of getting better pictures when the weather clears up, but in reality, you probably shouldn’t count on it. 🙂
There are lots more pictures at the end, but let me show you how to make this hanging succulent garden.
If you make one this big, you’ll need lots and lots of pistachio shells. I saved the shells from five or six 8-ounce bags of pistachios.
To make the flowers, start with three shells and glue them together with your hot glue gun like this…
Now you’re going to start adding shells and building out by gluing shells directly to that. Just add hot glue around the bottom edge of the shell as shown here.
And then glue them to the first piece you made.
And basically, you just keep adding and building outward until you have a flower that is the size you want it. So you’re not gluing the shells to a base of any kind. You’re gluing the shells to each other.
After making several flowers, I finally realized that it was easier to make the middle section, and then add a dot of glue to the bottom and attach it to a piece of wax paper.
Then build the flower by turning the wax paper. This keeps your work surface clear of any hot glue drips, and keeps your flower from sticking to your work surface. When the flower is complete, just rip off the wax paper from the bottom.
Your finished flower will look something like this…
Make as many as you need to fill up your “canvas”. I just used a piece of 1/4″ plywood for my “canvas”, and mine ended up being about 15″ x 17″. Of course, it takes FOREVER to make that many flowers, so just be aware of that. This is a good project to spread out over a few days, and just make a couple of flowers each night while you watch your favorite show on t.v. I like to call these projects “Netflix Projects”. 🙂
When all of your flowers are made and the glue is completely cooled, the flowers are ready for their dye bath. I used powdered Rit fabric dye in four different colors, and I left the flowers in at varying lengths of time. Obviously, the longer you leave them in, the more saturated the color. I did have a couple of shells detach during their bath, but that didn’t happen much. My flowers stayed pretty well intact during their dye bath.
My flowers that are very light in color were left in about 30 seconds, and then turned upside down on paper towels for about 20 seconds, and then turned over (right side up) and misted with a spray bottle filled with water. The ones that are more saturated were left in the dye bath for about three to five minutes, and then placed upside down on a paper towel for the excess to drip off, but I didn’t mist those with water since I didn’t want the color to get diluted.
You can see the difference in this picture below. The flower on the top row on the right is dyed with the same teal dye as the flower on the bottom row second from the right. The difference was the amount of time, and the water misting that the light one got after its dye bath.
With all of your flowers finished, prepare your “canvas” by gluing the backing of your choice. I used this light brown moss stuff that I got from Michael’s. Be sure to leave the edges free since those will fit into your frame.
Now go ahead and put the frame on (I just made a very simple frame from moulding I found at Home Depot, and then stained it with Minwax Dark Walnut stain), and begin arranging your flowers.
As you do this, you might find that there are holes that need to be filled. I ended up having to make four additional small flowers (in the top left corner) to fill empty space.
Then you’re ready to hang your garden. Because I wanted to hang mine on the front door like a wreath, and because I love big loopy, saggy bows, I cut strips from an extra canvas drop cloth, and dyed it with some of the leftover yellow dye that I had used for the flowers.
I just love these little flowers. At a glance, they really do look like they could be real succulents (which I realize aren’t flowers)…until you realize that these succulents don’t come in bright orange, teal, and yellow. 🙂 And my green is even off. But that’s okay.
This one is my absolute favorite. It got a bath in the teal dye for about 30 seconds, and then got a pretty good shower with the spray bottle. I love the subtle aqua color.
I’m very pleased with how my little “succulent garden” turned out. The best thing is that I won’t be able to kill this one!! That’s the best kind of garden ever!
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I hope you’ll join me on my DIY and decorating journey! If you want to follow my projects and progress, you can subscribe below and have each new post delivered to your email inbox. That way you’ll never miss a thing!
101 Comments
Molly @ Wicked Cheap
August 21, 2012 at 9:34 amOMG those flowers are FANTASTIC. I’m sad I don’t like pistachios now….I’ll have to start making my boyfriend eat them constantly 😉
Michele Webb
August 21, 2012 at 9:41 amWOW, Wow, Wow, Wow WOW!!! That’s all I keep saying as I am scrolling down looking at how this turned out!! I am on my way out to get goodies from Wally World, and I will be buying LOTS of Pistachios! If I can only convince my hubby to save the shells when I pack them in his lunch! I guess I had better make some really CUTE notes to attach to the full baggie, and then add another to the empty baggie for him to put them in!!! Can’t believe how BEAUTIFUL this turned out!!! MUST MAKE SOON!!! GREAT job on making this “community” craft project!!
Jennifer
August 21, 2012 at 9:42 amGreat job!! Looks fabulous.
ChrisE
August 21, 2012 at 9:47 amI was hesitant when I saw the title, but this turned out gorgeous!!! Beautiful work and so creative!!
TKraft Art & Interiors
August 21, 2012 at 9:59 amSo creative! You’re right – my first thought when I saw the photo was to ask you if they’re real or fake – faux to the max. Very funny how you call these projects “Netflix Projects”
Janie
April 19, 2019 at 11:13 amThese are fabulous ….
I am going to mix mine with the pine cone flowers ….
Thanks so much for the GREAT idea
gail
August 21, 2012 at 10:19 amthat is fantastic, great job!
brandi
August 21, 2012 at 10:28 amGoodness gracious, that’s amazing! WOW!
Vidya @ Whats Ur Home Story
August 21, 2012 at 10:41 amThis is really cool. What a creative idea! Totally pinning it.
humeira
August 21, 2012 at 11:47 amawsome realyyyyyyyyyyyy beutiful and pretty
haniela
August 21, 2012 at 2:45 pmThese are gorgeous, what a cool use of shells!
Kim @ Sand & Sisal
August 21, 2012 at 3:22 pmKristi, you seriously outdid yourself this time! Talk about re-purposing an item!! Wow! I’m so impressed, and the results are just gorgeous! That is truly a piece of art! (I loved it so much I pinned it, tweeted it, and posted it on my FB page!).
Linda @ Fingers in the Dirt
August 21, 2012 at 3:50 pmYou are SO much smarter than I am! I’m still waiting for my #$#% succulent cuttings to root and grow big enough that I can hang my succulent frame without all of the dirt falling out!
Erin's Creative Energy
August 21, 2012 at 4:05 pmGreat job! I love how it turned out.
Amanda
August 21, 2012 at 5:40 pmI LOVE THIS and I’m totally making one myself – only I don’t like pistachio’s, so I guess my husband is going to have to eat a lot of them. 🙂
Britni
August 21, 2012 at 6:55 pmKristi, you are a flippin’ genius! This is AMAZING! And I’m so using your idea and making one for myself. I’ve been wanting a hanging succulent garden but knew a real one wouldn’t do so well in my house 😉 I’m so excited to try this! I’m sharing it on FB and pinning 🙂 LOVE it! Thanks so much for sharing!
Jean
August 21, 2012 at 7:22 pmYou did it again! That is beautiful!
Kathy
August 21, 2012 at 7:38 pmThat is SO STINKIN’ COOL!!! LOVE it! Now I need to start saving our pistachio shells! LOL!
lori jones
August 21, 2012 at 7:41 pmwow these look GREAT!! and the light colored teal ones look like the real thing,at least on my moniter they do.
Ve
August 21, 2012 at 8:06 pmYou’re just amazing. Have we told you that lately?
Barbara @ DIY Home Staging Tips
August 21, 2012 at 8:22 pmDynamite! Only you! Thank you for encouraging us to stretch our imaginations. A fertile mind and the willingness to put in time, delivers once again.
Darla
August 21, 2012 at 8:42 pmWow! What an inspiring project–it looks so fabulous! Kudos to you!
Michelle
August 21, 2012 at 9:09 pmThank you so much for your detailed tutorial! For once, instead of just pinning a project and never getting around to doing it, I actually started this one. I sat here with this in front of me and have finished four flowers now. Thank you!
Tammy
August 21, 2012 at 10:34 pmI am loving this!!!!! this is so Beautiful! I love succulents…this year I went crazy using succulents. This is a must do….
christine from decorated life
August 22, 2012 at 2:48 amThat is just amazing.. love it! And it looks fantastic.. you always have such great ideas! Thanks
Alex
August 22, 2012 at 5:25 amBrilliant…I like your moves! Certainly the best of both worlds then when you’re finished with hanging it on your door you can move it to your wall!
Jayne
August 22, 2012 at 7:04 amOMG! So gorgeous, what a brlliant idea 🙂
Runt
August 22, 2012 at 7:32 amAhhhhh!!! That looks fabulous!!! I’m so jealous. I am going to buy pistachios NOW!
Bliss
August 22, 2012 at 8:44 amThat is one of the best fool the eye I have seen, plus it is darn cute. Awesome job, tedious, but awesome!
~Bliss~
Jasanna
August 22, 2012 at 9:43 amI love this! It’s gorgeous! Totally want to make one! 🙂
http://munchtalk.blogspot.com/
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Michelle L.
August 22, 2012 at 4:39 pmKristi, that is insanely gorgeous! I love it to teeny tiny bits! Wonderful tutorial and pics, too – thank you!
Sue
August 23, 2012 at 7:00 amBeautiful! I love the simplicity of the flowers and the colors are perfect for autumn. Using the frame instead of a wreath is genius! Love it! Evidently, I’m not the only one: http://dollarstoremom.com/
Jenn
August 24, 2012 at 11:06 pmWhat a cool and original piece of art! I had no clue they were pistachio shells from the photo!
Just Jaime
August 25, 2012 at 8:49 pmSO impressive!!! Wow!
[email protected] Boppy
August 26, 2012 at 9:42 amYour creativity never ceases to amaze me! This is positively exquisite! What a beautiful piece of “succulent” art you’ve made, and you never have to water it! 🙂 That’s even better!
Debbie
August 27, 2012 at 3:17 pmWow!!!! Incredible and they look so real from a distance! What a creative project! I love this!
Debbie 🙂
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Camille
August 27, 2012 at 7:47 pmwhat a cool idea however I would “kill it” where I live because all that glue would melt in the sun/heat!! lol maybe for a inside door??
Mark E Tisdale
August 27, 2012 at 10:47 pmThat looks like SO much work, but the end product is so beautiful! Well done!
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maws
August 28, 2012 at 7:41 amwhat a great idea 🙂
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August 29, 2012 at 9:27 pm[…] being literally one of the best blogs on the block, Addicted 2 Decorating made the best succulent garden with… wait for it… pistachio shells. I can’t make […]
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August 30, 2012 at 10:00 am[…] With a keen artistic eye, just about anything can be turned into something beautiful. And Kristi from Addicted 2 Decorating has just that kind of vision! Need proof? Check out this fabulous piece of artwork. These are not real succulents – they are actually made out of pistachio shells! Seriously. Amazing, right? The finished product is totally worth the funny looks you'll get from friends and family when you start collecting a box full of empty nut shells. (But then again, if you craft like we do, they might not think your request is so strange!) [how to make a faux succulent garden] […]
Peggy
August 30, 2012 at 1:59 pmI love this! I added a link and a photo (hope that’s okay!) to my Frame Crafts article on Squidoo. This is so pretty!!!
Juli
August 30, 2012 at 8:01 pmI am amazed!!! This turned out fabulous, and I just love it! Thanks for sharing!
Rhiannon
September 4, 2012 at 5:04 pmsaw you on HOH Oh-Em-Gee!! This is amazing!!! You Rock
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September 5, 2012 at 11:34 am[…] can see the whole, amazing process (including the dying of the shell plants) over at Addicted 2 Decorating. You may also like -My DIY: updated occasional table.Recycled bike wheels into lightingDIY veneer […]
Lisa Lisa
September 7, 2012 at 5:43 pmWe buy pistachios all the time. My parrot and my kids both love them. I’m just so sorry I haven’t been saving the shells before. But I have an empty container available now.
Great ideal, and instructions!
Thanks Again
sue
September 10, 2012 at 10:44 pmEven my husband thinks these look great. Mine seem to have some spaces that you can see through. Is this normal or am I not getting the shells close enough?
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September 11, 2012 at 7:00 pm[…] for a unique adornment for your front door this fall? Check out this hanging succulent garden that Kristi at Addicted 2 Decorating made from pistachio shells! And, yes, you heard right – pistachio […]
JoAnn
September 11, 2012 at 7:26 pmwow, just wow – best go buy some pistachios pronto!! Thanks for sharing….
Lisa
September 12, 2012 at 8:19 amI saw this on Hometalk and had to come over to see how you did it. I enthralled with these flowers. I keep looking at them. Amazing idea and love how you’ve used them. Must start eating more pistacios!
Fatimah
September 29, 2012 at 1:22 amhi.
i love this idea. very good job.and also your blog is and your DIY are awesome. i visit your blog first time and i like it. i am new in world of blogging so your blogging tips can help me….thanks.
plz take a look at my blog…
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Jeanine
October 3, 2012 at 11:14 pmAbsolutely Incredible! I can’t wait to try this, very fun idea. I wonder if you should use a spray Shellac to preserve it for outdoor weather? What a great idea…..I will be back! JB
Darlene Kvaca
October 4, 2012 at 11:23 pmOne thing not mentioned in the tutorial is how to attach the frame. Is it nailed on or glued? I’m definitely thinking about making this awesome project with the tons of shells I have left from eating my pistachios. 🙂
Eva
October 7, 2012 at 12:58 pmAmazing!!! Thanks for sharing!
Michael @ re.Create Design
October 11, 2012 at 3:17 pmGreat recycled project! Featured on our blog today.
http://recreatedesigncompany.com/recycled-nut-shells/
Mike
Brian of GadgetSponge.com
October 11, 2012 at 3:23 pmAbsolutely ingenious and beautiful! I love the natural colors and the reuse of natural things. Very time-consuming I’m sure but the end result is more than reward for it. Great job!! I pinned it on one of my boards.
Natasha Thomas
October 28, 2012 at 6:43 pmI want to Win this wreath !!!! Oh Pick me !! 😉
April Timms
October 29, 2012 at 1:51 pmThis is just unique & beautiful. Thanks so much for the opportunity to win this!
Kim Dove
October 29, 2012 at 7:24 pmThis would look great in my house :)))
Natasha Thomas
October 29, 2012 at 9:34 pmWould Love this 😛
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Craftuts
November 5, 2012 at 4:52 amI love pistachio and I love your tutorial:) I have featured it on crafttuts site! Thanks!
[email protected]
November 5, 2012 at 9:46 pmWho would have thought pastashio nutshells? It such as beautiful and original piece!
Inimai
November 7, 2012 at 5:16 pmWow!! Thank you for sharing such a beautiful decor! I have started making the flowers. I have a question. How do you arrange the flowers in the canvas? Do you glue the flowers with the moss? Please explain!
Regards!
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tamara
November 14, 2012 at 4:06 amthis is fantastic
Claire
November 15, 2012 at 8:09 pmwow! that must have taken so much time!
grannyg
November 17, 2012 at 1:28 pmThis is awesome. They really do look like little succluants. Now I know what to do with my left over nut shells. You have some really great creative ideas.
gardenfaery
December 9, 2012 at 1:51 amthis is so beautiful and tasteful. I HAVE to make one. I have one bag of Pistacchios down and 5 more to go! thankfully I love them 🙂 thanks for the awsome idea 🙂
ToTylkoJa
December 14, 2012 at 5:43 amThis is amazing! I can’t believe my eyes. It really turned out great:)
Madhu
February 15, 2013 at 4:23 amBrilliant! You are so creative !!
Judy
February 20, 2013 at 7:43 pmBeautiful! The guys at work keep wondering why I keep buying them Pistacchios and telling them how good they are for them to eat up! I was wondering how did you attach the flowers to your back board?
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Suely Fernandes Guimarães
May 4, 2013 at 4:55 amsão lindas as flores..eu já havia usado cascas de pistache, para fazer flores e decorar telhas, mas bem mais simples…obrigado por compartilhar….
Maria
May 6, 2013 at 7:40 amOh my!! This is absolutely gorgeous!! I love these pistachio-shell flowers; & wish I had one-millionth of your creativity!!
Heather M.
July 7, 2013 at 4:29 pmThis makes me think of all the times I bought a bag of pistachios at the grocery store and tossed the shells out the window as a I drove home, like a crumb trail. NOW I have a reason to save them! These are stunning. I came across this page today for the first time and am in love and completely inspired =)
designdreamer
July 11, 2013 at 2:00 pmYou are aMAZingly creative!
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bbrunophotography
July 29, 2013 at 9:35 pmKristi, this had me totally fooled at first glance!! What an awesome idea!
Ryan
August 15, 2013 at 6:00 pmThat is so awesome I would have never thought pistachio shells.
Jazz
September 25, 2013 at 11:52 amThat is so awesome !!
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Melissa
January 4, 2014 at 11:58 pmOh my goodness!!!! I just threw away TONS of shells from my son’s pig out the other day!!! WHY DIDN’T I SEE THIS SOONER?!!!!
And, to top it off I scolded him for almost eating a whole pound bag in less than one day! NOW what is he going to think when I bring him bag after bag and hound him until he’s eaten them all???? He’s going to think his mom’s lost it!!!
Juliana
January 17, 2014 at 2:36 pmThe first word that came in my mind after seeing this succulent garden was”lovely” even without scrolling down through the page. I wanna include some walnut shells too because I don’t like pistachio much.
Josie McHale
January 29, 2014 at 2:10 amWOW! Lots of love and care into this fabulous project. At first I thought it was real succulent plants. Wondering how they were hanging from the frame, but then after reading through the tutorial and I just thought how brilliant is this!!! Stunning!
Yolanda
March 23, 2014 at 4:30 pmLove this, great idea, beautiful, thanks for sharing!
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Jamie W.
July 13, 2014 at 4:18 pmOHMAGOSH!!!! This is sooooooo fabulous! Just think, all the little “succulents” you want, and they’ll always stay that cute little size. GOT to try it and I love the idea of the wreath too. I don’t eat pistachios but I guess I’m gonna have to buy ’em anyway (or maybe beg the shells from friends who do). Thanks for this great idea!
Lilly
October 28, 2014 at 10:21 amWow thats amazing! We do a lot of picture frame/wall mount air plant displays, but this is so unique and cool!
Donna
January 10, 2015 at 8:20 amI just saw this in Pinterest and thought it was beautiful! Your instructions and photos are helpful for us beginners! Thanks for sharing!
Debi
January 13, 2015 at 2:01 pmWOW!! This is fantastic. Now I have a great reason to eat pistachios 🙂
Brooklyn Limestone
January 22, 2015 at 1:57 pmLooks fabulous! Smart and cheap – what could be better?
Katt Lewis
February 10, 2015 at 3:45 pmThat has got to be one of the coolest idea’s I have ever seen.
jet
October 22, 2015 at 4:55 amHi this is an awesome idea!!! I often had thought what you could make of those shells.
I love the shapes and allways i was thinking of to use them as beads, i haven’t tried it out still.
But this is the best idea ever!!!
Thank you for your great tute you’ve shared and as well the idea;-D
Britney B.
December 24, 2015 at 1:34 amThese are fantastic Kristi! And I do love pistachios 🙂 win win! One question – how did you affix the shell pieces to the “canvas”?
Shantel Collins
March 12, 2016 at 11:54 amIncredibly cute and creative!! Love this idea.
Gloria Philips
September 18, 2021 at 9:56 amIncredible but creative idea. This is truly a piece of art and I’m so excited and would love to try this! 🙂