Last Updated on December 25, 2015 by Kristi Linauer
Good morning, all! I hope you had a fantastic weekend! Last night I started working on a project that I thought would be quick and easy. I started at about 6:00pm, and at 12:30am I was still working. By the time I went to bed at 1:00am, this is what I had…
Can you tell what my flowers are made of? If not, I’m going to keep you in suspense for just a bit longer. 🙂 (Edit: Ha! I just realized I put it in the subtitle of the post. Oh well. Pretend you didn’t see that, and pretend to be utterly amazed when I tell you later in the post what they’re made of, mmmmkay?) 😀
Here’s how this project evolved…
I’ve been inspired lately by a couple of different products I’ve seen online. The first one was this frame from Pier 1.
Shortly after seeing that frame, I saw this art piece from Joss & Main.
Each of those are described as made of “shells”, but when I saw each of them, I thought to myself that they looked an awful lot like pistachio shells.
It just so happens that pistachios are one of my absolute favorite snacks, so I started saving up my shells.
So last night, I decided to get them out and make something quick and easy with my shells. I wanted to make some sort of artwork that included one brightly painted flower on an interesting background. I felt inspired by this felt flower wall hanging from an Etsy store called BedBuggs.
My first flower only took minutes to make, but I still had loads of pistachio shells left, and I really wanted to use most, if not all, of my shells. So I decided to change course and make as many flowers as I could. Also, the more flowers I made, the more I fell in love with the natural color of the shells. I couldn’t bear the thought of covering up that beautiful natural color with all of the subtle color variances with a single color spray paint.
But then a brilliant reader on the A2D Facebook page suggested dying the flowers. (Thanks, Mary!!) Since I still had quite a bit of fabric dye left over from this art project, I decided to get them out and give it a try. I used four different colors, and left the flowers in varying lengths of time to try to get different shades of the colors. It worked beautifully! It gave the flowers color without covering up all of the natural beauty of the shells.
So now the question is…what should I do with them? When I’m finished making flowers, I should have about double the amount you see in that picture. I thought about making something inspired by this living succulent artwork from BHG.
I was set until two people on Facebook mentioned making a wreath out of them. I think that would be really pretty, too!
So what would you do with dyed pistachio shell flowers? Tell me your creative ideas! I’ll wait and see what brilliant ideas you have, and hopefully have the finished project tomorrow. In the meantime, I’ve got more flowers to make and dye! 🙂
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!
29 Comments
Whitney Breck
August 20, 2012 at 9:14 amA wreath is my vote! Definitely thought it would look great for when Fall arrives!
Melissa Irvin
August 20, 2012 at 9:38 amA wreath is kind of predictable. I like the idea of the framed “succulent” garden. I’m sure whatever you do will be fantastic! I love this idea, too!
Jan S.
August 20, 2012 at 9:52 amAgree with Melissa Irvin – you can make a wreath any ole time……love the succulent picture example…..something along those lines would be new and different, a fresh spin.
Margo
August 20, 2012 at 11:02 amGreat project. I also love pistachios. My only question is, what did you attach the shells to, to form the flower; and what kind of glue of adhesive???
Maria João
August 20, 2012 at 11:59 amPistachio shell
Kim
August 20, 2012 at 12:08 pmWow, you always impress me with your creativness Great job. Gives me ideas. Love it.
guerrina waters
August 20, 2012 at 1:10 pmBeautiful! I love the picture idea, but I might just turn them into stemmed flowers with floral wire and have a Fall bouquet with some fresh greenery thrown in!
the cape on the corner
August 20, 2012 at 1:32 pmholy smokes this is amazing! pistachio nuts, never in a meelion years would i think that, and your reader who suggested coloring them, yes, even more genius.
Amanda
August 20, 2012 at 5:15 pmThose are gorgeous! I loooove that succulent artwork so much – I’d love to see you make one like that!
Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage
August 20, 2012 at 7:24 pmOne of my all time favorite snacks too but never thought to make art from them!! It’s nutty-that’s why I love it an am pinning!
Kelly
Jasanna
August 20, 2012 at 7:24 pmThose are gorgeous! You have got to tell us what you did and how they stuck together! Now to get everyone to save their pistachio shells for me! 🙂 What a fantastic idea. Great job!
http://munchtalk.blogspot.com/
sue
August 20, 2012 at 7:32 pmThose are so beautiful, you have a lot of patience, girl. They look so natural, just like a living succulent, are they fragile? The hanging or wreath would be equally beautiful, thought since you asked, something under a clothe or in pots to be placed in spaces where even succulents would be stressed might be another use for these clever lovelies. Around a mirror or on a frame, which is what originally got your creative juices flowing.
I personally like them natural, they look preserved-maybe something with antlers and bones.
Missi @ havoc to heaven
August 20, 2012 at 7:39 pmYou have the most amazingly creative mind! I am blown away by this idea … I have pistachios on my counter everyday and have never once thought about doing anything with the shells. I feel so inferior! Ha!
The flowers are gorgeous – whatever you do with them will be Fabulous!
Barbara @ DIY Home Staging Tips
August 20, 2012 at 7:41 pmWhatever you do, it’s going to go viral, just like that starburst mirror of plastic spoons!
Julie
August 20, 2012 at 8:09 pmwhat a crazily clever idea! love the colors too….reminds me that fall is coming 🙂
How about freehand 3D wall art with twigs added for stems and silk leaves that can be bent outward to enhance the 3D appearance. I think velcro dots and small brad nails would work to install. I can just see this climbing up the wall of a reading vignette or cozy corner. Great conversation piece!
Deborah Lee
November 17, 2012 at 11:42 amThat too is genius Julie!
Bonnie @ Uncommon
August 20, 2012 at 8:18 pmAbsolutely LOVE this!!! Super clever and looks WAY COOL!!! 🙂
Laura @ Elegant Nest
August 20, 2012 at 11:22 pmThese are truly beautiful! and so clever…I wish I had been saving all of my pistachio shells too! Love the look with the dye…so subtle and pretty. Definitely make the wall art hanging…I think it is more unique and versitile than a wreath. You are one talented, and crafty lady!
julie
August 20, 2012 at 11:26 pmPlease do a tutorial on your flowers. they are beautiful and I’d be inclined to put them up here and there on a photo wall..
Runt
August 21, 2012 at 7:12 amWow those looks awesome! You should do a tutorial on those…. =]
Kim
August 21, 2012 at 7:21 amoh, yeah — SO skip the wreath! These belong in a frame or some other type of wall art. You are AMAZING, girl! Just a month ago I was putzing about with pistachio shells for a wreath idea (nothing like this). Will send you a photo when I get enough shells to finish. Don’t you ever doubt yourself, Kristi — you’re the real deal!
Megan
August 21, 2012 at 8:04 amThis is one of the most amazing projects I’ve ever seen. My hubby is addicted to pistachios. I’m now going to have to save some up to give this a try. 🙂 Megan
DIY: Hanging “Succulent Garden” Made With Pistachio Shells
August 22, 2012 at 9:37 am[…] 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 […]
Rajshree Lalwani
August 23, 2012 at 4:52 amHello Kristi,
Beautiful Sharing. I just love this amazing and creative pistachio shells. Kristi will you please share more details about this shells? I want to learn to make this creative and artistic thing by my own.
Nice Sharing!
Kristi Linauer
August 23, 2012 at 8:18 amI have the full tutorial here: https://www.addicted2decorating.com/diy-hanging-succulent-garden-made-with-pistachio-shells.html
Hope that helps! 🙂
Marcia
September 6, 2012 at 8:55 pmHGTV! congrats!
marty chamberlain
December 11, 2012 at 12:35 pmHi, I just did some of these myself..only I did pine cones, they came out super cute..I will try these next.
🙂 very cute
Dorothy Klein
December 18, 2012 at 4:13 ami too make flowers from pistachio nut shells. I turn mine into flower arrangements and magnets. If you turn the shells around they resemble peonies.
Ana
September 14, 2013 at 8:02 pmThese flowers are adorable!!! I’ll buy a bag of pistachios tomorrow!!! : )