WINTER: create faux 'wrapped' bulbs

A classic trend in winter decor is a nature-focused Nordic vibe, using natural elements that celebrate winter while hinting at spring. I've always love white flowers in winter, as they reflect the idea of snow-blanketed gardens.

This year, I've created some faux versions of wrapped bulbs and nestled them in snowy white ceramic containers. This simple project has brought a winter-y feel into my studio, and will transition perfectly into spring in the coming month.

Continue reading for an easy two-part tutorial...

The first part of the tutorial is to make some faux 'wrapped' bulbs.
I've seen many Nordic versions using burlap-wrapped bulbs tied with twine - but I've figured out a fast, easy way to get a similar effect using balls of hemp twine.

materials:
hemp twine wrapped into balls (mine came from Dollar Tree)

faux leaves from faux spring bulb plants (I've used tulip leaves, but faux hyacinth and daffodil leaves work very well)


method:

1. put two leaves together, then roll tightly up starting at the base end, to halfway up the leaves.

2. insert the tips of the leaves into the hole on one end of the twine ball.

3. carefully pull the leaves through the twine ball to the other side, until the rolled part of the leaves is at the very base of the twine ball.

4. place the twine ball into a container that is deep enough to conceal the rolled part of the leaves.

Above you see a tiny ball of twine sitting in a tiny ceramic cup.

Below, larger balls of twine holding larger leaves sit in two vintage white milk glass 'top hat' vases:
 

This was originally the project I had in mind... and then I had another idea!

Way up on a kitchen shelf I had a white ceramic soup tureen, and I thought it would look beautiful with these faux bulbs 'planted' in it...

materials:
twine-wrapped faux bulbs . white ceramic tureen or large mixing bowl
preserved moss . filler for the container (yarn, fabric, stones, styrofoam)

method:

I had no patience for filling the entire tureen with enough 'something' to make the faux wrapped bulbs visible on top - so I cheated. I flipped the lid over on top of the tureen, making a shallow 'bowl' area that would need much less filler.

Then I filled it with green sweater fabric - because if any part of it shows, it will match the moss that I'll be adding!

method:

1. gather up the twine & leaf 'faux bulbs' that you've made. 

2 + 3. arrange them on top of the sweater remnant inside the shallow lid. 

4. preserved green moss will finish off this arrangement (mine is from Dollar Tree)

5. add small tufts of the moss around the base of the twine balls, hiding the sweater fabric.

6. the moss gives the faux bulbs a 'planted' look in the container.

Then I 'planted' the tiniest bulb in the scoop of the ladle, with the rolled-up leaf bases covered with a smidgen of moss:

 
I love the simplicity and freshness of the colors - white, tan, and green.

They're all neutrals, but the green is the spark in nature that livens up any arrangement. Using the scoop of the ladle as another container adds more interest and levels to the vignette. Sometimes, the smallest detail just adds the perfect finishing touch!

I'll be using this arrangement in my decor all the way through spring!

Another option for this project would be to wrap the twine balls in sheets of moss, or just create large balls using moss, securing them with thin wire or twine and then poking the leaves into them.

The all-moss appearance evokes 'kokedama', the Oriental art of growing plants in a moss-covered ball of soil wrapped in string or twine:

(image not mine; sourced from Pinterest)

I might re-visit this project as summer approaches, trying the mossy kokedama approach and replacing the tulip leaves with tropical foliage that will fit our home's tropical decor.

However you choose to create it, I hope you'll give this easy project a try!

shared online:

funky junk interiors | new upcycle ideas #768

thank you for featuring my project, Donna! 


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