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You can make a beautiful, delicate decoration from a sugar ice-cream cone. In the fall you can use orange and yellow dried flowers and hang on a door. For Christmas these can be spray painted red, silver or gold and hung on the tree. For Valentine's day you can spray paint them red and give as small gifts. Easter, Mother's Day, birthdays and anniversaries are other times this craft can be used as decorations for a room, or to top a gift. It is like giving two gifts in one because the receiver can then use the floral cone as a decoration. Here is what you'll need:
A bouquet of small dried flowers (colorful is best.)
6 rubber bands
sugar ice-cream cones
silver, red, or gold spray paint
ribbon 1" wide 8" long
ribbon 1/4" wide 12" long
scissors
glue gun and glue sticks
Wax paper
In a well ventilated area spray paint the cones. Let one side dry then turn to spray the other. The wax paper will keep the cones from sticking to the work surface.
Take the bouquet of dried flowers. Divide into six smaller bouquets and tie each with a rubber band.
Take the 8" piece of ribbon and attach for the handle. You should use the hot glue to attach this inside the cone.
The 12" long piece of ribbon is for a bow which you make and glue to the front of the cone.
When everything is dry, put a few drops of glue in the base of the cone. Insert the flower bunch.
These beautiful decorations are easily made with a group for fund raisers, or to be sold at craft shows.
WHEN WORKING WITH CHILDREN.
Adult supervision is required. The cones and dried flowers are delicate so the children should be at least 8 or 9 and aware of how carefully they must treat the materials.
Instead of the hot glue gun, use the cool glue gun to avoid burns.
If you can't do the spray painting outside, put the cones in a wax paper lined box. Before spraying cover the nose and mouth with a cotton cloth to avoid inhaling the spray.
Keep the windows and doors open.
ALTERNATIVE PAINT METHOD
Paint the cones with a brush instead of spray painting them. The trick is to keep the cones from breaking. One solution for this is to have 2 to 3" deep styrofoam squares for each child. With a pencil or pen punch a starter hold. Place the botton of the cone in the styrofoam so it stands up and you can paint it with the least handling.
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