It’s a Unique Garland!
I’m quite proud of this garland and am loving its final look, but it took a bit to get it there. That’s why I call it unique. I’m going to show you how to make a shotgun shell Christmas garland. Making it into a string of lights is not my original idea….I found it on Pinterest a while back.
Hubby and I used to love to hike until bad knees and feet forced me to quit. The places we hiked were frequented by hunters, and target practice folks, so we often found the ground littered with shotgun shells. Way back when I thought they were pretty, but hadn’t a clue what to do with them. These didn’t come from hiking, but instead were found in an old barn at a run-down lake house estate sale. With their colored plastic tubes and metal bases, which I’ve seen made into jewelry, these are versatile bits of flotsam.
This is just a small part of the whole stash, but I began working with these.
Ideas on Pinterest for Shotgun Shells~
Pinterest has many other ideas for shotgun shells such as boutonniere’s for a wedding, little flower vases, bracelets, coasters, and multitudes of ideas for the metal bases. I’ve seen them made into wreaths, but the idea I liked best was as a string of Christmas lights.
The Assembly~
All we had to do was stamp 2 holes in the base of the shell, one on either side, followed by a slit made with razor blade or scissors. I needed 100 shells because the light string I had on hand had 100 bulbs. I ordered a string of LED lights from Amazon a while back, but you can use any string of lights you want and use the appropriate number of shotgun shells to equal it.
You take the wire, guiding each side of it by the bulb into the 2 slits, centering the bulb inside the shell while snapping it into the hole. This prevents the bulb from slipping out of the shell.
The most time-consuming part of the process was putting the holes and slits into each shell, (hubby’s job.) It’s possible you could use a “Crop-a-dile” punch, but I don’t have one, so can’t say for sure. He used his drill press.
Where to Display~
The second most time-consuming part of the job was putting it all together…each light bulb into a slit and into the holes, but once that was all done, the next big decision was where to display the unique garland.
I thought it would look great out on my Christmas porch, mounted on a metal gate with red bow that I set up every year. The sleigh was a curbside find from last year…Curbside Find Completes the Christmas Porch.
It was hubby’s idea to bring the sleigh in front of the gate and string the long strand of lights around both pieces.
I hated it.
The red shotgun shells glow deep pink, which clashed with the red bow and the red sleigh. Plus it looked a little too bare.
What I wanted to do all along was display it somewhere inside. So I scrounged around in my Christmas decorations and came up with a length of faux pine garland. I had just enough to wind around the shotgun shell garland. I’m not sure how many feet long it is, but it’s LONG!
I wanted to put it on the mantle all along so here it is! Enhancing my DIY Shabby Chic Christmas Tree and my DIY Tabletop Christmas Trees made from Tart Tins and Icing Cones (which I found out later are not “icing cones,” but “cream horns.”) We won’t split hairs though.
I’m really loving the look! It’s a big improvement to have the faux pine garland too, don’t you think?
This is a keeper which I’ll be using every year, and I love that it’s made with LED lights, so low energy consumption, which is a plus.
What do you think?
Sharing with these Link Parties……
If you like the look, Amazon has them all put together!
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Florence
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Tania says
Those are COOL!!!
Tania
Florence says
Thanks Tania!
Lauren says
LOVE it — and a great explanation of how to do it. Forget BUYING it on Amazon — haha – yours is so cute. I TOTALLY agree with your decision to move it inside AND I think with the contrast of the beautiful, carved wood on the mantle, it’s a perfect fit.
Florence says
Thank you Lauren! Appreciate your sweet comments & support!
Michelle Leslie says
I’ve never seen shotgun shells like that. Our’s all have like a cardboard casing around them. Not that I’ve seen to many shotgun shells mind you 😉 They sure look beautiful though as a garland and they look great on the mantle
Florence says
Thank you Michelle! Appreciate your kind comment! I’ve seen the type of shotgun shells you’re talking about. In fact, I have some of the cardboard ones here right now, which I’ll use for other things.
Stacey says
Florence, this is unique and fun! My hubby is an avid shooter and would get a big kick out of this. 🙂
Florence says
Thanks Stacey! Now you know what you can do with some shotgun shells!
Michelle | Thistle Key Lane says
So clever! The shotgun shells are adorable!
Florence says
Thank you Michelle!!
Wanda says
Those are great! And how cool would that be for a Christmas party at a hunting lodge?!
I somehow missed the tart tins and “cream” horns. Gotta go take a look. Those look pretty neat, too.
Florence says
Thanks Wanda! Yes, they would be cool for a hunting lodge!
Kim says
Now this is one I will have to show my husband! I think we have a box of these floating around here, too!
Florence says
Ha Kim! Well, you may be making one of these next, right?
Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures says
Oh, wow! I never would have thought to use casings. You are incredibly clever! It’s so trendy to have colorful lights for outdoor spaces. Once Christmas passes, these would be great as lighting for a patio with a hunting & fishing theme! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Pinning for summer time!
Florence says
Thanks Marci! Hope you can use the idea! Appreciate your comment!
Cecilia says
How clever! Thank you for sharing at Vintage Charm!
Linda at Mixed says
Love your garland Florence! It is unique, and I think mixing it in with the green garland adds just the right about of color. I may have to go to the range and empty a couple boxes of shotgun shells. 😉
Florence says
Hahaha Linda! You go girl.
Sharon@bluewillowhouse says
So colorful and cute. Who knew shot guns shells could be so cute.
Florence says
Thank you Sharon!
Sharon@bluewillowhouse says
Thank you for sharing at Snickerdoodle.
Patti says
This turned out so fun! Remember when you bought the shells and you said you had a great idea for using them. I had no idea but I love it!
Florence says
Thank you Patti! You have a good memory!
Barbara Chapman ~ French Ethereal says
I am cracking up, Florence! I’ve seen unused shotgun casings in lights for RV’s for a number of years, but this is really cute! Of course, Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer is now running through my head… 😉 Lol! Really cute and your husband was a saint to help you drill all those holes. <3 Your mantel looks beautiful with the lighted garland now. <3 Pinning and sharing for you. 🙂
Florence says
Yes, he was a saint for helping me! You’ve seen them before? I hadn’t…not that that means anything. Haha, Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer…now that’s going to be in my head all day.
Ramona A Davis says
Very cute. So you made two slits all the way to the end of the shell?
Florence says
Yes that’s what I did.
Tuula @ Thrifty Rebel Vintage says
What a great repurpose for the shotgun shells Florence. I love them! Very cool!
Florence says
Thank you Tuula!
gigi says
They ARE colorful! I had no idea! I guess I just assumed they were all metal, and either black or brass-color. What a great use of things you found along your hikes!
Florence says
Thank you Gigi! We are enjoying them!
Tara says
I love the way this looks on your mantle with all of your other holiday decorations! This was such a creative idea!
Florence says
Thank you Tara!
Toni | Small Home Soul says
Such a great idea for using all the many shells that would otherwise go in the trash. I think this is a Christmas Craft my husband would love 😀 not to make himself, however LOL.
Florence says
You’ll have to make it for him Toni! Ha! Look on Etsy for shells or buy one already made up on Amazon!
Mary says
Very impressive Florence. I knew you would come up with a winner. And I have to agree with you they did clash with the red sleigh. So much better indoors with the garland. You must have had quite a few.
Florence says
Yes I had a lot & still more to do something else with!
Stephanie ReadsWell says
These are so colorful and adorable. I like the shotgun shells a lot.
Florence says
Thank you Stephanie! Glad you like them!
Christina Makri says
Oh wow Florence! What a brilliant idea to repurpose these shotgun shells into Christmas decoration. I think I will never think to do something like this!
Florence says
Remember I said I had a plan for them? Here it is!
Debbie-Dabble says
Florence,
Thank you so much for all your visits and kind words!! I truly appreciate you taking the time to stop by! I am a bit behind on visiting because truth be told, I have been a bit under the weather. I need a right knee replacement that I have put off for 5 years now and hope to put off for another year and a half but it has really started to act up over the past month. I am barley making it through 8 hours of work. I will be having it injected on Thursday so I am hoping that will help…..
I have to admit that I have never seen shot gun shells but I LOVE what you did with them!! So imaginative!!! And the wooden piece on your beautifully decorated mantle is to die for!! LOVE IT!!!! I hope you have great week!!
Hugs,
Deb
Florence says
Oh, so sorry to hear you’re having that much trouble with your knee, Debbie! I finally had a knee replacement myself a couple of years ago, and it was hard, and very painful, but I’m so glad I did it now. You will be too! Hope the injections help you. I had reached the point where they weren’t helping me any longer.
Glad you liked the shotgun shell lights. Oh yes, don’t you like that mantel piece? We found that at a yard sale recently…fell in love with it. I love oak anyway.
Thanks for coming by & hope you start feeling better Debbie!
Irini says
That’s a really unique garland … when the lights are on it is really beautiful !!
thank you for visiting my blog
Florence says
Thank YOU Irini! I appreciate you dropping by.
Nikki Gwin says
Now that is ingenious! I know many hunters wifes who would love to have this. I love the soft color glow it gives off instead of the vibrant reds/greens.
🙂 gwingal
Florence says
Thanks Nikki! I love the soft colors too.