Even More Moss...The Cone

I've shared earilier that moss is one of my new favorite mediums to work with.  I made some pretty cool moss covered ornaments and letters BUT...I didn't stop there.  I love the moss and so this means that no surface is safe.  Ha ha ha!

I had a cardboard (aka paper mache) cone that I had intended to use at Christmas to make a second Sheet Music Cone Tree.  While I was in one of my moods to moss, I decided to cover this cone and incorporate it into my spring living room decor.  It was a really simply project and very inexpensive. 

Supplies
Paper mache cone
Moss sheeting (you can use the clumped moss but this is so much easier)
Glue gun and glue
Scissors

Instructions

• Simply glue moss sheeting to the cone.

• If you don't have one solid piece big enough then you simply need to cut and piece the pieces together necessary to cover the entire cone.
• Trim any excess moss with scissors.

The ornaments that I posted about early are also in the picture.  I'll post pics of how I used all of these in my living room a little later on.

Moss That Inspires...Through Words

I was serious in my first moss blog when I said that I had intentions to moss anything and everything.  I absolutely LOVE these sheets of moss.  I have spent some weeks looking at my mantel...which always looks so bare and empty after I take Christmas down.  I've been thinking spring as I decide what to do next around the house and my obsession with moss keeps kicking in.

I decided to do something different with the mantel and went to Hobby Lobby and purchased a bunch of the large chip board letters.  I got letters to spell a few different words so I had options to choose from.  The word that won (for the time being at least) was FAMILY.  I have a large family picture on the mantel that helped me choose my word.

Other great word possibilities...faith, laugh, love, grin, hope, dream, smile, believe,

Supplies
Chip board letters
Moss
Glue
Ruler or straight edge
Scissors and utility knife
Paint
Paint brush

Instructions

• Paint the edges of your letters so that they match the covering you are putting on the front.  I made sure that I also painted a small part of the front edge of the letter so that it blended in just in case the moss didn't cover exactly.

• I took a yard stick and precut strips from my moss sheet.  There were only two different widths with the letters I had chosen for my word.  I took those strips and started applying them to my letters with regular white glue.

• After gluing on one piece, I'd flip the letter upside down and trim off any excess moss with my craft knife.
• Repeat the same steps for the next uncovered spot on your letter.  This sheeting is so pliable.  You can easily lay one piece next to another and manipulate it with your fingers to hide any seem marks.

• Seam spots with tricky angles were easy.  I simply glued the newest strip of moss into place and then used my ruler as a guide to make a clean cut where the pieces overlapped and a seam should be.  Your craft knife will be very helpful for this trimming.

• Flip your letters upside down and do any necessary trimming with your craft knife. 

If you have any bare spots, just grab some of the pieces of moss laying around on your workstation and glue them in.  This material is very forgiving and is easy to work with.  Messy...but easy.  LOL

I still have some things I'd like to do to finish dressing up the mantel for spring but here's a peek at what I've got going right now...along with my new moss letters.

My Newest Obsession...Moss

I have found an incredible medium that I absolutely love...moss!  I was browsing the isles at my local Dollar Tree store and I found myself looking at the floral/vase section.  They had a bag of what looked like moss covered stones.  I had been brainstorming to think of how I was going to decorate my cool re-claimed greenhouse  for all of the seasons of the year.  These green moss stones got the creative juices flowing.  I bought a few bags of the faux stones (for a whopping $1 a piece) and then my obsession began.

If you follow me on my Christmas blog (The Christmas Guy) then you know that I'm the king of making a wide variety of ornaments using the plain clear glass ornaments you can purchase at many craft stores.  My moss mission began with thoughts of covering those ornaments with the moss.

My search for moss ended at Hobby Lobby where I found moss in pre-packaged sheets.  These sheets have a webbed backing that makes it super easy to attach to things.  A package of this great stuff cost $6.99 but was a deal when I used my 40% off coupon (coupons for hobby lobby can be found online weekly at www.hobbylobby.com). 

I am in love with this product.  I have intentions "mossing" anything and everything that I can get my hands on.  What until you see some of the things I have done with this moss.  I don't have pics of these ornaments in action.  I'll post those after I get all of my spring decor put up in the living room.  Stay tuned!

NOTE: While these are very spring and summer friendly, they can also easily be used in your Christmas decor.  For instance, a garden themed tree or a tree that incorporates other natural dried elements.  Don't be surprised if you see these somewhere in my trees for Christmas 2012

Supplies
Ornaments (old or new)
Moss (I buy the sheets rather than a bag of just loose moss)
Scissors
Glue gun & glue

Instructions

• Start buy cutting some random pieces from your moss sheets.

• Carefully apply glue your moss pieces.

• Apply the pieces to your ornament.  You may need to do some creative folding but you'll find that these moss sheets are very forgiving.  You'll need to start cutting specific sized pieces to fill in holes as you work your way around your ornament.  The moss is very easy to use.