Pistachios and Brazil Nuts

Insert two dowels into the bottom of a plastic-foam ring. Hot-glue several layers of pistachios in their shells to the ring, then stick the dowels into a planter that has been fitted with a piece of plastic foam.

Add a layer of Brazil nuts to the top of the pot and attach a striped silk ribbon bow.

See complete instructions below.

 

• 6-inch-diameter cream planter
• Plastic-foam rectangle
• 14-inch flat plastic-foam ring
• Two 4-inch lengths of 1/4-inch-diameter wooden dowel
• 5 pounds of white pistachio nuts
• 1 pound of brown Brazil nuts
• Hot-glue gun and glue sticks
• 3/4 yard of 2-1/2-inch-wide green-and-cream striped wire-edge ribbon

1. Cut one or more pieces from the plastic-foam rectangle to fit securely and fill the planter. Position the plastic foam so a flat surface is level with the top of the planter.
2. To secure the ring to the planter, insert the dowels, 3 inches apart, into the bottom of the ring until 2 inches extend beyond the ring.
3. Center the ring, dowel side down, over the planter; push the dowels into the foam until the foam surfaces touch.
4. Beginning at the top, hot-glue a single layer of pistachios to all surfaces of the ring; it is not necessary to completely cover the foam with the first layer. Continue adding pistachios to the ring to create a full, lush wreath, filling in gaps to cover any visible foam.
5. Starting at the outside and working toward the ring, arrange Brazil nuts on their sides to cover the foam in the planter. When you are pleased with the coverage and the arrangement, hot-glue each nut individually to the foam.
6. Tie the ribbon into a two-loop bow at the center top of the wreath.