Have you ever wanted wondered how to make a Christmas swag for your front door, a lantern, your mailbox, or your staircase newel?

I’ve got you covered!

This year, I wanted to add some Christmas swags with more natrual elements to my outdoor decor.

I found nothing retail, so I decdied to DIY the Christmas swags. I thought I was going to hang them on the front door.

But, after I made them, I changed my mind on where I wanted to hang them.

I tried them out on the iron gates that lead to our courtyard.

Now, I am conflicted.

Do I make another Christmas swag for our mailbox?

Maybea a Christmas lantern swag for the kitchen?

Definitely some Christmas swags for the front door!

Let’s not forget my staircase newel posts!

Supplies for Christmas Swag

Note: double the materials if making two.

3 Rustic Ornaments (I chose bells)

3 small terra cotta pots with a hole in the bottom ( I used 3″ pots)

A bow

3 large pinecones

3 large wired Christmas floral pics ( I chose greenery with pinecones)

Tools Needed

Glue Gun

Glue Sticks

Scissors

Twine

16 gauge wire

Gold gilding wax or Rub n Buff

White latex paint

2 paint brushes

Disposable lint free cloth

Heavy duty wire or zip ties to hang the swag

Directions for Putting the Swag Together

First, wire the three large floral greenery picks together using a piece of 16 gauge wire.

You are trying to create a swag shape as the base. You will have a center piece and the two piece on the sidess will be staggered lower.

I then wiped gold gilding wax onto the pinecones in the greenery. This is optional.

Set the greenery aside to work on the other elements.

Terra Cotta Pots

To remove some of the orange in the terra cotta pots, I dried brushed white latex paint onto each pot and then wiped off the excess. This created a white washed effect.

After the paint dried, using my finger, I applied gold gilding wax to the edges of each pot.

While the paint on the pots is drying, cut 3 pieces of twine approximatley 48 inches in length.

Tie a knot on to one end of the twine. To do this, you will need tie approximately 6 loops onto intself to create a large knot.

String one piece of twine through the hole in the bottom of the terra cotta pot.

Pull the twine through until the knot is at the bottom of the pot.

Then, hot glue the knot on the outside of the pot to keep it from going all the way through the hole.

Allow the pot to dry and then hot glue the knot on the inside of the pot.

Pinecones

Cut an additional 3 pieces of twine approximatley 48 inches long and make the same type of knot as you did for the pots.

Place a knot on the flat end of the large pinecone.

And, glue the knot in place.

You can also apply gold gilding wax to the pine cones. Set the pinecones aside to allow the glue to dry.

Ornaments

Cut three piece of twine, approximately 96 inches long.

Run this piece of twine through the loop in the ornament.

Rub guilding wax on the ornaments in random places.

Putting the Swag Together

First, Pick up the pinecones, holding them by the twine.

Create different hanging lengths for the pinecones by pulling on the twine to shorten one and lengthen another.

This way they will not hang in a straight line.

Tie the twine in a double knot at the top of the center floral pick.

Repeat this process with the ornaments.

Repeat this process once more with the terra cotta pots.

Attach a bow with wire to the top of the swag to conceal the wires. I used a gold ribbon here.

But I ended up changing it out when I found some burlap ribbon with bells on it.

Using a piece of heavy duty wire, hang the swag in your desired location.

Tips

• If you make a Christmas lantern swag using my method, I would scale it down in size. I would use a smaller pinecone, one piece of greenery, one pot, and one ornament.
• If you are going to attach the swag to a staircase newel post, I would leave the swag at the size above.
• For a Christmas mailbox swag, I would leave the swag the same size, but I have the ornaments,pinecones, and pots cascade off both sides instead of down. I would also move the bow to the center of the swag.

Styling Your Christmas Swag

Now you will fluff the swag.

Arrange all of the elements so that they are not hanging on top of one another.

And pull the greenery forward to mix in with all of your elements.

Voilá – you now have a gorgeous organic Christmas swag to hang on your staircase, your doors, your gate, your mailbox, on the ends of a mantel……..whereever you want a little Christmas.

Next up, I think I am going to try my hand at a smaller version for a Christmas lantern swag.

Don’t forget to drop me a comment below and show me all your ideas!

Don’t forget your staircase and your doors.

Speaking of doors……

When I found the burlap bell ribbon below, I moved my swags to the front door.

Don’t forget to try these out on your lanterns. A Christmas lantern swag would be gorgeous.

Did you see my tutorial for a unique footed tray? You can use this beauty for all your holiday styling.

How about my dried fruit garland and handmade tassels?

Make sure to follow me on Instagram to see my daily story DIY’s!

Happy DIY ing!