Craft idea links? Re: Sweet Gum tree pods!!!

[Miss Mary]

We have 2 Sweet Gum Maple trees that are dropping hundreds of pods, the spikey round balls that you sometimes see in dried flower arrangements. As I pick up another batch I keep thinking there has to be some great craft ideas out there for these things (besides putting them in old sox for our dog to munch on, they feel good on her gums, LOL).

So does anyone know of a good craft link in which I could just type tree pods (similar to typing pine cones) for suggestions?

Does anyone here have ideas for me? An ornament idea? Anything!!!!

Gluing or wiring pine cones to the rim of a basket is a clever idea. And I've wondered if I could do the same with these pods. It would be hard to get them to stick on, I'd have to use wire or wire prongs (similar to the old hot hair roller prongs/clips used years ago). I know a glue gun wouldn't hold them onto something. They are quite pretty but have spikes all over them.

Thanks all!

Mary

[Miss Mary]

Please someone give me good ideas for these things - besides pitching them in the garbage. I picked another 50 up yesterday. And there are hundreds on both trees, waiting to drop. They look like ornaments hanging on the trees!!!

Mary

[Danaus]

I have seen them painted gold and silver and wired for hanging using florists wire. Another idea I ran across yesterday was about using them for fill in the bottom part of large outdoor planters.

[Miss Mary]

I have seen them painted gold and silver and wired for hanging using florists wire. Another idea I ran across yesterday was about using them for fill in the bottom part of large outdoor planters.

Hey, there's a thought. I used packing peanuts in pots this past year. I'd have to store them until next spring though. Thanks!

Mary

[stormraiser]

I used to love those things growing up. I would use them to torture my little brother when he got me in trouble. Of course, that only got me in more trouble.

[janswizard]

I'm not sure I now what these things are that you are talking about, Miss Mary. I guess I've never seen them before.

[ColdFront77]

I found these pictures, couldn't find anything better in the last few minutes:



I used to see maple tree seeds all the time in the springttime in southern New England. They or certain maple tree seeds look like "helicopters."

[Miss Mary]

Janswizard - here's a link with pictures (I'm not good at pasting them here!):

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/cons ... iflua.html

These pods are round, spikey things, the size of a large gumball. With a stem at the top. Shades of brown.

Thanks Tom but I don't think that's a sweetgum pod. Close, but not the same as what I have in my back yard. Hundreds of them, all waiting to drop.

Mary

[janswizard]

Well, the tree is pretty! But those pods - I don't quite know for sure what you could do with them!
I noticed in the description they said it was a litter problem for lawns! They don't look attractive enough to even use for a wreath.

[deb_in_nc]

Could you spray paint them and hang them on your bushes and trees like ornaments? Or make little snowmen out of them? You could do a swag and use them in that. Just a few ideas off the top of my head.

Debbie

[Miss Mary]

They are a litter problem! We have one of those instant plug in dog fences that emits a 90 degree circle. Our dog is able to roam our entire house and half of the back yard, just what we intended. These 2 trees are in her back yard range. And they hurt her paws if there are over 100 on the ground. Once last year after it snowed and then the snow turned hard and icy, they were everywhere. I spent a good 30 minutes that time picking them all up. She winces they hurt so much.

I think they are pretty if they could be the right way. I just didn't have any good ideas. One I had was to buy 3 pine tree shapes of styrofoam from the craft store, in various heights (picture 3 candle sticks in various heights). Spray paint the styrofoam a dark brown, the color of the pods, and then attach the pods all over the tree shapes. I could dust them with gold glitter pain when I'm done and I'd have a small decoration, just grouped together on a table somewhere. For the holiday season. But I don't know how to attach these things to the styrofoam. Maybe those u shaped pins/prongs would hold them in.

Thanks for all the suggestions. When we first planted these trees they didn't form the pods. Or produce so many. It's when the trees mature (ours are now about 12 years old) they really begin producing these pods. You'll drive by old neighborhoods in Cincy with these pods all over the streets and sidewalks. Yes, it is a litter problem when they're big trees. FYI, if you want to plant a good shade tree and like maples (these are in the maple family), my advice - think twice about sweetgum maples!

Mary

[pvroses]

Miss Mary, I like to see the sweetgum pods in potpourri ! They have such great texture and they seem to really hold onto the oils ! How bout glueing them onto a styrofoam cone to use as a baby Christmas tree ? You could paint it or leave it natural. I think a garland of the pods would be beautiful too ! I'll try and think of somemore ideas.....~K

[Miss Mary]

Pvroses - hey now, that garland idea is a good one!!! Why didn't I think of that earlier? I recently saw one made out of grape vine, shaped into a string of stars. All left natural, in shades of brown. Mmmmmm, this could be a very good idea! I could get an embroidery needle and push it thru, stringing the whole thing with brown twine. What do you think? You may have hit on just the thing. My youngest daughter keeps looking at them too - they are visable from the kitchen window, a room we're all in a lot, and thinking there has to be a creative way to use these.

Another idea....putting beads or something like natural looking beads between each pod. Boy you got me started on a project! LOL

Mary

[ColdFront77]

Thanks Tom but I don't think that's a sweetgum pod. Close, but not the same as what I have in my back yard. Hundreds of them, all waiting to drop.

Mary

No problem, Mary. I thank you as well. It was worth a try, although I did notice your description of the sweetgum pods.

I do see the picture of the one in the link you posted.

To make post a picture in a thread put [.img][./img] (without the periods) around the web address {URL}.

[Miss Mary]

I just ran this garland idea past my 13 year old. She lit up like a Christmas tree. I could almost see the wheels turning. She went off in the paint direction - green and red. I said oh no, they're pretty left natural I think. To keep her happy, I said we can bring in color with red and/or green beads between them.

And then she finally said - I'll tell you one thing: we sure have enough of them for garland!".

Don't know when I'll try this out but I hope to soon.

Mary

PS - thanks anyway for trying Tom. Wish I had only those seed pods to deal with. LOL

[pvroses]

I'm glad to be of help ! I look at all kinds of things w/ a different "eye". I think they'd make a beautiful garland,especially w/ green and red beads.You might want to make a few just natural beads that way you could leave them up all the time ! I think the garland would look great on a 4 foot slim woodsey tree ! Have fun !!~K

[CajunMama]

Darn those things hurt when you stepped on them with your barefeet! I remember as a kid not being able to go out in the front yard barefoot because of that darn tree!

[pawlee]

sew em' together and make a dress..?

[stormraiser]

LOL I wouldn't want to wear that one Actually, I wouldn't want to wear a dress at all

[Miss Mary]

Hey pawlee and stormraiser - I'll send you guys bushels full of these things!!! Each and everyday I pick up more. Thank goodness these trees are in my backyard. So if I miss a day or two, no one can complain. I have driven down streets in other communities with pods all over sidewalks and in streets. Just glad I don't have that problem, . My dog is the only one inconvienced by them. They do hurt her paws. As far as trying to come up with a craft idea, I've pretty much given up that idea. I was going to string them together into xmas garland but you can't even poke a hole in them, w/o using a drill I imagine. So now they just go in the garbage.

Mary