RetroWON: How to Make a Shotgun-Shell, Lighted Wreath

In this retro-WON piece, Babbs walks you through how to make a shotgun-shell, lighted wreath.

Throughout her lifetime, my daughter and I have spent time making things. When she was a little girl, we always made crafty things at Christmas. Often, her brothers would participate. The list included homemade bread dough ornaments, stitchery projects, flax bags and of course, kitchen creations – buckets and Tupperware containers full of cookies and candies for all to enjoy.

So this year, since she’s moved back to live near us, we decided to make a wreath similar to a shotgun shell wreath that Natalie, at Girls Guide to Guns, featured recently. Except, I wanted it to have some greenery in it.

It was a fun project, and took us about 2 hours total.

Materials:

• Three-foot wide, fake green wreath with lights (K-Mart, on sale for $34)
• Strand of 100 clear lights ($4)
• Shotgun shells in assorted sizes and colors (free from local range)
• Glue gun and sticks
• Bow ($4)
• One bottle Chardonnay (for the wreath makers)

Directions:

• • Lay out a proper staging area for your wreath making. We used the basement floor and spread old dog food bags down to catch the drippy glue.
  • Open the bottle of wine. Pour glasses for everyone involved.

• • Also, we chose to work to “Mannheim Steamroller Christmas” music for its fast pace.
  • Start at opposite ends of the light strand and put a touch of glue on the plastic part, not the light bulb. Affix the hot glued light part to the inside of a shot shell. Put it about one-third of the way into the shell.
    
  • If refills are in order, pour another glass of wine.
  • Unplug the glue gun and call it a night.
  • The next day, take the strand of lights in shot shells and wrap the wreath.
  • Attach the bow.
  • Hang.
  • Plug it in.

11. Any wine left? Celebrate and enjoy the festive wreath made from recycled shot shells.

This RetroWON piece first appeared in Dec. 2012.

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  About Barbara Baird

  Publisher/Editor Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in hunting, shooting and outdoor markets. Her bylines are found at several top hunting and shooting publications. She also is a travel writer, and you can follow her at https://www.ozarkian.com. View all posts by Barbara Baird →

   

The Conversation

10 Comments

• 

  Janice Larkin says: December 6, 2014 at 8:27 am

  Great directions! Although I personally would have chosen TransSiberian Orchestra for the music and Natural Light beer for the beverage.
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  Barbara Baird says: December 6, 2014 at 8:36 pm

  Ha! To each her own!
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  Rita Schimpff says: December 3, 2014 at 10:20 pm

  So wonderful for all of us ‘sporting’ types….that is what I call bringing the wild inside ….with style!
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  Michelle Bodenheimer says: December 30, 2012 at 7:36 pm

  We always make our own wreath for the front door each season. Next year I am thinking it will be decorated with a few spent shotgun shells. What an excellent (and beautiful) idea.
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  Tammy says: December 24, 2012 at 6:42 pm

  That is beautiful!!!! Almost as beautiful as the two that created it! Love you both.
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  Andrea Fisher says: December 24, 2012 at 5:03 pm

  Thank you for the directions! I absolutely love it and will be making one!!!! Thanks again!
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  Little Gal says: December 22, 2012 at 12:05 pm

  Hey! That’s pretty cool! Very creative.
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  Mia Anstine says: December 22, 2012 at 12:03 pm

  Love it! We have a strand of shotgun shell lights on the railing on either side of the steps out front. So cute, but would be even better if we had made them ourselves. We’ll have to make us a wreath!
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  Sara Ahrens says: December 22, 2012 at 10:15 am

  Love it! My son wants shotshell lights around his room now…lol