At the bottom of my road is a gorgeous park and river. Most mornings I walk our old dog Toby across the park and along the embankment. The riverbank is lined by thistle plants, which are all dry now. I’ve picked a few of these and used them to make a lovely thistle decoration for my mantle.
Thistles are the national flower of Scotland and it’s Burns night soon. Which makes this thistle decoration is seasonally appropriate. It will go well with my scrap tartan Scottie dogs.
My mother is Scottish, every Burns night growing up, we had haggis. This is was not an easy thing to do whilst living in Hong
Despite what many non-Scotts believe, haggis isn’t a real animal. It’s a food item made from offal.
Did you know that it is illegal to import haggis into the US? Due to a ban on some of its ingredients. So I’m sure many Scots in the US must make their own haggis too!

A Colourful Thistle Decoration For Your Mantle
Back to the thistle decoration, I think it has a retro feel to it. As a
I thought I’d give the thistles a modern update by spray painting them a rainbow of

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What You Need To Make A Thistle Decoration
- Thistles – Thistles grow wild, I picked about 8 from the riverbank.
- Secateurs & gardening gloves – Thistles are very thorny, you will want to protect your hands.
- Wood dowel approx 3cm in diameter and at least 70cm in length
- Walnut wood stain
- Spray paints in lots of different
colours . - Drill with a wood drill bit as wide as the thistle stem.

How To Make A Thistle Decoration
1.Using gloves and secateurs pick your dry thistles. Next, spray paint them the

2. Next, saw the wooden dowel into blocks about 5-6 cm (2″) in height. You will need one for every painted thistle. I had seven blocks in total.


3. Mark the center of the top of each piece of wood and drill a hole in the top. The hole needs to be wide enough to fit the thistle stem and about 2cm’s deep.

4. Next, sand and smooth each of the wooden blocks. I wanted a darker wood look, so I also stained each block with a walnut wood stain.

5. Finally, cut down the thistle stems to about 2 cm long. Place one thistle decoration in each wooden block.



I have put my rainbow thistle decoration on the mantle. It certainly looks bright
Being born and brought up in Hong Kong, not only does my family celebrate Burns Night, but we also celebrate Chinese New Year. On the family calendar, it is the next event after Burns night. I’ll see if I can come up with some Chinese New Year decor ideas too!


If you are looking for more Scottish themed decorations then you should check out these tartan mini trees and colourful tartan feathers.
Chinese New Year often falls at about the same time as Burn’s night. You might want to check out my Chinese paper lanterns craft, which is also very colorful.
If like me you love colourful decor you will love the rainbow DIY pom-pom flowers I have also made to brighten up my home. You may want to check out these rainbow posts.
I have even made thistle type jeans flowers using denim scraps.
For more rainbow crafts check out favecrafts.com
Cecilia
I love this, Claire! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Cecilia.
Chas Greener
This is such a cute idea, and love all the bright and bold colors. Thanks for sharing.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, I love a rainbow.
Simona
What an Idea! I like it. Give to winter a little bit colour.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you. Anything to brighten things up on these dull winter days.
Jenny
The thistles look so different painted! I love them! It’s an amazing makeover. Very pretty! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much ?
Julie
I love your rainbow thistles.
We don’t have any Scottish family so have never done anything for burns night, we did have a large vase in the hall way as I was growing up filled with bullrushes, pampas grass and thistles though – I’m sure we had some sort of grass that we picked from the sand dunes on holidays in Cornwall too ! Funnily enough I haven’t repeated this 80’s phenomena in our house!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you. Lucky you never having to eat haggis as a child, mind you I don’t mind it now.
creativejewishmom/sara
Love it, thanks so much for sharing on craft schooling sunday!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Sara.
condoblues
Cute idea! We can buy haggis in the US but you really have to hunt for it. Most of haggis are liver based because like you said some of the ingredients are illegal here. It’s the only way I can stand to eat liver!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you! I confess I only really eat haggis once a year on Burns night.