How to Make Pine Cone Decorations

Pine cones are easy to decorate, and because each pine cone is uniquely shaped, no decoration will look exactly alike. After you are finished with the project, you can place the pine cones on bookshelves or tables as simple, unassuming decorations, or you can hang them as Christmas ornaments (or ornaments for any other holiday---you don't have to limit these to winter holidays).

Things You'll Need

• Pine cones
• Paintbrushes
• Newspaper
• Acrylic craft paints
• Glitter
• Yarn
• Scissors
• Craft glue

Instructions

1. Brush loose dust and dirt off pine cones with a soft paintbrush. If you get your cones from a craft store rather than from gathering them yourself, this may not be necessary (although they may have some dust on them, nevertheless).

2. Place newspaper down on a solid surface, such as a table, and place your pine cones on the paper. This will keep paint, glue and glitter from getting on clean surfaces.

3. Dip a small paintbrush into your chosen color of paint and lightly brush it onto the pine cone. If you are trying to create a special effect---such as snow---just dab the paint lightly on the outermost areas of the "branches." This will make it look more realistic.

4. Sprinkle glitter on the pine cone before the paint dries (if using glitter). Use as much glitter as you like, but remember it is easier to add more glitter than it is to remove it (without smearing the paint) if you get too much on the pine cone.

5. Cut a 3- to 4-inch piece of yarn. Place a bead of craft glue on top of the pine cone and then make a loop out of the yarn, pressing both loose ends onto the glue. When the glue has dried, you can hang up the pine cone. If the cone is large or exceptionally heavy, you may need to reinforce this by placing a piece of tape over the glued yarn.

Tips & Warnings

• Red and green are, of course, traditional Christmas colors; however, even if you intend these as ornaments for that holiday, you don't have to stick with that color scheme. You can use a rainbow of colors for your pine cones. If you are using more than one color of paint and are using acrylics, there is usually no need to let the first color dry completely before using the second color because, unlike watercolors, acrylics won't easily run into each other. For a more natural pine cone look, use clear glue instead of paint and add a bit of glitter for sparkle.

• If you are doing this craft with young children, use a washable paint rather than acrylics---paint spills are likely. In addition, closely supervise glitter use to make sure young children do not inhale or eat the glitter. Acrylic paint may dry out in a container if exposed to air. Keep the lid of a particular color closed until you are ready to use that color.

Resources

• Pine Cone Crafts and Decorations