Ideas for Pine Cone Skier Crafts
Doing craft projects is more than just a way to entertain children. It can help them develop their communication, social, emotional, reasoning, motor and problem-solving skills. Making crafts can also provide valuable interaction time between children and their parents. Using pinecones for craft projects can be less expensive than other craft material options. Making seasonally-themed crafts, such as pinecone turkeys or skiers, can also help children learn about the holidays.
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Finding Pine Cones
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While you can purchase pinecones, collecting your own pine cones is a cheaper alternative. Locate a nature preserve or woodland area that has a concentration of pine trees. The months between September and November are the best time to search, as this is when the pine cones fall from the trees.
Types of Pine Cones
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You want to pick the right kind of pinecones for your skier craft project. Some pinecones, such as the cones from the sugar pine, are very long and have a rounded base, which would make them unstable for craft projects. The lodgepole pinecone is popular for many craft projects. The Jeffery pine cone is another good option, as its scales turn inward and won't scratch your hands during the project.
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Craft Materials
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To make a skier out of pine cones, you will need a glue, a pine cone, two Popsicle sticks, a felt-tipped pen, one regular-sized marshmallow, one pipe cleaner, two toothpicks, two miniature marshmallows, and a string of yarn. You can paint the Popsicle sticks and toothpicks ahead of time if you wish.
Building The Skier
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Line up the Popsicle sticks parallel to one another and glue the flat end of the pine cone to one side. Using the felt-tip pen, draw a face onto the regular-sized marshmallow and glue it to the top of the pine cone. Stick the two miniature marshmallows into the toothpicks. Twist the ends of the pipe cleaner around the toothpicks and then wrap around the pipe cleaner around the base of the pine cone. Tie the yarn at the base of the larger marshmallow.
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References
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