How to Make Pine Cone Ornaments

Classy in a quiet way, these pine cone ornaments are basically free and are fun to make with children.

Gather pine cones. Our family collected pine cones under evergreen trees in Central Park. We had so much fun gathering them and finding different sizes and shapes. Collecting pine cones also gave us an excuse to get outside in nature, even in the cold weather.
Attach ornament hooks (optional). The pine cones can also be displayed in a bowl, on the mantelpiece or as table decor. To attach an ornament hook (available where Christmas balls are sold), we tied a piece of gray string to the top scales of the pine cone and then to the hook.
Dab with glue. Spread a table with newspaper and dab school glue on the scales of the cone. We put glue where there were already white bits of dried sap, or on the edges where snow might collect.
Apply glitter. We either sprinkled the pine cones with glitter or rolled them in the glitter that collected on the newspaper.
Let dry. Either hang pine cones to dry or rest them lightly on a surface that won’t stick to the glue (such as a countertop or bathtub).

It was funny: as we selected and decorated the pine cones, we realized how beautiful they were as is. But it was fun to embellish them.

Do you have another holiday craft that involves nature and children? Let me know if you make the sparkly pine cones!

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{1 Intelligent opinion... read them below or add one}

M December 17, 2009 at 9:22 pm: I’m not a child, but a grandmother. Last weekend I engaged another grandmother in the fun of making sparkly pine cones. While listening to holiday music, we rolled the pine cones in glue (I used matte medium–a painter’s supply) and then glitter. Did 200 of them in a couple of hours. Instead of thread, we wired them with florist wire, then attached a hook. And what for? To use as decorations for our Christmas trees. And for gifts. Lots of fun.

Do-It-Yourself: Sparkly Pine Cones