Ten Easy Homemade Pinecone Decorations for the Holidays
Pinecones are everywhere, and their shape and rustic beauty lend themselves to perfect holiday decorations of all kinds. Grab some glitter and glue, and you’re on your way to house full of unique yuletide décor. Here are ten easy, do-it-yourself projects you can try at home:
Votive. For this project, you’ll need large, loose pinecone scales (remove with floral clippers). Create a cardboard circle, and hot glue pinecone scales in a circle around the edge, leaving a space in the middle for a simple glass votive. Continue gluing scales in layers until you reach a desired height. Place the glass votive with candle in the center.
Christmas Tree. Let your imagination run wild with this craft. There’s no right or wrong way to do it. Glue glitter and beads to your pinecone, paint it with festive colors, perhaps add some ribbon or pom poms, make sure to put a little star on top, and you have your own miniature Christmas tree. Place (or glue) the pinecone “tree” into an empty flower pot or other small container for extended display.
Picture Frame Ornaments. Glue a photograph (or photocopy of one) onto card stock. Using whatever shape you like as a template, cut out the photo, and hot glue the pinecone scales around the perimeter of the photograph. Glue some decorative paper to the back of the ornament if you wish, and don’t forget a hanger (glue looped ribbon between the photo and backing paper). This works great with sepia or black-and-white photos.
Bird Feeder. This is very simple, and it’s a fun activity for little ones. Just take a pinecone (“ugly” pinecones work just fine for this craft), slather it with peanut butter, and roll it in birdseed. Add a few cranberries for color, if you wish, and use floral wire to hang in a tree or small outside pine tree. Your backyard critters will love it.
Wreath. Don’t let the size of a wreath scare you off; this can be a very easy craft. You’ll just need a grapevine wreath (available at any craft store or online) and lots of pinecones (small ones work great). Hot glue them onto the wreath, and make sure you’re very generous with the glue. After the wreath is dry, weave in some wire-edged ribbon throughout the pinecones. Either tie or hot glue a matching ribbon to complete the look.
Snowy Pinecone Ornaments. Use white spray paint to decorate the underside of the pinecone scales, and hang upside down by gluing an ornament hook in the center of the pinecone base. You can dress these up a thousand different ways: add ribbons or mini ornaments at the top, dust with glitter, or glue on tiny plastic “jewels.”
Glitter Pinecones. Spray pinecones all over with a spray adhesive and toss into a large plastic bag with glitter. Place them in a large glass bowl or hurricane vase, and you have a gorgeous and sparkly centerpiece.
Filled Ornaments. The only thing you need to purchase is a clear glass or plastic ornament. Fill it with tiny pinecones and any other little treasures you like, such as tree trimmings, reindeer moss, beads, bells, or nuts. The possibilities are endless!
Pinecone Trees in the Snow. A large hurricane vase or pedestal glass container works best for this decoration. Fill the bottom with faux snow (check out your arts and crafts store), and place a large pinecone on top. Decorate around the base of the pinecone with cranberries, and you’ll have your own mini winter wonderland.
So, bring a little of the forest home for the holidays with one of these crafts. Not only will you have a beautiful decoration, but you and your family will have fun creating your own special pinecone décor.