Festive Pine Cone Crafts with @HousebytheBrook

“The unique structures and patterns of pine cones make them the ideal crafting material. Best of all, they are free. With the addition of just a few foraged materials (leaves, twigs, acorns and chestnuts), a rummage in the recycling for cardboard and corks and some sparkly string or twine, there’s no limit to the possibilities of what you can create.

These are easy crafts for adults and children alike, but a couple of tools might need parental supervision. As my children are still so young, I usually cut the shapes needed beforehand and safely dish out blobs from the hot glue gun.

You could use the more child-friendly PVA instead, but I’ve found the hot glue gun gives much better hold. There’s nothing worse than putting a homemade decoration on the tree only to watch it fall apart!

Pine cones come in various shapes and sizes, depending on where and when they are collected, so you’ll find a few options below depending on the shape you have or manage to find.”

“Before you start crafting, you’ll need to give your pine cones a clean to make sure they are free of dirt, debris and bugs. It’s best to start prepping the week before you want to get crafty, as unfortunately there is a bit of waiting time involved.”

You will need:

A bowl/bucket

Vinegar

Water

A baking sheet

Foil

Oven

Paper towels

Method:

Step 1: Soak your pine cones for 20 minutes in a bowl or bucket filled with 2 parts water, 1 part vinegar.

Step 2: Drain and rinse them, then place on a foil lined baking tray. You’ll notice the pine cones close up when wet. Don’t worry, this is normal.

Step 3: Bake at 100°C for 20 minutes.

Step 4: Once cooled, swap over the foil on your baking tray for paper towels.

Step 5: Leave to air-dry for 2-3 days. You’ll know when they are dry, as they will open back up.

You will need:

x1 long, thin pine cone

Cardboard

Scissors

A hot glue gun

x1 acorn

A black permanent marker

String/twine

Step 1: Cut the shapes you’ll need out of cardboard: x2 pointy tipped ovals for wings; x2 heart shapes for feet; and x1 small triangle for the beak.

Step 2:  Plug in your glue gun to warm it up while you check over the top and bottom of your pine cone. You’ll want a nice flat base for the feet to sit on. You might need to carve off the base with a knife and perhaps remove a few of the woody scales at the tip of your pine to ensure the acorn heads sits snugly.

Step 3: Add a blob of glue to the top of your pine cone and press your acorn in place for the head. Hold for 30 seconds before laying flat while you attach the other pieces.

Step 4: Attach your cardboard wings to the side of your pine cone and the cardboard feet to the base using more dabs of hot glue.

Step 5: Once your glue has set and your acorn head feels firmly in place, you can add marker pen features. We kept it simple, adding just a triangle of black for head feathers and dots for eyes. But you could also detail the feathers on the wings and claws on the feet.

Step 6: Using another dab of hot glue, complete your penguin’s face by adding the cardboard beak.

Step 7: Your penguin should be able to stand up; however if you want to hang it you’ll need to add a hanging loop using your string or twine. Simply weave it into the scales and tie in place.

You will need:

x1 any shape pine cone

A cork

A knife

Cardboard

Scissors

A hot glue gun

String/twine

Paint/glitter if you wish to ‘decorate’ your tree

Step 1: Cut a cardboard star and stick to the tip of your pine cone with a dab of hot glue.

Step 2: Use a knife to carve your cork in half and create a nice flat surface. You’ll also want a nice flat pine cone base to attach it to, so you may need to carve off the base with a knife too. Once done, attach the cork to the base of your pine and press firmly for 30 seconds.

Step 3: Now it’s time to ‘decorate’ your tree. We dabbed on clear glitter paint and wrapped sparkly string around the scales, securing it in place with a blob of hot glue each end.

Step 4: Your tree should be able to stand up; however if you want to hang it you’ll need to add a hanging loop using your string or twine. Simply weave it into the scales and tie in place.

You will need:

x1 short, wide pine cone

Scissors

A hot glue gun

x1 acorn

x2 oak leaves

A black permanent marker

String/twine

Step 1: Attach your acorn to the tip of your pine cone using a blob of hot glue. You might need to remove a few of the woody scales at the tip of your pine cone to ensure the acorn heads sit snugly. Hold firmly in place for 30 seconds.

Step 2: Add a blob of glue to the base of each leaf and attach them to the back of your pine cone to look like wings. Lay flat to allow them to set.

Step 3: Once your glue has set and your acorn head feels firmly in place, you can add eyes, a mouth and rosy cheeks using marker pen.

Step 4: Finish by wrapping sparkly string or twine around the top of the acorn head to look like a halo, securing with another dab of hot glue.

Step 5: To hang your angel you’ll need to add a hanging loop using your string or twine. Simply weave it into the scales and tie in place.

“For fun, free and festive crafting, these are easy ideas that will keep the whole family entertained for a few hours. They look great either hung on the tree, or as part of a natural, handmade table display. We think they’d make sweet gifts too. So pop on Bublé, heat up some mulled wine, crack open the mince pies and get crafty this Christmas. Enjoy!”

Have we inspired you? We’d love to see your festive pine cones! Make sure to tag us in your pictures or to use #joules so that we see them.