Last weekend, the boys and I collected a plethora of pinecones from around our neighborhood. Many of them we used for decorating packages, but some we set aside for a different project: sparkly pinecone ornaments! It was only moderately messy, easy, and perfect for age 3 and up. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Several pinecones (dry)
- thread, string, or jute for hanging
- a plastic baggie that zips shut (or two, or three, depending on how many people want to work at the same time)
- multi-purpose glue or crafting glue
- scissors
- a cut-up grocery bag (optional: for containing the mess)
Step One: coat the first pinecone in glue. I allowed the boys to pour the glue on first, then spread it around with their grubby little fingers to cover each pinecone in a thin layer.
Apparently, this is really really super fun, as Milo exclaimed; “Mama! You’re the BEST! This is so awesome! I love it!” He makes it so easy.
Step Two: Fill a plastic baggie with glitter (we used Martha Stewart’s “white gold” glitter, which is more like glitter dust, so be careful about pouring because I imagine inhaling this or getting it in your eyes would be quite unpleasant), then drop the glue-covered pinecone into the bag. Close tightly, then shake the bag like the dickens until all the gluey parts are covered in glitter.
Step Three: Open bag carefully, tap glittered pinecone several times while still in the bag to remove excess glitter, and remove pinecone. Set aside to dry completely.
Step Four: Repeat with each remaining pinecone, or until your fingers are so stuck together and sparkly that you can’t take it anymore. We managed 14 before Oliver jumped ship, Milo lost interest, and I shooed them out of the room (after scrubbing their sparkly fairy hands with the kitchen scrub brush and warm water, of course). I finished the last 3 by myself, and honestly, I can’t tell the difference between the ones they did and the ones I did. It’s that kid-friendly! Also, it only took about 20 minutes start to finish.
The mess. Not as bad as I expected!
And easy to clean up… simply roll the paper bag onto itself and the glue will hold it shut so you can transport it to the trash when pinecones are dry.
Step Five: Tie thread or string around the top of each pinecone in a loop large enough to fit over a tree branch. We chose thread to make the pinecones look as though they are floating on the tree.
So sparkly!
You are the bravest woman I know. Glitter scares me more than axe murderers or clowns. I have nightmares about that stuff.
We are of the same crafting mind! I was planning on taking Gus into the woods behind our house today to look for pine cones so we could do this project! I’m so glad you shared your method because I would have totally tried to hand sprinkle the glitter on. The bags are perfect! I’ll let you know how it works for the under three set!
Ha, ha! Ami, I know! I actually hate glitter too! But we’ve had this container of glitter for 4 years and I needed desperately to find some use for it! Also, the end result is so… sparkly!
I think you might be the most fun (funnest?!) mom I know. Seriously!
Such a cute idea!
beautiful! nothing bad can come of silver sparkles 🙂
Ooh sparkly and pretty! I always love glitter until I realize that I’m still cleaning it up six months later 🙂
The boys have been complaining that we don’t have enough ornaments on the tree – looks like this might be the perfect thing!
p.s. Emil’s sweater romper is TOO cute!
xo
cortnie
so cute! last year when i had more time on my hands, i made sparkly acorns for all my co-workers. this year, however, i have a newborn and i’m on maternity leave 🙂
This is such a fun craft, thanks for the reminder! We’ve been going on a lot of hikes in our neighborhood on a new trail we found, and Audrey hoards “pine corns” in her little arms and brings them all home. So now I can do something with them.