| Pinecone Flowers - After treating the cones, use
a saw to cut the stalk - depending upon the size of the cone, you could
get one or two good "fs" plus the top. Finishing touches: To add a
nice touch, spray a very light application of a lacquer or acrylic spray
to "seal" the cut area and to enhance the appearance of the f. If you
have a brush-on type of sealer, mix a little glitter with it and apply just
to the ends. Mix these fs with a silk pine spray and you have a wonderful
Christmas or winter centerpiece. Contributed by Barbara Tobias, b.j.tobias@worldnet.att.net
Pinecone Pin Cushion - Take a pine cone and pull a few of the
stalks out here and there. Cut some circles of material and sew a running
sitch around the outside edge. Then as you draw them up, stuff some wadding
in to make a soft ball. Using a glue gun, put some glue in the cone where
you have pulled out the stalks and stuff the soft ball in. Cut a felt
circle bigger than the base of the cone and glue on, and you have a pin
cushion for a crafty mum or nana. We made these for our Mother's day stall
and they were loved. Contributed by Karen
Pinecone Easter Decoration - Last Easter I took several large,
8" to 10" pinecones, spray painted them white. Took several coats to cover
completely. I then added a large, full, (6", 8 loop), bow to the flat
end by hot glueing once I found the way the pinecone would be stable and
not rock when placed on the table. Then added tiny colored easter eggs,
scattered and wedged or glued along the top. Also added some tiny carrots
and a 2" rabbit. This idea came from a large pinecone that we had painted
gold and decorated for Christmas many years ago. This idea can be used
for any holiday, just by using a different color of paint and appropriate
decorations.
Contributed by Rose, pennie@mpinet.net
Thanksgiving Turkey - The pinecones that are flat on one end
and cone shaped would make little turkeys for Thanksgiving decorations.
The flat end would be the tail after you stick in a few feathers or feather
shaped cutouts. On the pointy end a question-mark shaped cutout for a
head and twigs or chenille stems for legs.
Contributed by SilverSilence@webtv.com
Make a Christmas tree using several pinecones - With pinecones
standing on their widest end (the base), glue the "sides" of them together
in the form of a circle Some of the petals can interlock w/each other
to help hold it in place. Just use hot glue to secure. When you have the
size of circle you need to form the base of your Christmas tree (obviously
this can vary, depending on the size of tree you want), repeat that step,
only making the circle smaller. Glue that circle onto the base, using
the same technique as mentioned above--allow some of the petals of the
base of the smaller circle to interlock with the tips of the larger circle.
Keep repeating these steps until you reach the "top" of your Christmas
tree. The very tip should be just one (1) pinecone, the "layer" beneath
that should be three (3) pinecones, and so on--forming larger and larger
layers--depending on how large you want the entire tree. Decorate then
with glitter, lights, miniature garlands, ornaments, etc..
Contributed by Shannon, hamelin@wf.net
Make a Christmas tree by gluing a single pine cone into a small
f pot. I put gold glitter on the tips of the "branches", a small
star on the top and wrap a piece of rickrack around the f pot. You
can add touches of glitter to the f pot as well. You can even tuck
some cotton into the branches for snow. This is just one suggestion for
decorating your tree - the possibilities are endless!
Contributed by B.J. Roberson, ac505@freenet.carleton.ca
Angel ornaments - If you have some of the long, narrow variety
of pinecones, they make great angel ornaments. Turn them upside down,
and glue a little wooden ball to the flat part (for the head), glue two
big silk rose leaves to the back for wings (or anything else you have
that looks like wings), let dry and spray paint the whole thing either
silver or gold. Attach a string to the back for a hanger. You'll be surprised
how cute these are. I have one hanging from my rearview mirror in my van,
next to my strawberry walnuts. They are also pretty on a christmas
tree.
Contributed by Jean Lexington, drlois@hotmail.com
Santa ornaments - use a long pinecone, turn upside down. Scrape
off the "leaves" at the top on one side. Use clay to form a
face. Paint the bottom of the pine cone white for his beard. Glue a little
felt hat on the top and hang from your tree.
Wax / glitter ornaments - tie a cord around the top and dip into
wax. Set in egg cartons to dry. Decorate with glitter when still moist
and hang from Christmas tree. (To just wax the tips, pour wax into a shallow
pan and roll the pinecone in it.)
Use in pine scented potpourri - recipe
Make pine cone owls - instructions
Decorate small Christmas trees - instructions
Christmas centerpieces - Sprinkle lightly with pine scent and
display in a basket, bowl, or aluminum pie tin. Lay fresh pine branches
in the container, to make a nest. Add some Christmas ribbon (make bows
or crinkle some wired ribbon all around) and then nest the pinecones in
the center. Add colorful candies around the edges, or small Christmas
ornaments.
Make a Mini Bird's Nest - Take baby pinecones and start gluing
them together Starting with two or three to form bottom of nest Then keep
adding one forming a circle using your hand as a guide. Layer it about
3 to 4 inches high. Put glue down in the middle of nest and stick a bird
(I like to use the birds on a wire) through the nest to secure, cut off
excess wire at bottom. Add fs and ribbion around the bird and you
have a beautiful ornament to set in tree or to use as part of a centerpiece
Contributed by Brenda from Va., Wdbe5@aol.com
Make a Pinecone Wreath - I use the wire frames and insert the
pinecones around each section. I soak the cones outside in a large bucket
overnight which causes them to close up and any bugs will come out. After
they are closed they are easy to insert in the wire frame. After the frame
is completed, I hang them in a warm spot for a few day and as the cones
open up, they are permanently in the frame. Then spray with acrylic sealer
and decorate as you choose. (be sure to wear gloves as the pine tar is
very hard to get off your hands :-)) Contributed by MizPatches,
mizpatches@aol.com
Use as decoration on a wreath - instructions
Fill a basket with them to hold dried fs in place
Mini Bird Feeders - instructions
Fire starters - place pine cone in a cupcake tin (coat w/ vegetable
oil first). Add some sawdust if you like and a wick. Pour melted wax into
the tin and let harden. Add this to your fire w/ kindling.
Add them to your fire untreated for kindling or extra fuel. Treat them and toss in the fire to create colorful
flames - Instructions for treating
here
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