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Painted pinecone ornaments bring the charm of the outdoors into your Christmas décor with a touch of sparkle and creativity. They’re easy to make, budget-friendly, and perfect for adding a rustic yet festive feel to your tree or centerpiece.
Whether you keep them simple with a dusting of “snow” or go bold with glittered edges, each pinecone turns into a one-of-a-kind ornament.
This craft is especially fun for families—kids love painting the tips while adults can add finishing touches like metallic trims or hangers.
How to Make Painted Pinecone Ornaments
With a little paint and imagination, you’ll transform ordinary pinecones into stunning holiday treasures.
Materials
- Pinecones (clean and dry)
- Acrylic paints (white, red, green, gold, or metallics)
- Small paintbrushes or foam brushes
- Glitter (optional but adds sparkle)
- Clear-drying craft glue or Mod Podge
- Twine, ribbon, or ornament hooks
- Small screw eyes (optional for hanging)
- Protective gloves and newspaper for workspace
Shop the materials
The steps
Step 1: Prepare the Pinecones
Start by cleaning your pinecones if they’re from outdoors. Shake off dirt, then bake them on a foil-lined tray at 200°F (93°C) for about 20–25 minutes to remove bugs and sap. Let them cool completely before painting.
Step 2: Choose a Color Scheme
Decide whether you want traditional holiday tones like red and green, or a more elegant look with metallic gold, silver, or white.
A mix of styles also works beautifully—try snowy white tips on some and glittery gold accents on others for variety.
Step 3: Paint the Pinecones
Use a small brush to lightly paint the tips of each pinecone scale. You can paint just the edges for a frosted look or cover the entire pinecone for a bold, colorful ornament. Let the first coat dry completely before adding more layers if needed.
Step 4: Add Glitter or Sparkle
While the paint is still slightly tacky, sprinkle fine glitter over the tips for a shimmering effect. Alternatively, brush on a thin coat of Mod Podge after the paint dries and then dust glitter over it. Tap gently to shake off excess.
Step 5: Create a Snow Effect (Optional)
For a snowy pinecone look, dab a little white acrylic paint or faux snow paste on the edges of the scales. You can even add a touch of iridescent glitter to mimic the sparkle of fresh snow under light.
Step 6: Add a Hanger
Twist a small screw eye into the top center of each pinecone, or simply tie twine or ribbon around the upper scales to form a loop. Make sure it’s secure enough to hang on a tree branch or wreath.
Step 7: Display and Decorate
Once everything is dry, hang your painted pinecones on the Christmas tree, arrange them in a bowl with ornaments, or attach them to gift ribbons for a natural finishing touch. These ornaments also look lovely grouped in a garland across the mantel.
