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Pinecone Christmas tree decorations are a simple yet stunning holiday craft that transforms nature’s leftovers into festive little masterpieces.
With just a few supplies—pinecones, paint, and a sprinkle of glitter—you can create mini Christmas trees that look beautiful on a mantel, dining table, or even as ornaments on your big tree.
This project is perfect for kids and adults alike because it’s low-mess, affordable, and endlessly customizable.
How to Make Pinecone Christmas Tree Decorations
Each pinecone can be a tiny tree bursting with color and sparkle, bringing that cozy woodland charm into your home.
Materials
- Pinecones (clean and dry)
- Acrylic paint or tempera paint (green, white, red, or metallic colors)
- Paintbrushes or sponges
- Glitter or glitter glue
- Small pom-poms, beads, or sequins (for “ornaments”)
- Mini star stickers or beads (for toppers)
- Craft glue or hot glue gun
- Small wooden disks or bottle caps (as bases, optional)
- Ribbon or twine (for hanging, optional)
Shop the materials
The steps
Step 1: Prepare Your Pinecones
If you collected pinecones from outside, start by cleaning them. Shake off debris, rinse lightly with warm water, and let them dry completely. This ensures the paint and glue will stick properly.
Step 2: Add the Base Color
Choose your paint color—classic green for a traditional tree or metallic gold, silver, or white for a frosty winter look. Use a small brush or sponge to lightly coat the tips of each pinecone scale.
You can paint all over for a bold effect or just the edges for a subtle “snow-dusted” appearance. Let the paint dry for about 15–20 minutes.
Step 3: Apply Glitter or Sparkle
While the paint is still slightly tacky, sprinkle fine glitter over the edges to give your “tree” a shimmering, festive look. Alternatively, use glitter glue to trace along the tips of the scales for a cleaner finish. Shake off any excess glitter once dry.
Step 4: Decorate Your Mini Tree
Glue on small pom-poms, beads, or sequins as ornaments. Mix up the colors—reds, golds, greens, and blues work beautifully. Place a small bead, star, or button at the top as a tree topper.
Step 5: Secure the Base
If you want your pinecone tree to stand upright, glue it to a small wooden disk, cork, or bottle cap. Hold it in place for a few seconds until the glue sets.
Step 6: Add Optional Finishing Touches
Tie a small ribbon around the top if you’d like to hang it as an ornament, or add a little cotton or fake snow around the base for a wintery display.
Step 7: Display Your Pinecone Forest
Once dry, arrange your pinecone trees on windowsills, mantels, or tabletops. Grouping them in various sizes creates a charming “forest” look.
