Homemade Holiday: Pinecone Wreath

Remember the post where we suggested collecting pinecones in the summer?  Well, this was one of the reasons why!  Each summer my sisters and I would collect pinecones that my mom would store in boxes to make wreaths in the winter with the Brownies that she taught.  This is a fun way to spend some time working on something together. (And don’t tell Nan, but this is for her!  She just retired the old one after approximately 25-30 years!)

Materials

• Pinecones
• Glue gun
• Cardboard
• Craft glue
• Glitter or gold leaf
• Craft tray
• Piece of paper
• Ribbon or fabric to make a bow. (*Optional)
• Paintbrush (we suggest an old one for the glittering option)
• Scissors or a craft knife (to be used by an adult)
• 2 plates, bowls or lids (one smaller than the other)
• Smock

Optional

• Jingle bells
• Paint and brush for the base

Directions

Optional Glittering

• Put your piece of paper into your craft tray.  Don your smock.

• Arrange your pinecones on your tray and paint the areas where you would like to have glitter on them with craft glue and a brush.

• While the glue is wet, sprinkle the pinecones with glitter.  Allow to dry overnight.

• Shake the excess glitter from the pinecones, removing them from the paper.  Roll the paper into a funnel shape and carefully pour the glitter back into the container that it came from for re-use.

• You could also follow the same process using a gold leaf type material, following the product’s directions.  This is what we did.

Wreath

• Have an adult cut a wreath base out of cardboard for you.  You may want to use two sizes of a large lid or plate if you decide to make your wreath circular in shape. (With the larger lid for the outside circle and the smaller lid for the inside.)

• Flip the cardboard base over to a side that does not have text or printing.  You could paint or cover the base with felt if you like.

• Have an adult glue the pinecones onto the wreath base. (Or if you feel comfortable and based on the age and abilities of your child, have the adult put dots of glue and then the child hold the stems of the pinecones and place them in the glue dots how they would like.)

• Once dry, make a bow out of ribbon or fabric (we made one out of my Grandma’s velvet) and glue that on as well if you like.  (We folded a long piece of fabric good sides in, sewed the long edge where it came together and did the same with a smaller piece.  Turn them inside out.  Wrap the short piece around the long piece in the middle and glue it together at the back, so the sewn edges are on the sides for a more polished feel.  Fold the ends of the bow in a little less than half way and glue at the back as well. Voila!)

* The kids wanted to put the ribbon on the wreath’s box and then glue it on after opening so it does not appear on the final wreath*

• We then glued jingle bells into the empty spaces on the base of the cardboard- thanks for the suggestion Dad!

• Hang this on your door, above a piano etc. for a bit of festive cheer.

• Or put it in the centre of your table!

Purpose

• Re-imagining items (re-cycling, using nature)
• Recognizing symbols associated with various holidays

Safety Notes

• Wash your hands after using glitter.
• Be sure to use a smock and craft tray to protect surfaces and your clothing.
• An adult should use the glue gun and craft knife or large scissors to cut the cardboard.