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Home » Creative Pine Cone Crafts for Kids: Nature Meets Imagination

Creative Pine Cone Crafts for Kids: Nature Meets Imagination

Pine Cone Crafts for Kids

Pine cone crafts are perfect for fall! Make pine cone decorations or just have a great time crafting with your kids.

Skills Required: Beginner. These ideas are perfect for children and adults alike; no previous crafting skills needed.

Pine Cone Crafts for Kids

Have you ever tried pine cone crafts with your kids? Or even just yourself (no judgements here!).

I know that it’s easy to walk by pine cones during the fall and think of them as landscape fodder, but they are a surprisingly awesome craft base that you can do a whole bunch of things with.

And the best part is that they are 1) free and 2) seemingly unlimited during the fall!

You and your children will not only have fun crafting, but it’s also a good excuse to get outside and get collecting. Not only are the cones amazing for crafts, but they are great for decorations as well.

They also last a LONG time. I have the same bowl of pine cone decorations on my mantel that I’ve had for 21 years now.

One of my forestry professors gave me two huge pine cones and I use them year round. They aren’t even painted . . . but I just love the natural look they give my decor! They’re so beautiful.

Tips for Crafting with Pine Cones

While you can go into your yard, grab some cones and start crafting – I don’t recommend this. They are dirty and potentially have bugs. It’s really up to you, but I recommend a little preparation. it’s not a big deal.

How to Prepare Pine Cones for Crafts

Whether you’re using pine cones for crafts, for decorations, or for some other use, you’re going to want to to prep them.

To start, you’re going to want to remove the sap and bugs. There are two ways that I suggest.

pile of pine conespile of pine cones

In the Oven

Pre-heat the oven to 200ºF and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the pine cones in the oven for 30 minutes or until all of the sap has melted.

You’ll notice that putting the pine cones in the oven causes them to open up as well as to dry out a little bit, which is great for painting. Not only that, but you’ll be killing any of the little beastie bugs that live within.

Washing with Water and Vinegar

Another option is washing your pine cones. Add 1/2 cup to 1 cup of vinegar to warm water, and let the cones soak for about 30 minutes.

Once they are done, set them on the counter on some newspaper or paper towels and let them dry. This can take hours to several days. Some people prefer washing because it removes (rather than melts on) the sap. I’ll leave it up to you!

Secrets to Painting Pine Cones

Spray paint is an easy and quick way to cover pine cones with a smooth, even coat. Choose your preferred color and hold the spray can about 6-8 inches away. Apply light, even coats, turning the pine cone to cover all angles.

Use acrylic paint and a small brush for more detailed work. This allows you to paint specific areas, like the tips or edges of the scales. Brush painting gives you more control, so you can experiment with different colors and patterns.


Now that you’ve got all the info, it’s time for you to check out the projects! Just scroll down to see them.


What do you think about these pine cone craft ideas? Let me know in the comments! I’d also love for you to check out these additional craft collections:

Boredom Busters • Clay • Coffee Filters • Earth Day • Flowers • Macaroni • Moon • Mushrooms • Nature • Paper • Paper Bag • Paper Cups • Pipe Cleaners • Popsicle Sticks • Preschool Crafts • Stars • Straws • Twigs