A window string of cones and paper stars hung by turnsSmall open cones. Tie thread under the top scales of each and knot a folded paper star between cones.
Napkin rings of small cones on a loop of wireSmall closed cones, three to a ring. Wire each by its base to a napkin-sized loop; an adult does the wiring.
A tabletop tree: a big cone on a slice of branch with bead ornamentsThe largest open cone you have, base down. An adult hot-glues it to the slice; beads sit on the scale tips.
A bat hanging tip down from a thread with black paper wingsA long closed cone. Tie thread around the stalk end, white-glue the wings on the back and hang it up.
A bumblebee wrapped in yellow pipe cleaners with wax-paper wingsA small closed cone. Wind two pipe cleaners around it as stripes and trap the wings under the last turn.
A cone person with an acorn head and pipe-cleaner armsAn open cone, base down. Wind the pipe cleaner under the top scales; an adult hot-glues the acorn on.
A dragon of three cones in a row with felt spikes and a paper tongueThree long open cones, tip to base. An adult hot-glues the joins; spikes slot between scales along the top.
A gnome whose felt hat comes down over a wool beardAn open cone, base down. Tuck a tuft of wool under the top scales and sit a paper-lined felt cone on top.
A hedgehog with a clay snout pressed onto the pointed endA long open cone lying on its side. Mold the snout from modeling clay and press it on. No glue at all.
A lion whose mane is yellow yarn looped between the scalesA round open cone, base forward as the face. Tuck yarn loops between the outer scales and glue on a paper face.
A mouse from a small closed cone with a yarn tail and paper earsPoint the tip forward as the nose. White glue for ears and tail; let it dry lying down.
A reindeer from two cones with twig antlers and a red bead noseA long closed cone for the body, a small round one for the head. Hot glue joins them: an adult's job.
A skier on craft-stick skis with a pom-pom hatA round open cone standing on two craft sticks. White glue everywhere; toothpicks tucked in are the poles.
A snail with a round cone for its shell on a clay bodyA small round cone, closed or open. Roll a clay sausage, lift one end as the head and press the cone on.
A songbird on a twig with a wooden bead head and craft-feather wingsA small open cone, tip as the tail. An adult hot-glues the bead and the twig; feathers tuck in at the sides.
A spider with eight pipe-cleaner legs hooked under the scalesA round open cone, base down. Bend four pipe cleaners in half and push each one through between the scales.
A turkey with paper tail feathers slotted between the scalesA round open cone on its side. Slide the feathers into the gaps at the wide end. The scales grip them.
A woodland fairy whose wings are two winged seeds tucked behind the shouldersA small open cone, base down. The seeds slide in between scales; an adult hot-glues an acorn on as the head.
An owl with felt wings, acorn-cap eyes and two loose scales as earsA round open cone, base down. White glue holds the felt and the acorn caps; the ear scales tuck in at the top.
Wreaths, garlands and table pieces 14
A ball of cones glued around a foam ball with every tip outMany small open cones of one size. An adult hot-glues each base to the ball, packed close.
A bowl of cones with cinnamon sticks and dried orange slicesOpen cones of mixed shapes. Arrange only: big cones first, then fill the gaps. Nothing is joined.
A branch mobile with five cones hanging at different heightsFive cones of different shapes and one fallen branch. Tie each on with thread and slide the knots to balance.
A forest in a tray: cones standing as trees in a bed of sandLong open cones of different heights. Push each base into the sand; a foil pond and pebbles finish it.
A garland of cones tied along twine with a knot between eachOpen cones of any shape. Loop the twine under the lowest ring of scales on each cone and pull it tight.
A gift topper of two small cones and a green sprig tied into the bowTwo small cones, open or closed. Tie thread around each base and knot both into the ribbon.
A mantel row sorted from the longest cone to the roundestOne of every shape you can find. Stand or lay them in a line in order. Nothing is joined.
A picture frame edged with small closed conesSmall closed cones of one size and a flat frame. An adult hot-glues them side by side, tips outward.
A place-card holder: one cone with a name card between its scalesA round open cone that stands on its base. Slide the card into a gap near the top. Nothing is glued.
A tabletop tree: a big cone on a slice of branch with bead ornamentsThe largest open cone you have, base down. An adult hot-glues it to the slice; beads sit on the scale tips.
A window string of cones and paper stars hung by turnsSmall open cones. Tie thread under the top scales of each and knot a folded paper star between cones.
A wreath of cones wired to a ring with every tip pointing outwardLong open cones of one size and a wire ring. Twist florist wire around each base; an adult does the wiring.
Napkin rings of small cones on a loop of wireSmall closed cones, three to a ring. Wire each by its base to a napkin-sized loop; an adult does the wiring.
Three long cones hung from one bow on a doorThree long cones. Tie a ribbon around each stalk end, then gather the three ribbons into one bow.
Prints and drawings 13
A close-up of three scales drawn as large as the pageAn open cone under a lamp. Draw the overlap and the shadow each scale drops on the one below.
A cone drawn in dots only, darkest where the scales overlapAny open cone and a fine pen. Mark each scale tip first, then crowd the dots into the gaps between.
A cone seen from straight above, drawn as a rosetteA round open cone standing on its base. Start with the small scales in the middle and work outward in rings.
A long cone and a round cone drawn side by side at the same heightTwo cones of different shapes. Compare how many rings of scales each fits into the same height.
A scaly texture rolled into a slab of clayA closed cone and soft clay. Roll the cone across the slab like a rolling pin, pressing evenly.
A snow-covered fir printed in white on a dark sheetA long open cone and white paint. Lay the painted cone on its side, press, and lift straight up.
A soaking diary: one cone sketched again and again as its scales reopenOne open cone. Soak it until it closes, set it somewhere dry and sketch it each time you pass.
Crayon rubbings of loose scales under light paperScales pulled from an old open cone. Lay them flat, cover with paper and rub with the side of a crayon.
Flower prints from the base of a cone pressed in paintA round open cone held by its tip. Press the base in paint and stamp; each print is a ring of petals.
One slanting row of scales followed from base to tip, then the nextA long open cone and a pencil. Draw a single row all the way up before starting the row beside it.
Shadow outlines of one cone traced in the morning and the afternoonA cone on paper by a sunny window. Trace its shadow, leave everything in place and trace again later.
Treetops dotted across a page with the tip of a coneA long closed cone and green paint. Dab the tip in rows; draw trunks under the prints when they dry.
Wheel tracks across a sheet: a paint-covered cone rolled end over endA long open cone, a tray of paint, a big sheet. Roll the cone through the paint and then across the paper.
Pictures from loose scales 13
A bird's wing layered in scales from small to largeScales sorted by size. Draw a bird with one wing spread; small scales go at the shoulder, large at the tip.
A cardboard cabin roofed with scales laid from the eaves upwardScales of one size. Each row overlaps the one below, with white glue under every scale.
A chunky capital letter on card, packed with scales all pointing one wayAny scales. Draw your initial large, spread white glue inside it and press the scales in.
A drawn dragon with a ridge of scales down its spineThe longest scales you can find. Draw the dragon in marker and glue one row of scales standing up along the back.
A flower built of scales, row on row, with a button at its heartScales pulled from an old open cone. White-glue the button to card, then rings of scales, points outward.
A heart filled in with scales like a mosaicScales of mixed sizes. Draw the heart on card and fit the scales edge to edge, big ones first.
A hedgehog face and feet in marker, its back bristling with scalesSmall scales from a round cone. Draw the face and feet, then glue scales on the back, points to the rear.
A mermaid tail of overlapping scales on a drawn figureSmall scales from a round cone. Draw the figure first; glue from the fin up so each row covers the last.
A pineapple picture with scales in a diamond pattern and paper leavesScales of one size. Draw an oval, glue the scales in slanting rows and add a tuft of green paper on top.
A tortoise picture seen from above, its dome covered in wide scalesWide scales from a large cone. Draw the tortoise on card and glue scales from the rim of the shell inward.
A wreath of loose scales glued to the front of a cardScales from one cone. Glue them in a ring on a folded card's front, each covering half of the last; add a paper bow.
An owl on card with cone scales for its breast feathersScales from a long cone. Draw the owl on card and glue the rows from the feet up, each overlapping the last.
Branches in pen with scales glued on as autumn leavesSmall scales. Draw a bare tree first; glue a scale at the end of every twig and a few falling.
How it works
Here the pine cone is the material: an owl's body, a garland link, a stamp, or loose scales to glue. These 56 pine cone art ideas name the cone or scales to use and any join.
Read the full guide
Pinecone elementary art ideas: no hot glue
Kids can do holds the makes joined with white glue, modeling clay, twine, thread, ribbon or pipe cleaners, or with nothing at all: a turkey whose paper feathers slot between the scales, a place-card holder, flower prints from the base of a cone.
Open or closed, long or round
Most hints start with the cone. Open cones grip paper, yarn and pipe cleaners between their scales; closed cones make smooth bodies. Pictures from loose scales uses an old cone taken apart.
A hot glue gun is an adult's job. Kids can do uses white glue, clay, twine and pipe cleaners instead.
Pine cones close up when wet and open again as they dry, so build with dry ones.
Questions and answers
Why do pine cones open and close?
It follows moisture. After ripening, pine cones that do not stay sealed open in dry air and close in wet, and one cone goes through many cycles. One idea here sketches a soaked cone as it reopens.
What can kids make with pine cones?
An owl with felt wings and acorn-cap eyes, a hedgehog with a clay snout, a lion with a mane of yarn loops, or a garland tied along twine. Nothing in Kids can do needs hot glue or wire.
What do you need for pine cone crafts?
Dry cones and what is in a craft drawer: felt, yarn, pipe cleaners, paper, modeling clay, twine, thread and white glue. Some makes use florist wire or hot glue, and their hints say that an adult does that part.