I might be a little bit of a pine cone hoarder. Every time I go for a walk in the woods or even just stumble across a landscaped area with pine trees, I find myself stuffing my jacket pockets with these little wooden wonders. My husband gives me the look every single time. You know the one. It’s the “not again, we have a box of these in the garage” look.
But honestly, can you blame me? Pine cones are basically nature’s perfect craft supply. They’re free, they smell amazing (sometimes), and they look like little pieces of art all on their own. If you’re a nature lover like me, you’ve probably got a stash somewhere, too. So, let’s actually do something with them besides letting them gather dust, shall we?
I’ve rounded up ten of my favorite DIY pine cone crafts that range from “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that” simple to “wow, that looks like it cost $50 at a boutique” impressive. Grab your glue gun (carefully, we all know that thing is a weapon of mass construction) and let’s get started.
1. Classic Pine Cone Fire Starters
If you have a fireplace or a backyard fire pit, this is the most practical craft on the list. Why buy those chemically-smelly starters from the store when you can make your own adorable bundles?
The Supplies
You don’t need much for this one. In fact, you probably have most of this stuff lying around.
- Clean, dry pine cones
- Old candle stubs or melted wax (I save all my dying candles for this)
- Twine or natural jute string
The Process
First, tie a piece of twine around the top of each pine cone, leaving a little tail for a handle. Dip the cone into the melted wax, or use a brush to coat the “petals.” You don’t need a thick layer—just enough to catch the flame and burn slowly.
Pro-Tip: Roll the waxed cone in some dried lavender or coffee grounds before the wax hardens. Not only does it look fancy, but it smells incredible when it burns. I did this last winter, and my whole patio smelled like a cozy café.
2. Textured Wall Art
Blank walls are boring. But buying large-scale art? That’s expensive. Pine cones to the rescue. This craft is all about texture and making a big statement with something totally free.
Creating the Base
Find an old canvas at a thrift store or cut a piece of cardboard to size. Paint it a solid color that complements your room. I’m a sucker for deep navy blues or forest greens.
Arranging Your Pieces
Before you glue anything down, play around with the arrangement. Break some pine cones in half for smaller pieces, or pull apart the scales to use individually. Glue them down in a pattern—maybe a wreath shape, a heart, or just a chaotic pile if that’s your vibe.
- Bold Tip: Spray paint the whole thing gold or copper once the glue is dry. It instantly turns “rustic” into “glam.”
3. Herb and Succulent Planters
Okay, this one sounds a little crazy, but hear me out. Have you ever seen those tiny air plants or small succulents? They fit perfectly into the nooks and crannies of a large pine cone.
How to Make Them Work
You need a pine cone with wide-open petals. If yours are closed tight, bake them in the oven on low heat (200°F) for about 30 minutes. It dries out any sap and forces them to open up.
Assembly
Stuff a tiny bit of sphagnum moss into the gaps to hold moisture. Then, tuck the base of a small succulent or an air plant into the moss. No soil needed for air plants!
- FYI: These make killer place settings for a dinner party. Just put one on each plate with a name tag stuck into the moss. I did this for Thanksgiving, and everyone thought I’d spent hours on them.
4. Rustic Photo Holders
This is the easiest craft on the list. Seriously, if you have zero crafting skills, you can do this. It’s the perfect way to display those cute Instagram prints without buying frames.
What You Need
- Medium-sized pine cones (they need a flat bottom)
- Wooden skewers or sturdy toothpicks
- Hot glue
- Washi tape or twine
Wrap the top of the skewer with washi tape to make it look prettier, or just wrap some twine around it. Hot glue the blunt end of the skewer into the base of the pine cone. Stick the sharp end through a photo. That’s it. You now have a photo holder that costs about two cents to make.
A Word of Warning
Make sure the bottom of the pine cone is actually flat. If it wobbles, it’s just going to annoy you every time you walk past it. No one needs that kind of frustration in their life.
5. Fragrant Pomanders
This is an old-school craft that our grandmothers probably did, but it’s making a comeback because, honestly, it makes your whole house smell like a forest fairy decided to move in.
The Combo
You’ll need oranges (or any citrus fruit), whole cloves, and pine cones. Use a toothpick to poke holes in the orange in a pattern, then push the cloves into the holes.
Mixing It Up
Once your orange is covered in cloves, place it in a bowl and surround it with pine cones and cinnamon sticks. The moisture from the orange slowly releases into the cloves and pine cones, creating the most amazing natural air freshener.
- Rhetorical Question: Why would anyone buy a Glade plug-in when nature provides this for basically free?
6. Glittery Ornaments
I know, glitter is the herpes of the craft world. It gets everywhere and never goes away. But for the holidays? It’s a necessary evil.
The Method
Take some smaller pine cones and apply a generous layer of Mod Podge with a foam brush. Drop them into a bag filled with glitter (fine glitter works best) and shake it like a polaroid picture.
Hanging Them Up
Screw a small eyehook into the top of the pine cone, or just tie a ribbon around the base. These look amazing on a Christmas tree, but I also hang them in my kitchen window year-round just to catch the light. They add a little sparkle to doing the dishes. :/
7. Bird Feeders
This is the classic craft we all did in kindergarten, but let’s revisit it because it’s genuinely good for the local wildlife. It’s also a great way to trick your kids into being quiet for twenty minutes.
The Recipe
- Pine cone
- Peanut butter (the cheap, oily kind works best)
- Birdseed
- String
Tie a string to the pine cone. Slather it in peanut butter. Use a butter knife to get into all the cracks. Roll it in birdseed until it looks like a fluffy green monster (but, you know, seed-covered).
Hang It Up
Hang it on a tree branch where you can see it from your window. Watching the birds fight over it is better than reality TV.
- Important Note: If you use crunchy peanut butter, the birds don’t care. They aren’t food critics.
8. Winter Gnomes
Have you seen these little guys all over Pinterest? They are insanely cute, and the body is made from a pine cone. They make me unreasonably happy.
Making the Hat
Cut a triangle out of felt. Roll it into a cone shape to make a hat and glue the seam. Put a dollop of glue on the top of the pine cone and stick the hat on.
Adding the Details
Glue a little wooden bead to the front for a nose. You can add a beard using some fluffy white yarn or cotton balls. Glue the beard on so it covers the front of the pine cone, leaving just the bead nose poking out.
I made a whole army of these last December, and they are now permanent residents on my bookshelf. They don’t do anything, but they look cute judging me while I read.
9. Napkin Rings
Elevate your dinner table without buying silver-plated nonsense. Pine cone napkin rings are rustic, charming, and your guests will definitely ask where you bought them.
How to Make Them
You need the “scales” of the pine cone for this. Just pull the pine cone apart. It’s oddly satisfying, like popping bubble wrap. Hot glue these scales onto a plain wooden napkin ring (or a ring made from thick cardboard).
Overlap Them
Make sure you overlap the scales like fish armor. Once you cover the whole ring, it looks like it’s carved from a solid block of wood. Spray them with a little varnish to make them shine.
10. Scented Pine Cone Trees
These little trees are perfect for decorating a mantel or a desk. They look complicated, but they are deceptively simple.
Building the Structure
You need a styrofoam cone and a bunch of pine cone scales (again, pull apart those pine cones!). Start at the bottom and glue the scales in rows, pointing downwards. Overlap them slightly so the styrofoam doesn’t show through. Work your way up to the top.
The Finishing Touch
Once the glue is dry, you can leave them natural, or you can dust them with fake snow or mica powder. I like to put them on a little bed of fake moss.
- Opinion: They look way better than those plastic trees from the dollar store. And they actually smell like the woods, not like a factory in China.
Getting Your Pine Cones Ready
Before you dive into any of these crafts, you have to prep your pine cones. Trust me on this. I skipped this step once and ended up with a trail of ants marching across my dining room table. Not cute.
Cleaning Them Out
Shake your pine cones vigorously to get out any loose seeds or bugs. Then, give them a bath. Fill your sink with warm water and a splash of vinegar. Soak them for about 20-30 minutes. This kills anything living in there and cleans off the dirt.
Drying Them
This is the important part. Put them on a baking sheet and bake them at 200°F for about 2-3 hours. This dries them out completely and forces them to open up fully. Your kitchen will smell like a Christmas tree farm.
- Warning: Keep an eye on them. Don’t walk away and forget about them. Burnt pine cones smell terrible and set off smoke detectors. Ask me how I know. :/
So there you have it—ten ways to turn that pile of pine cones in your garage into something actually useful or beautiful. Whether you’re making a gift for a friend or just trying to spruce up (pun intended) your own space, these projects are a great way to bring a little bit of the outdoors in.
Now, get out there and go for a walk. You’ve got a good excuse to fill your pockets with nature’s trash-turned-treasure. Happy crafting, friends!
