Thursday, November 29, 2012

Frosty Pinecones

I am knee deep in Christmas decorations at the moment and it pretty much looks like a total disaster around here! I'm hoping to turn the corner today, you know that moment when it all starts coming together. I like to incorporate lots of natural elements into my holiday decor - fresh greens, berries and pinecones.


And this year, the pinecones went a little frosty!


We have several large pines in our yard. They actually started out as our Christmas trees many years ago. We all still marvel at how large those tress are now. If you've never bought a live tree and planted it, I highly recommend it! And we always have lots of pinecones. But with the help of Sandy's wind, this year we have more pinecones on the ground than ever! A few weeks ago, the entire yard was covered and we had to gather them just to mow the lawn. I never even got around to collecting the ones under the trees.
 
 
They were still damp from the rain, so I brought them in the house and spread them out on a sheet to dry. The best part was that the heat of the house made them open even more - a nice surprise!
 
 
 Last year I gave a batch of pinecones a quick shot of spray adhesive and glittered them. They were really pretty. But I love snow, so this year I decided they needed to be a little more frosty. So first I started with paint.
 
 
I used some leftover latex paint and brushed it on with a nice wide brush - quick and easy. If you are just painting a few pinecones, a little bottle of craft paint would work just fine.
 
 
The beauty of the big bucket was that it contained the splatters (yes I'm messy) and I could tap the pinecone on the inside of the bucket to remove the excess paint and catch the drips.
 
 
Then while the paint was wet, I just sprinked the pinecone with glitter. I used a plastic bowl underneath so I could recyle the glitter that didn't stick.
 
 
This is not a project for expensive fancy glitter. This is my favorite glitter for snowy projects. It looks like little white snow crystals, plus it comes in a nifty shaker jar and is very inexpensive. I buy it at Michaels in the kid's craft section. I love this stuff!
 
 
Now doesn't that look like it just came in from a snowstorm!
Have I mentioned that I love snow?
 
 
I called this the pinecone frenzy because this is only half of them.
 
 
I had so much fun, I repeated the whole process the next day!
 
 
I've used frosty pinecones on wreaths.
 
 
 
 
And we decorated for our Elizabeth & Co. holiday open house with frosty pinecones.
 
 
  
 And woudn't this make a nice little gift idea?
Add a cute little tag and you'd be good to go!
 
 
 And of course I'm using frosty pinecones all over my house!
 
 
 
 
 
 
So what do you think? Do you want to make some frosty pinecones too? It was fun, easy and you probably already have all the supplies on hand. And if you need some pinecones, come on over!
 
Okay, it's back to decorating for me. Unless of course I get sidetracked by another frenzy of some sort! Have a great day!!!
 
I'm linking to...
Holiday Mod Vintage Life
Saturday Seven
It's Overflowing Funky Junk's Sat Nite Special Photobucket 504 Main

Jennifer Rizzo

Six Sister's Stuff

The Gingerbread Blog

Hyphen Interiors

 

31 comments:

Leslie Harris said...

Sharon I am definitely going to do this, I love the look of the white and glitter. I've been so busy I haven't begun my Xmas decorating yet and I can't wait to start. Thanks for sharing this.
Leslie (Gwen Moss)

Twice Nice said...

Actually I really do want to make some glitter pine cones now! Thanks for the inspiration!

Anonymous said...

after reading this - YES I DO want to make some frosty pine cones, absolutely!! They look perfect everywhere you placed them. just like rolling out the welcoming red carpet for santa :)

Cassie Bustamante said...

just love these! they are so so pretty and so versatile!

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

Your pine cones look so pretty, beautiful wreaths too! Love it all!

NanaDiana said...

What a darling idea. I love pine cones, too. We have them here and there throughout the house. I have some "sugared" ones that slip over lights that I love- xo Diana

Laura said...

I just may have to do this tonight!!!

A Few Pennies said...

Oh my gosh; how absolutely beautiful--I love your projects--I get inspired everytime I'm here! Thank you, too, for the party feature of my window. I'm going back now to view the pinecones again. Lucky you to have such an abundance; the wreath is gorgeous!

regan said...

These are great! And I especially loved the pic where you started lining them all up all nice and neat on the sheet, then they just kindof took over in a frenzy! Ha!

Chris at Red Gate Farm said...

Oh I love your frosty pine cones! I've never really thought of doing this before... I too have a huge crop of these each year... plus some really big ones from our two scotch pines... Maybe I'll have to try this next year or even for some "winter decorating" after the holidays are over!

~Chris

PS thanks for the inexpensive glitter tip!

ohiofarmgirl said...

They are just beautiful. I have so many pine trees in my yard and I will be gathering next week when I have more time. As I was looking at your pictures I was thinking that they would be perfect to use all winter!!! Dianntha

Anonymous said...

Oh my! That's a lot of pinecones! I love your process, so much easier and prettier than others I have seen! - Susan

Our Pinteresting Family said...

They are beautiful, Sharon. Your pine cones looked great in all the wonderful projects I saw at the Tag sale too.

Bliss said...

Excellent tutorial. How wonderful to have the raw material so handy!

Bliss
(Pinned it too)

Hetty said...

O, they are beautiful! I am going to make some too..

Korrie@RedHenHome said...

These are so pretty! I feel the need to dress up some of my pine cones!

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

I love your pine cones and all the ways you've used them. So darn pretty! thanks for sharing what glitter you use.

hope you have a great weekend Sharon!
gail

Athena at Minervas Garden said...

I love these pinecones, Sharon--so pretty! And I love how you used them in the milkglass containers. I have been so smitten with the picture of the shredded sheet music, the red ball and the pretty pinecones--I'm going to try doing something along those lines this year, too, in my decorating :) And I can relate--I can't even find the top of the dining room table there's so much decorating stuff out at the moment! Busy with life as well as the blog, but I'll try to finish up this weekend, mostly. Have a lovely weekend.

Linda@Coastal Charm said...

Sharon,
Thanks so for sharing how you made these beautiful pine cones.

Blessings,
Linda

Kristy said...

Love all the different ideas for the pinecones!!

Leslie said...

Beautiful! Love this idea!

Dawn said...

Thank you for becoming a follower of the "Cabin" I am also your newest follower. Am loving what I am seeing, I think our styles are very similar. Can't wait to look around your blog some more. Have a lovely Sunday and see you again soon:)

Laurel@ChippingwithCharm said...

These are lovely...and they mix in perfectly everywhere :) Hope the decorating is going well. I think I'm almost done here!! Laurel

the cape on the corner said...

are you telling me that those are just out there for the taking? man, why are pinecones so hard to get around my way?

Anita at Cedar Hill said...

I love your pine cones Sharon. I was going to follow you back, but it turns out that I am already following you. No wonder, you have a gorgeous blog!!

Christina at I Gotta Create! said...

Your pinecones are so Beautiful! So many ways to use them, too.


<3 Christina @ I Gotta Create!
Wildly Original link party every Wednesday.

Diane | An Extraordinary Day said...

Um...how many pinecones did you paint? You house has exploded with lovely lovely showy snowy pinecones! :D I LOVE it!!!!!!!! Thanks for the inspiration....I have never thought to do this. Hmmmm. I'll have to start collecting.

Unknown said...

LOVE YOUR WREATH IT TURNED OUT BEAUTIFUL, I WOULD LOVE TO FEATURE IT, LET ME KKNOW IF THAT IS OK
LAUREN

Anneke at This, That and Life said...

Oh my goodness! I LOVE these!!! My husband teases me for my pinecone and glitter obsession, but you've clearly proved my point. ;-) Thanks for linking ALL of your great projects to the Home for the Holidays Party!

~Anneke at www.thisthatandlife.com

Debbie @DewdropGables said...

I love the snow too...I prefer a blizzard to the heat & humidity of summer any day. And I love your pine cones! They turned out perfect.
I saw you sharing at The Space Between's A Crafty Christmas.
Debbie :)

Karah @ thespacebetweenblog said...

I love the addition of the glitter. Great use of nature, too!! Thank you so much for linking up to our Crafty Christmas party!