Living in the Adirondacks means we have plenty of natural objects that can easily be used for kids’ crafts. Acorns and pinecones can all be used to create fun, easy holiday ornaments that kids of all ages will enjoy making and displaying. And, the stars of the show may easily be found during a backyard scavenger hunt or on a hike in the woods, adding another layer of fun to the project.
Festive Acorns
To make acorn crafts this holiday season, all you’ll need are some acorns, acrylic paints in seasonal colors, a glue gun, and embroidery floss or heavy thread. Before starting the craft, you’ll want to be sure your acorns are clean and free of hitchhiking bugs. You can wash them in hot water, swishing them around to ensure they’re dirt, debris, and insect-free. After washing them, allow them to dry a bit on a kitchen towel.
You’ll want to finish off the drying process by placing them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and baking them at about 150 degrees F. for 20 minutes or so. Don’t leave them too long, or they’ll pop open (like chestnuts roasting on an open fire).
Once your acorns are cool and dry, secure the caps with a bit of hot glue. Then, you can paint them using any color you wish, such as metallic copper, gold, or silver. You can even create little Santas by painting the caps red and using white and pink to create St. Nick’s face and beard. It may be easier to draw the faces once the paint dries using fine-point permanent markers. If you want to make your completed acorns into ornaments, you can tie a loop of floss or thread to the stem or secure the loop with a small dab of hot glue. Note: if making this craft with children, an adult should man the glue gun so little fingers don’t get injured!
Frosty Pinecones
This pinecone ornament craft is super easy, and most small children love the surprise of the sparkle! All you’ll need for this craft is pinecones, glue, glitter, a paintbrush, and embroidery floss or heavy thread. You will also need a secure shoebox with a cover for each glitter color you choose.
Make sure your pinecones are dry and bug-free before you use them. You can follow the recommendations for cleaning acorns, just increase the oven temperature to 250 degrees F. and bake for an hour, turning them halfway through. Make sure they are completely cool before using them for crafting.
Next, add glitter to the shoeboxes, and set them aside. Place the glue in small cups with paintbrushes, and let the kids paint glue on each pinecone petal. Once the pinecone is painted with glue, place the pinecone in the shoebox and cover it securely. (You might want to tape the lid so it doesn’t come flying off – leaving you with a glitter disaster!) Let the kids shake the box for a few seconds. Then, remove the lid, and voila! You should have a festive, glittery pinecone to hang on the tree. Leave the pinecones to dry on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Finally, tie a loop of floss or thread on the pinecone stem for hanging on the tree.
And, stop by the Speculator Dept. Store for your holiday gift-giving needs.
We can help you find the perfect holiday gift for kids from one to 92! Just stop by and browse our selection of kids’ toys and games, jewelry, candles, apparel, and more.