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Today I’m showing you how to make a stunning teal pinecone ornament! This handmade ornament tutorial kicks off the 31 Days of Handmade Ornaments Blog Hop: a new handmade ornament tutorial for you every day this month!
It’s October 1st as I type this, and today I have the honor of kicking off the 31 Days of Handmade Christmas Ornaments Blog Hop!
Hooray!
I love this entire series because every creative blogger that participates comes up with a wonderful DIY ornament that you can make.
That’s why we do this during the month of October, so everyone has a chance to see each of the handmade ornaments and still have enough time to gather supplies and make some of your own!
If you want to see the Bottle Brush Tree Ornament I made last year for this series, you can click here.
FTC Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. I explain more here.
How to make a stunning teal pinecone ornament!
Supplies:
- Pinecones
- DecoArt Dazzling Metallics in Teal
- Small Paintbrush
- Plastic lid (or plate) to hold the paint
- Jewelry beads (I used 6 total, each with a hole all the way through the center)
- E6000 Craft Adhesive
- String (to hang)
I’m fortunate that we have pine cones in our backyard, so I can just gather them up when I need them for crafting.
I always rinse them out really well and make sure they are completely dry.
If you don’t have lucky access to pinecones naturally, you still do have luck because pinecones for crafting are now sold in the larger craft stores and even Amazon carries several different kinds.
Paint your pinecones!
Hand-painted pinecones have such a beautiful appearance!
I’m not sure if I have a favorite type of paint to use, because whether I use a matte paint like chalk paint or a brilliant metallic color like I’m using here, the effect is always so pretty!
Paint half of the pinecone at a time.
This makes it easy to hold without getting paint all over your fingers.
Some pinecones remain closed up — like the example above — and these are very easy to paint.
Other pinecones that have opened up take a bit more time to paint — like the one below — as both sides of the pinecone’s scales need to be painted.
Start by painting the pinecone upside down — which is the direction it will hang as an ornament.
Once dry, go back and paint the “other side” of the pinecone scales.
Pinecone “A” (below) has been painted first upside down. This means that the underside of the scales have been painted teal.
Pinecone “B” (below) shows the bottom half of the pinecone with both sides of the scales painted teal.
Let the pinecones dry for several hours — or overnight — before proceeding with the next step.
Add beads!
Attaching beads to pinecones is a decorative way to attach a string for hanging.
I used beads from old jewelry that I had, but you can easily by beads at the craft store in just about any color and shape and style you can imagine!
First, I attached a decorative bead with a bit of E6000 craft adhesive, which is super strong and holds things together well.
Set these aside, propped up against something so they can dry thoroughly.
Once dry, it’s time to add a second bead.
Make sure your second bead has holes, and make sure those holes are visible when you’re attaching the second bead to the first.
Again, prop up your pinecones so that the beads can dry upright.
Let everything dry and cure thoroughly overnight.
For the pinecone that was closed up — I did a slight variation since the bottom had a bit of a dent in it.
For the second bead I used an oval shape that fit perfectly into the little dent.
To finish off the first bead I just added a sequin with a mini adhesive glue dot to cover the hole.
Add string!
The last step is to add string to hang the ornaments up.
I used decorative blue hemp string threaded through the top bead on each pinecone, tied in a knot.
And that’s it!
31 Days of Handmade Ornaments Blog Hop
Every day during October, you will see a new handmade ornament tutorial from our group of creative bloggers!
Here are all 31 Bloggers in order of their appearance:
Day 1 – Pet Scribbles (you are here!)| Day 2 – Yesterday on Tuesday
Day 3 – Cupcakes and Crinoline | Day 4 – An Extraordinary Day
Day 5 – Celebrating Everyday Life | Day 6 – Hunt and Host
Day 7 – Love of Home | Day 8 – Celebrate Creativity
Day 9 – Petticoat Junktion | Day 10 – What Meegan Makes
Day 11 – Atta Girl Says | Day 12 – Sweet Pea
Day 13 – Exquisitely Unremarkable | Day 14 – Imparting Grace
Day 15 – In My Own Style | Day 16 – 504 Main by Holly Lefevre
Day 17 – Inspiration for Moms | Day 18 – The Chelsea Project
Day 19 – I Should Be Mopping the Floor
Day 20 – My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia | Day 21 – Hearth and Vine
Day 22 – Shabby Art Boutique | Day 23 – Remodelando la Casa
Day 24 – Domestically Speaking | Day 24 – The Everyday Home
Day 26 – Stone Gable | Day 27 – My Creative Days
Day 28 – Swoodson Says | Day 29 – Knick of Time
Day 30 – Lovely Etc. | Day 31 – Live Laugh Rowe
Happy holiday crafting!
Laura, this is truly a clever idea. I love the glitz you’ve given the pine cone with your beautiful paint choice and adding the beads at the top for hanging is a fabulous idea. I can’t believe you were able to find matching hemp. That takes it over the top!!! You’ve inspired me to create my own version to go with some other natural ornaments I’m creating this year.
I’m so glad that you joined us again this year for our annual blog hop. We are so blessed to have you. xo
Thanks so much Diane! The matching hemp cord happened to be in my existing craft stash — how’s THAT for luck?!? I’m looking forward to seeing your own ornaments coming up. I had thought of doing pinecones a zillion different ways, and surprised myself with this shimmery version. You’ve done a fantastic job organizing this month-long blog hop for everyone and I can’t wait to see the new ornaments each day! xo
Such a pretty ornament! I love the color!
Thanks so much Laura! Yes, the teal really pops, doesn’t it?
Hi Laura,
Blue is my favorite color and these teal ornaments are gorgeous. DecorArt’s metallics are really pretty and you’ve picked great way to use them in your Christmas decor. I also love the idea of adding beads, because not only are they beautiful and add a little something extra, they make the perfect vehicle for adding a ribbon or string for hanging. Very inspiring.
Thank you Patti! Yes, the beads are a bit of a game changer, and make it SO much easier. I love the Dazzling Metallics too — and I’m already working on other colors of these same pinecone ornaments…with a little twist! 🙂
So pretty & I LOVE the teal!!
Thanks so much Maryann!
What a fun color! I love pinecones!
Thank you Susan! I love that color — and since most shades of teal — from the deepest to the palest — are in our home’s accent colors, I can’t help but use it in my decorations!
Laura, these are just lovely. I have pinecones around my house every holiday season and all I ever do with them is pile them up in a pretty bowl-LOL
This is such a pretty ornament and easy too. I’m going to paint some this year. I think I’ll do all white. Thanks for the inspiration.
Beautiful post to kick off the 31 Days of Handmade holiday ornaments.
I’m looking forward to seeing what all the other bloggers create.
Have a wonderful week.
Thanks Lisa! I’m like you: I have a bowl of “our” pinecones too! I’ve done a couple of crafts with them, but never an ornament before. I’m making some red and green ones similar to this teal pinecone…we’ll see how they turn out! 🙂
I really love this idea, reminds me of the ornaments I love with the beautiful shape! SO genius!
Thanks Kim! This one reminded me of a vintage tin pinecone ornament I saw somewhere. Why I didn’t buy that vintage ornament is beyond me!
Your ornament is beautiful, Laura! I love the color you chose – so rich and vibrant. These would be so pretty on any tree but I’m envisioning a peacock inspired tree.
Ooooh — a peacock themed tree would be SO pretty! Great idea! I have a peacock ornament to clip onto our tree. Every year, it’s the one ornament I need my tall husband’s help with. And every year, it’s the one ornament he’s not fond of at all! LOL
So pretty! I love how you added the bead detail to the tops of each pine one. A tree full of these would be stunning!
How fun is this! LOVE this color.
Oh Laura, that’s a stunning color and the beads are the magic touch! A very pretty ornament!
Hi Laura – I love these and the color is so pretty! My yard is lined with pine trees so I can make a bunch of these and give them to friends and family.
OH WOW, the color of these pinecones are gorgeous!!!!
Laura, these are beautiful. I love the color and the sparkle on top is perfect!
I just love the idea of teal ornaments, especially on a white tree. You did a fabulous job with something so simple. I can’t wait until Christmas!
I love that color, these would look so vibrant and pretty on my tree!
I love these ornaments! And love the DecoArt metalic paint. I’ve never used their brand of metalics before, but you can bet I will be giving them a whirl. The teal color is fabulous for a tree. You will have a beauty this year. Hope you will post more photos. Thanks for the geat tutorial, too! Susie from The Chelsea Project
These are gorgeous! They look like they are made out of mercury glass! ????
These are really gorgeous! I love the color you chose, combined with rustic pinecones.
Love the pop of color! Adds such a vibrancy to the tree.
How pretty! Fun, glitzy, and completely customizable for any color scheme–that’s brilliant! Thanks for sharing your awesome idea!
These are beautiful!
WOW! These are so pretty! I love the pop of color they add to the tree!
Thank you Lindsay!
This color matches my home beautifully! Love the shimmer and sparkle it gives off! Just beautiful.
Ahhh — another teal color lover! I can’t help but add this color into my holiday decorations every year! 🙂
Girl this ornament turned out so Beautiful but I must confess you have so much patience. My first impression was that it was made with spray paint, and then when I clicked and saw you did it all with brush I said WOW. You are my hero! I wish I had that kind of patience! And adding beads to tie the cord? Genius! Love this!
hugs
I thought of doing it with spray paint initially, but once I tried out brushing — I absolutely LOVED the texture and the way it made the pinecone look…so then I had no choice. LOL