Fun Pinecone Crafts for Thanksgiving
The beauty of nature often provides the best materials for crafting, and pine cones are a prime example. These versatile little treasures from the forest not only captivate with their natural charm but also serve as fantastic mediums for creative projects, making pinecones the perfect for engaging younger kids in imaginative and hands-on activities.
From adorable pine cone turkeys creatures to festive decorations, the possibilities are endless when it comes to crafting with pine cones. These pine cone craft ideas double as perfect Thanksgiving Centerpieces. Enjoy a nature walk with kids of all ages to gather pinecones to prep for these fun and adorable pine cone crafts with younger and older kids.
Exploring Nature's Treasures: Fun Pine Cone Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids
Here are some common ingredients and materials often used for pine cone crafts from a local craft store or Amazon:
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Pine Cones: The main star of the show! Pine cones come in various shapes and sizes, making them versatile for different crafts.
Paint: Acrylic paint works well for coloring pine cones. It allows for vibrant colors and adheres nicely to the surface.
Paintbrushes: Different sizes of paintbrushes help with detailed painting or covering larger areas.
Glue: Craft glue or hot-glue gun is essential for attaching decorations, eyes, feathers, or other embellishments to the pine cones.
Googly Eyes: These add character to pine cone animals or creatures crafted by kids.
Pipe Cleaners: Ideal for creating arms, legs, or antennae for pine cone creatures in fall themed colors like brown, red, and orange pipe cleaner options.
Pom Pom: Having favorite colors on hand is a great idea for these crafts.
Glitter: Adds sparkle and a magical touch to painted pine cones.
Ribbons or String: Used for hanging pine cone ornaments or creating loops for bird feeders.
Birdseed, Peanut Butter, or Vegetable Shortening: For making pine cone bird feeders, these items serve as the base for attaching seeds.
Wax: Melting wax and dipping the pine cone base creates fire starters and adds a lovely scent when burned.
Cardboard or Styrofoam: Used as bases for pine cone crafts like flower arrangements or display stands.
Markers or Pens: Alternative to paint, markers can be used to color or draw on pine cones.
These materials are versatile and allow for a wide range of creativity when working with pine cones. Depending on the craft, additional embellishments or specific items might be needed, but these are the basics for many pine cone projects.
Fun Pine Cone Turkey Craft Ideas / Craft Ideas Using Pine Cones
1. Pine Cone Animals
Transform pine cones into adorable creatures with a bit of paint, googly eyes, and imagination. Whether it's a pine cone owls, hedgehog or even a dinosaur, kids can bring these critters to life by painting the pine cone in vibrant colors and adding details like eyes, ears, and tails using craft materials. They are quite delicate and have lots of little parts that can break off, so they’re only suited to children who would enjoy gentle play without the temptation to teethe on them.
These cute critters also work as a pinecone base ornaments: jump add a loop of ribbon to hang from a tree or mantle. Or, make a bunch and hot glue them to a simple wreath for a creative greeting at your front door. I’ve dressed up these pinecone animals with scraps of felt and beads. You could also use other scrap fabric or whatever you have in your craft box to make cute table centerpiece options.
2. Pine Cone Bird Feeders
Combine crafting and nature by making bird feeders using pine cones. Simply coat the base of the pinecone and all over in peanut butter or vegetable shortening and then roll it in birdseed. Attach a string, hang it outside, and watch as feathered friends flock to enjoy the treat.
These pinecone bird feeders are so easy to make! This is such a fun craft for kids of all ages. Kids, teens, tweens, adults, seniors – Who doesn’t love watching a little bit of wild life in their backyard!? Each pinecone bird feeder takes about 10 minutes to make… maybe even less? The best part is that you can add as much or as little peanut butter and birdseed as you like.
3. Pine Cone Ornaments
Create stunning ornaments for any occasion. Paint the pine cones in festive colors, sprinkle glitter, and add ribbons or strings to hang them on a Christmas tree or decorate a room for any celebration. These are one little project that requires such minimal ingredients like tacky glue are a easy peasy way to add some ribbon and a little imagination as a great way to add some outdoor fun to gather the pinecones all fall or on Thanksgiving morning.
4. Pine Cone Fire Starters
Craft practical yet charming fire starters by dipping the base of pine cones into melted wax. Once dried, these cones can be used to start fires in fireplaces or during camping trips, spreading a delightful pine scent.
5. Pine Cone Flowers
Craft vibrant flowers by painting the pine cone scales in various colors. Arrange several painted pine cones in a bouquet or glue them onto a cardboard stem to create a beautiful everlasting arrangement.
This Thanksgiving post has 9 easy Thanksgiving crafts activity ideas using acorns and is a fun way to gather the acorn physical items and then make some fun seasonal gifts and Thanksgiving decoration at the kids' table. Thanksgiving Clay Pot Turkeys are a great addition and gift for grandparents and the coffee filter Thanksgiving turkey craft are one of my favorite easy crafts to do year after year and are the perfect place card holder too! I love using these as name tags / cards for Thanksgiving meals this time of year.
Kids will love these printable pilgrim Thanksgiving coloring pages as well as Thanksgiving games to play with the entire family that do not require a lot of materials.
We love reading Thanksgiving themed books like these books about apples for kids, 30 Thanksgiving Books for Preschoolers, as well as The Best Toddler Thanksgiving Board Books to Read. Making a fun Thanksgiving bookmark for a good book is the perfect way to add more excitement around reading. I love these Thanksgiving craft activities made with a Turkey handprint fun activity too.
If you are looking for a classic Thanksgiving food and dessert like apple pies, check out this list with the best apple pie dessert recipe options. My favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner are casseroles made with sweet potatoes. Step up your Thanksgiving meal this year, by bringing a savory sweet potato recipe to the holiday table. Sweet potato casserole is one of my favorite side dishes at holiday gatherings and my go-to recipe because it's an easy recipe! These Thanksgiving side dishes are delicious Thanksgiving recipes in their own right and make a great alternative to the traditional bread stuffing. These are not your mama's old boring Thanksgiving casserole's these are delicious recipes for special occasions and the holiday table. Plan a successful Turkey Day holiday dinner and holiday meal with these easy Thanksgiving casseroles.
Engaging in pine cone crafts not only fosters creativity and fine motor skills in kids but also instills a sense of appreciation for nature's gifts. These simple yet versatile treasures from the forest offer endless opportunities to explore, create, and enjoy the wonders of the natural world with these easy craft ideas. So, gather some pine cones, unleash your creativity, and embark on a crafting adventure with your little ones!
Crafting with pine cones is such a delightful way to connect with nature while engaging kids in imaginative activities. There's always something magical about turning natural materials into wonderful art pieces!
