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Snowy Cones

Jul 20, 20122,422 views
Nature crafts
Snowy Cones Save
Snowy Cones Save
Snowy Cones Save

by TurkeyMom in Nature crafts

Ages3–8 yrs
Prep5 min
Activity20 min
Leveleasy
MessMedium
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class

Glue small cotton balls onto pine cone scales to make little snowy pine trees, then stand them in pots or cups of mud. A bonus idea: paint the scales in every color.

⚠️ Safety first

  • Supervise young children: cotton balls and small pine cones are not for mouthing.
  • Pine cone scale tips can be sharp. Check gathered cones and handle them gently.
  • Use washable, non-toxic glue and paint, and wash hands afterward.

Before the kids arrive

  • Gather pine cones and check them for loose debris.

Steps

  1. Give each child a pine cone and a pile of cotton balls.

  2. No cotton balls? Pull cotton into small balls.

  3. Put glue on the cone layers (the scales).

  4. Stick the small cotton balls onto the glue.

  5. Keep going until your cone looks snowy.

  6. Set the cones somewhere to dry.

  7. Stand each dry cone in a small pot or a cup of mud to make a snowy pinecone tree.

Tips

  • If you don't have cotton balls, it makes it even more fun for the kids to make balls from cotton.from the author
  • Make extras, let them dry and store them in a container for another craft, like a pinecone wreath for the winter.from the author
  • It's so much fun to paint a pinecone. She gets to use all her colors in one place, on one thing!from the author
  • A great snow craft for a hot summer afternoon when the kids are wishing for snow.from the author

Make it your own

  • Paint the pine cone scales in lots of colors. Let their creative juices flow!
  • Save dried snowy cones to make a winter pinecone wreath.

The story behind it

By TurkeyMom · July 2012
Snowy Cones
It was a hot afternoon that deserved some good snow crafts. Make small balls of cotton, let the kids put glue on the cone layers and stick the cotton on. It's that easy!
1 / 3

Snowy Cones: the original post

It was a hot afternoon. The temperature is soaring at a 105 degrees F. Big S comes running in from the backyard. “Mommy when will it start to snow? I want to make snow angels” Big S loves the snow… she’s a snow bunny ! Living in Missouri has its perks you know? No No really! Looking into my treasure pile, I found some pine cones and some old cotton balls . Perfect ! Here’s what we decided to do… Let it snow , let it snow , let it snow !

  1. Pine cones
  2. Cotton balls
  3. Glue

Big S : Are we gonna make snow mommy? I love snow… ( She meant real snow though. She wasn’t too happy about the cotton ball snow theory , but the glue was too hard to pass on. So she decided to give it a try ) This is what we did If you don’t have cotton balls, it makes it even more fun for the kids to make balls from cotton. Make small balls of cotton and let the kids put glue on the cone layers and stick the cotton to it ! Its that easy. Put them in a pot or small cups with mud to make individual ‘snowy pinecone trees’ as Big S calls it !

Snowy Cones

Make extras, let them dry and you can store them in a container for another craft. A pinecone wreath for the winter. Will post the pictures soon on that one. Now did you notice our “drying rack” ??? Did you also notice the color cones??? Well it just kept getting better… Well, we made enough snowy cones and now Big S couldn’t resist temptation anymore. Big S : Mommy I want to paint ! Me: Leave the cones to dry and get your coloring book ! Big S : No mom ! I want to paint the cones. I want to paint all the brown thing’es .. what are they? Are they leaves ??? Me: They are called scales ! Well, Big S was right ! Its so much fun to paint a pinecone. She gets to use all her colors in one place onto one thing ! It was all her idea. You know that proud momma feelin’ … oh boy I was full of it J !

  1. Pinecones
  2. Paint
  3. Brush

Let their creative juices flow ! Well, that was on hot afternoon that deserved some good snow crafts !

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