Buzz
Enhance your home decor inexpensively with painted pine cones. Whether adorning your Christmas tree or displayed in a bowl, they add a festive touch. Learn two simple methods: dipping in latex or acrylic paint, or spraying with spray-paint. Dipping provides vibrant, uniform color, while spray painting creates a frosted effect.
Instructions
Dipping Pine Cones in Paint
Choose latex or acrylic paint for your project. Both are effective, with acrylic offering durability and a wider color selection, albeit at a higher cost. Latex paint is economical and available at hardware stores.
- Select your preferred paint color. Opt for white for simplicity or explore other hues.
Mix your paint using a stir stick. If you're using latex paint from a bucket, stir it directly in the bucket. For acrylic paint from tubes, transfer it to a bowl before stirring.
- Ensure the paint is thoroughly mixed to achieve a consistent color and texture, free of lumps.
Attach a bamboo skewer to the top of each pine cone. Ensure the skewer is firmly secured. This will serve as a handle for dipping the pine cones into the paint.
Dip the pine cones into the paint while holding the skewer. Shake off excess paint as you remove the pine cone from the paint. Perform this step over a paint bucket or newspaper to avoid splatters on the floor.
Place the pine cones on wax paper to dry and remove the skewer. Continue the process by inserting the skewer into the next pine cone. Repeat until all pine cones are painted.
Allow the pine cones to dry on wax paper overnight. The wax paper's surface prevents excessive paint absorption, ensuring better adherence to the pine cones. While drying, the pine cones may close up due to moisture, but this is normal.
- If the pine cones close up, they can be reopened in the oven.
Position your pine cones on a baking sheet before placing them in the oven. Heating the pine cones causes them to expand. Cover the baking sheet with aluminum foil to prevent resin drips. It's not crucial to space them perfectly, but ensure there's enough room for expansion.
- Once opened, remove the pine cones from the oven.
- Allow the tray to cool on a heat-resistant surface before handling or further decorating the pine cones.
Apply school glue to your pine cones and optionally sprinkle them with glitter. Glitter adds extra sparkle to painted pine cones. Use a small brush to apply liquid school glue to the pine cone scales or desired areas. Sprinkle glitter onto the glue and shake off excess glitter.
- Silver glitter on white-painted pine cones can create a beautiful icy effect for winter-themed decor.
Spray-Painting Pine Cones
Select an outdoor area for spray-painting. Spray-painting emits fumes that should not be inhaled. If outdoor spraying isn't possible, ensure the indoor space is well-ventilated.
- An open garage provides adequate ventilation if outdoor spraying isn't feasible.
Place newspaper on the floor or ground to shield it from spray paint. Protecting the area beneath is essential, especially for beginners, as spray-painting can cause paint splatters. Use cardboard or a plastic drop cloth if newspaper isn't available.
- Cardboard or a plastic drop cloth are suitable alternatives if newspaper isn't on hand.
Invert the spray paint canister and shake vigorously for 1 minute. Though it may seem lengthy, thorough shaking ensures proper aerosolization for a consistent spray.
- Refer to any shaking instructions provided on the spray paint can for optimal results.
Experiment with spray paint on scrap material to determine spraying distance. Practice until achieving a smooth, even spray pattern. Adjust spraying distance based on desired paint coverage—farther for a light, frosted appearance, and closer for full coverage.
- Practice spraying on a scrap piece of plywood, especially if you're new to spray painting.
Apply thin layers of spray paint to the pine cones. One coat suffices for a lightly frosted look, while multiple coats achieve fuller coverage.
- Consider using clear spray paint to maintain the pine cones' natural appearance.
Air-dry the pine cones until the paint odor dissipates. Allow the pine cones to dry upright on the newspaper. Avoid testing dryness with fingers to prevent smudging; instead, rely on odor detection to determine when they're fully dry.
Get creative with decorating your pine cones further. Once they're dry, feel free to embellish them however you like! Use glue and glitter, paint additional designs with a brush, or leave them plain for a minimalist look.
Materials Needed
Dipping Pine Cones
- Latex paint
- Stir stick
- Bamboo skewers
- School glue (optional)
- Glitter (optional)
Spray-Painting Pine Cones
- Spray paint
- Newspaper
- Plywood
- School glue (optional)
- Glitter (optional)
Helpful Tips
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If you're in a damp or humid environment, consider pre-drying your pine cones in the oven before painting. Simply place them on a baking sheet and bake at 200 °F (93 °C) for approximately 2 hours, checking on them every 30 minutes or so.
