Creating your own Snowflake Christmas Ornament is an EASY way to add a rustic, handmade touch to your holiday decor using natural pinecones.

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These ornaments are perfect for families, crafting enthusiasts, or anyone looking to embrace eco-friendly and budget-friendly holiday decorations. Plus, they bring a little bit of nature indoors! Let’s walk through this fun and festive project step by step, so you can create pinecone ornaments that sparkle with personality and charm.

They are perfect to make with kids and crafters of all ages…if your crafter can pick up a paintbrush they can easily decorate their own snowflake ornament. (You will see that even my toddler had fun painting his pinecone.) That makes this craft perfect to make at winter gatherings or holiday class parties.

Why Make a Snowflake Pinecone Ornament?

Why settle for store-bought decorations when you can create something unique? Crafting your own pinecone ornaments isn’t just about the finished product—it’s about the joy of the process with nature providing the inspiration. These ornaments are eco-friendly, as they use natural materials like pinecones, and they’re a budget-friendly alternative to pricey holiday decorations. Every pinecone has its own unique shape and texture, which means no two ornaments will ever look the same. That’s a win for creativity and nature lovers alike!

Additionally, this project provides a fun opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones, whether you’re working with kids, friends, or family. My kids and I had fun exploring nature and gathering our craft supplies.

Creating your own Snowflake Christmas Ornament is an easy and rewarding way to add a rustic, handmade touch to your holiday decor using natural pinecones.

Snowflake Christmas Ornament: A Pinecone Nature Craft

How to Make a Christmas Pinecone Ornament

For your convenience, printable directions are available at the end of this post.

Create a stunning Snowflake Pinecone Christmas Ornament with this easy nature craft tutorial! Perfect for kids and adults, this festive DIY adds rustic charm to your holiday decor.

Supplies Needed for the Snowflake Pinecone Ornament

Required Supplies:

Small pinecones (cleaned and prepped)
Scissors
Acrylic paint (white works beautifully for a snowy effect)
Paintbrush
Hot glue and glue gun

Optional Supplies (for extra sparkle):

Glitter and glue
Gems

These items are easy to find and affordable, making this project accessible for crafters of all levels.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Snowflake Pinecone Ornament

Step 1: Gather Your Pinecones:

Start by collecting small pinecones. If you don’t have access to pine trees in your area, craft stores often sell them pre-cleaned. If you’re using pinecones straight from nature, give them a quick rinse and let them dry completely. This step ensures no hidden critters make their way into your decorations!

Step 2: Prep the Pinecones

For Adults Only: Using scissors, carefully cut the tops off the pinecones. If you’re working with tougher pinecones, you may need heavier-duty tools like pruning shears. We used pinecones from pinon pines, which are relatively soft and easy to trim with household scissors. Make sure the cuts are clean and even to create a flat base for your snowflake design.

Step 3: Add the Hanging String

Adults or supervised kids: On the backside of the pinecone, use a hot glue gun to attach a piece of string or ribbon to the top. This will serve as your ornament hanger. Adults can do this step alone, or kids can assist under supervision. Let the glue set for a few minutes before moving on.

Step 4: Paint the Pinecones

Everyone: Now comes the fun part—painting! Paint to cover the pinecones in your desired color. Don’t forget to paint the front and back. The bottom of the pinecone has an awesome swirl design while the top side has a radial pattern. Both look amazing when painted and add to nature’s beauty!

For a snowflake effect, white acrylic paint is a classic choice. Want to mix it up? Try silver or gold for a glamorous touch. Make sure to let the paint dry completely before proceeding. This step is perfect for kids—they’ll love watching their pinecones transform!

Step 5: Add Glitter and Embellishments

Once the paint is dry, it’s time to make your ornament sparkle! Apply glue to select areas of the pinecone and sprinkle on glitter for a frosty effect. You can also glue on small gems for added shine. Get creative here—this is where your ornament’s personality comes to life.

Fun Ideas to Use Your Snowflake Pinecone Ornaments

These Christmas ornaments aren’t just for trees! Here are some creative ways to incorporate them into your holiday decor:

Tree Decorations: The classic choice—hang them on your Christmas tree.
Gift Toppers: Tie them to presents for an extra special touch.
Centerpieces: Arrange them in a decorative bowl or wreath for your holiday table.
Garlands: String multiple ornaments together to create a nature-inspired garland.

Tips for Making this Winter Craft Project with Kids

Crafting with kids? Here’s how to keep the process smooth and fun:

Safety First: Use child-safe glue for younger kids and supervise closely when using hot glue or scissors.
Limit Mess: Set up a crafting station with newspaper or a drop cloth to catch spills and glitter.
Encourage Creativity: Let kids choose their paint colors and embellishments. They’ll love having creative control!
Prep Ahead of Time: Get the pinecone ready, so all kids have to do is paint and decorate their pinecone ornament.

Conclusion

Creating your own Snowflake Pinecone Christmas Ornaments is a joyful and rewarding way to celebrate the season. Not only do these crafts add a rustic and handmade touch to your decor, but they also create lasting memories with loved ones. So grab your pinecones, paint, and glitter, and get started today! I can’t wait to see how your ornaments turn out—share your creations and spread the holiday cheer!

Print the Directions:

Snowflake Pinecone Christmas Ornament Nature Craft

Materials

Small pinecones (cleaned and prepped)
Scissors
Acrylic paint (white works beautifully for a snowy effect)
Paintbrush
Hot glue and glue gun
Optional: Glitter and glue, gems

Instructions

Step 1: Gather Your Pinecones:
Start by collecting small pinecones. If you don’t have access to pine trees in your area, craft stores often sell them pre-cleaned. If you’re using pinecones straight from nature, give them a quick rinse and let them dry completely. This step ensures no hidden critters make their way into your decorations!
Step 2: Prep the Pinecones
For Adults Only: Using scissors, carefully cut the tops off the pinecones. If you’re working with tougher pinecones, you may need heavier-duty tools like pruning shears. We used pinecones from pinon pines, which are relatively soft and easy to trim with household scissors. Make sure the cuts are clean and even to create a flat base for your snowflake design.
Step 3: Add the Hanging String
Adults or supervised kids: On the backside of the pinecone, use a hot glue gun to attach a piece of string or ribbon to the top. This will serve as your ornament hanger. Adults can do this step alone, or kids can assist under supervision. Let the glue set for a few minutes before moving on.
Step 4: Paint the Pinecones
Everyone: Now comes the fun part—painting! Paint to cover the pinecones in your desired color.
For a snowflake effect, white acrylic paint is a classic choice. Want to mix it up? Try silver or gold for a glamorous touch. Make sure to let the paint dry completely before proceeding. This step is perfect for kids—they’ll love watching their pinecones transform!
Step 5: Add Glitter and Embellishments
Once the paint is dry, it’s time to make your ornament sparkle! Apply glue to select areas of the pinecone and sprinkle on glitter for a frosty effect. You can also glue on small gems for added shine. Get creative here—this is where your ornament’s personality comes to life.

Notes

Tree Decorations: The classic choice—hang them on your Christmas tree.

Gift Toppers: Tie them to presents for an extra special touch.

Centerpieces: Arrange them in a decorative bowl or wreath for your holiday table.

Garlands: String multiple ornaments together to create a nature-inspired garland.