My daughter loves arts and crafts. As a proud mama, I love all of her artwork. I’ll be honest though, not all of her creations are frame worthy.But, I have good news- you can’t go wrong with this craft: the messier (more creative) the better! This craft is not only fun for kids but it is also display worthy. I’ll even take it a step further and say that you will want to display this as your Thanksgiving centerpiece and show off your little one’s masterpiece for your family and friends to ooh and ah over.
In this house we have one rule when it comes to art: art can be messy, and that’s okay!
What you need
Pine cones!
Unfortunately, where I live there are plenty of palm fronds and acorns but no fallen pine cones. For this project I purchased a bag of pine cones at a local craft store for about $5.00. If you are lucky enough to be able to collect pine cones in your neighborhood, just make sure you prepare them first. Instructions on how to prep pine cones, here.
Paint and brushes
Painting is a great quiet activity for us to do when little sister is napping, so I always have a stash of paint supplies handy. For the this project we chose the metallic paints for an extra pop.
A cute artist
I usually have my daughter paint shirtless, that way I don’t need to worry about her clothes getting stained. Less stress = more fun.
Improvisation
If your little one wants to participate, but prefers not to hold a brush I recommend the blob method. I put blobs of paint on a paper and have her roll pine cones through it. My daughter loves holding a brush, but she also loves getting messy. So we did both!
Essential Oils
While you wait for the pine cones to dry, pick your scent.
There are so many essential oils you can choose from to create an inviting holiday aroma. Some that come to mind are: Cinnamon Bark, Orange, Citrus Fresh, Grounding, Christmas Spirit, Ocotea, Nutmeg, Clove, White Fir and more. For more info on how to purchase quality therapeutic grade essential oils, go here. Pick your favorite scent or two and have fun with it!
A nice bowl
Once the paint is dry, place pine cones in a bowl and add the scent of your choice. My daughter and I chose Christmas Spirit. Christmas Spirit is a mix of Orange, Spruce, and Cinnamon that really puts me in the holiday mood.
There you have it! A very easy and fun craft. The only thing left to do is to display it for every one to see.
Isn’t it pretty? And it smells great too!
What is your favorite pine cone craft? What is your favorite fall scent?