Pinecones are free, natural and easy to turn into decorations. Gather them on a walk, clean them well, and decorate them with paint, glitter or ribbon.
Clean them first
Shake off dirt and leave the cones in a warm, dry spot for a day or two. If they are sticky, bake them briefly at a low heat to dry them out and remove any insects.
Paint or glitter them
Dip the tips in white paint for a snowy look, or brush gold paint over the scales. A light coat of glitter glue adds sparkle.
Add ribbon
Tie a loop of ribbon around the top to hang the pinecone on the tree or door.
Make a table display
A bowl of painted pinecones with a few candles creates a simple centrepiece. Keep the candles away from the cones.
Store them well
Keep the decorations in a dry box between Christmases. They last for years if they are not left damp.