Christmas Crafts From Nature

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Pine Cone Christmas Tree

Materials needed: Pine cones, Sparkle spray glue (available at craft stores)

This is a fun and inexpensive classic project for very young children. Pine cones have long been a favorite holiday crafting item for the cost-conscious family. Take children on a walk through the woods or a park to collect pine cones of various shapes and sizes. If you do not have access to pine cones in nature, you can purchase an inexpensive bag at any craft store.

To make cleaning easier, have children do this activity outdoors. Sparkle spray does clean up easily with regular kitchen cleaner and water but you will have remnant sparkles showing up for days. Either way, have the children set their pine cones upright and spray away! Allow the sparkle spray on the pine cones to dry thoroughly and the craft is complete. The glistening trees will look lovely displayed on a fireplace mantel above hanging stockings.

Glistening garland

Materials needed: Small limbs of greens from any type of Christmas tree, sparkle spray, one roll of red craft ribbon

Garland greens can be easily obtained by using the cuttings left over after shaping your own Christmas tree. Or if you need more, just visit any place that cuts and sells Christmas trees. Most are happy to give away any leftover cuttings from their trees.

Again, this activity is best done outdoors. Have the children select their greens and lay them on a flat surface. Then spray just the ends of the greens with the sparkle spray. The closer you spray towards the center of the greens, the longer the drying time will be (due to the moisture content of the leaves).  Allow the sparkle spray to dry completely before proceeding. Cut craft ribbon into lengths of ten to twelve inches. Have children tie the ribbon into bows wherever they choose on their greens. With a little patience on your part, this can be a great opportunity to work with the little one who is just learning to tie. For older children, you can cut the ribbon a few inches longer and show them how to curl the ends by placing ribbon between the blade of a non-serrated butter knife and their thumb, then applying a little pressure and pulling the ribbon through to the end.

After the children have decorated their greens with bows, the greens can be displayed along with pine cone Christmas trees on a fireplace mantle. Or, for a beautiful holiday centerpiece that your children will be proud to have created, display the greens with smaller pine cone Christmas trees arranged around a taper candle. The flickering flame from the candle will cause the sparkle spray on the greens and pine cones to glisten in a fashion reminiscent of a light morning frost.