Christmas Card Craft

Even though winter snow may be covering grasses and leaves where you live, now’s a great time for collecting pinecones. This holiday season, try “branching out” from traditional paper cards with this three-dimensional pinecone snowman greeting. Your child will enjoy the crafting—and whoever gets the snowman is sure to appreciate the warm holiday wishes.

What You Need:

• 1 or more pinecones, about 3” high; look for one that is plump and round and can stand up on its own.
• Large, round walnut shell (not opened) or a large acorn with its “hat” still on.
• Fat yarn in a festive holiday color
• Glue gun
• Spray paint in white, silver, or gold
• White glue
• Glitter
• 1 4” x 1-1/2” piece of cardstock in a festive color

What to Do:

1. This project starts in nature! Take your child outdoors, and see if she can find a nice pinecone. If walnuts grow in your area, or large acorns, pick up a few of those as well. However, if pincones are hard to find in your area, go ahead and check out your local craft store - around the holidays, you can usually find by the bin full!
2. Gently dust off the walnuts or acorns so that there is no loose dirt, and the surfaces are clean and dry.
3. Place the nut or acorn (pointy side down) on the top of the pinecone, clipping a few pieces off the top of the cone if necessary to keep everything secure. (Make sure the walnut shell is still closed and intact.) Use the glue gun to fasten the nut and pinecone together securely. Take a look—you’ve got your snowman head and body, and if you’re using an acorn, your snowman will even look like it’s got a “beret.”
4. Then, working outdoors and with newspapers laid out as a work surface, help your child spray-paint both the nut and the pinecone with white, gold, or silver paint. Set your snowman aside to dry.
5. Once the snowman is dry, take out your white glue and dab bits on the pinecone, wherever you’d like to see a little glitter. Sprinkle glitter over these areas, or even roll your pinecone in it, and then let it dry thoroughly.
6. While the snowman is drying, you’re ready to give your child some old-fashioned holiday writing practice. Invite your child to write a message to a friend, teacher, neighbor, or relative, using her best writing skills. (You can even add a little extra holiday flare by using a metallic marker!) Make sure the cardstock is oriented horizontally when your child writes her message.
7. When the pinecone snowman is all dry, wrap some fat yarn around his neck for a decorative “scarf.” Use a hole punch to make a hole in the top of the little card, and then stick the yarn through it and tie it off. Deliver it to someone special and you're sure to see them smile.