A Snowy, Glittery Pine Cone DIY in 3 Easy Steps

White pine cones are great to use for Christmas decorating. Here's a snowy, glittery pine cone DIY in 3 easy steps. See different looks you can get with painting techniques & different crystal glitters. You'll find links to the materials used & as well as a video to guide you.

I grew up in New England, where as a kid, the thought of snow for Christmas made me downright giddy. I’d trek through the woods for hours with all or any of our 5 dogs to gather things to create with and come home to a warm fireplace. I now live in the Arizona desert where the holidays mean sunshine and blue skies. I still use a lot of elements from nature when I decorate for Christmas and want to show you a snowy, glittery pine cone DIY in 3 easy steps.

I painted some of the cones so they were just tipped with white as though kissed by a frost (I’ve obviously been listening to too many Christmas carols already!). The others I partially painted or did a full on brush, as though a blizzard had blown through. Using 3 different types of crystal glitter give them a different look too.

Pine cones. I foraged mine here in AZ & also in CA but you can find them in craft stores & also online.

White paint. I used a flat latex interior one which was left by the previous owner. It’s a great way to reuse any leftover latex house paint, interior or exterior. This acrylic paint would work just fine too.

Glitter. I used vintage mica snow , crystalline & crystal.

School glue. This is also called white glue & it’s great to use because it dries clear. I’m currently using a dollar store brand but Elmer’s is a brand you might know.

Paint brushes. What size you use depends on the size cones you’re painting & how fast you want this DIY to go. I used a 1″ house painting brush & a much smaller one for fine art.

A small bowl. This is needed to mix the paint & glue. I used a plastic plant saucer but use whatever you have on hand. Save it for future crafting projects.

Something to glitter on to. I used a flexible cutting board. When I owned a commercial Christmas decorating business, large trays & plastic bowls did the trick. Kraft paper would be fine too.

The snowy cones all painted with different strokes & different glitters. I decked them out for you!

Before starting my 1st business many moons ago, I worked for a very large florist in San Francisco. They did a lot of large events as well as many Christmas decorating jobs. I learned this simple trick from a very talented florist and decorator.

Here are those 3 easy steps:

1. Mix the paint & glue together well. I use equal parts of both. If the mixture is super thick, then add in a few drops of water & go from there. If it’s too thin, it’ll run off the cone & make a big mess. I know this first hand!

It’s a great way to use up some of the leftover white house paint!

2. Paint the pine cones. How you much of the cones you paint depends on the look you want. I always go heavier on the top of the cone because that’s where it picks up a lot of light.

All mixed up & ready to paint on. The assortment of glitters are good to go too.

3. Sprinkle on while the paint & glue are still wet. This is the fun part! Sometimes I leave the glitter on for a few minutes to make sure it really adheres.

The glitter has been dusted on & I’m letting it sit a bit before shaking off so the glitter really sticks.

Make sure the paint and glue have completely dried before handling the cones. I used 1000’s of cones in my years as a decorator and many of them were with me the whole time. These cones will last a very long time if stored properly. You might have to touch up the glitter in 5 years or so but that’s something I don’t mind at all.

This Coulter Pine Cone looks like a tree to me. The light sprinkling of red glitter makes it extra festive.

By the way, I gave my foraged pine cones a good brushing off before starting this project. You can stick your pine cones in a 175 degreeF oven for an hour or 2 if you think bugs and/or their eggs might be a problem. Don’t leave the house while they’re “cooking” just to be safe. If you’ve bought the cones, they’re good to go as is.

Here’s yet another look for you. The cone on the left is brushed with white & the one on the right has been lightened with bleach. Both have been sprinkled with crystal glitter.

These white, sparkly cones give a serene look to any White Christmas wonderland or snowy nature scene you might be creating. They also look elegant with silver or gold. My favorite way to use them is with evergreen branches and lots of red berries and balls. How about you?

Happy Creating, Happy Holidays,

Nell