How Tuesday - Making ornaments with pine cones

In November I taught a class on making decorations with pinecones.

We painted them, tied them into garlands and attached them to ribbon to create swags.  We also made a few fun decorative crafts and ornaments with the pinecones as well.  I thought I would do a HOW TO on making these fun decorations.

My Christmas tree is decorated in pine cone ornaments.  Many are glass, but a large number are real pine cones, so making ornaments for my tree this year was extra fun for me.

Pinecone Reindeer
1 Pine cone
2 Felt ears
2 Twigs
2 Googly eyes
1 Red bells for nose
Tacky glue/hot glue
Patterns for felt parts

 Step 1: Cut felt pieces to make two ears. They need to be leaf shaped, about 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. 

Pinch one end of the ear and glue into the pinecone near the wide end with hot glue. 

Step 2: Take two twigs and glue with hot glue closer to the top of the wide end, to the back side, above the ears.  

Step 3: Glue two googly eyes about mid-way on the pinecone.  

Step 4: Add the red bell to the pointed end as a nose. 

Step 5: Add a hanger to top, if desired. 

Step 6: Set aside to dry.

Pine cone Snowflake Ornament
5 mini cones
2 Foam snowflakes
Hot Glue
Jute for hanger 5 inches long

Step 1: Take 5 mini cones and using hot glue, 

 glue the cones together at the wide base, points pointing out,
















to form a star/snowflake shape. 

Step 2: Add a jute hanger, if desired, by tying through the center hole.

Step 3: Place a foam snowflake on both sides in the middle of the star shape over the middle and glue in place. 

Step 4:  Allow to dry before hanging on your tree.

Later this month I will show you how to make a cool dry snow globe.

How Tuesday - Chocolate Dipped Spoons

Stir a little sweetness into a cup of coffee or cocoa with a seasonal spoon.  I love making chocolate spoons.  They make great favors, wonderful gifts and they are fun to use.

For Halloween they can be decorated to be ghosts, spider webs or other spooky creatures and for Christmas or Hanukkah they can be sprinkled with colored sugar in appropriate colors.

Candied Spoons

12 oz. pkg semi sweet chocolate chips

2 tsp coconut oil
35 to 45 plastic spoons (you can use white, black, gold or silver or a mixture)
Candies, nonpareils and colored sugar for garnish

Line baking sheets with parchment paper and place a couple of round handled spoons in the middle of the baking sheet.

Place chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on medium for 30 seconds.  Stir to be sure all the chips have melted.  Add shortening to thin chocolate and stir gently.

Dip each spoon into chocolate mixture to cover the bowl of the spoon.  Place on parchment paper with the bowl edge resting on handle of wooden spoon to keep it above the paper.

After chocolate begins to harden, but is still soft add sprinkles of colored sugar, mini chips or other decorations to the chocolate.

Once chocolate has hardened (which will take some time), wrap each spoon with cellophane or a small plastic bag.

Alternates: Use white chocolate and add two mini semi-sweet chips for eyes to make ghosts, or sprinkle with blue sugar for a Hanukkah treat. Use a large marshmallow on a stick instead of a spoon for the perfect cocoa stir.

Decorate with tags and ribbon for favors and gifts.

Wrap each spoon in cellophane and place in a mug to display.

Tie them with ribbon to a package of hot cocoa or coffee to make a teacher or friend gift.