DIY Pine Cone and Pom-Pom Christmas Tree Ornaments

When I was little, we often made Christmas tree ornaments by hand. Store-bought baubles were lovely, but making something ourselves was more memorable. These pine cones with pom-poms are simple, colorful ornaments. Children can help choose and place the colors, but an adult should handle the hot-glue gun. Small pom-poms are a choking hazard for children who may put them in their mouths.

You will need:

• clean, fully dry pine cones;
• small craft pom-poms sized to fit between the cone scales;
• ribbon;
• a hot-glue gun and glue sticks.

Steps

Protect the work surface. An adult should apply a small drop of hot glue to one cone scale; once it is safe to approach, place a pom-pom on the glue. Hot glue and the metal nozzle can cause burns.

Repeat, adding pom-poms to every scale or spacing them in a looser pattern.

Cut a 10–12 cm (about 4–4¾ in) piece of ribbon. An adult should glue both ends securely to the top of the pine cone to form a hanging loop. Use enough glue to hold the ribbon without leaving large exposed blobs, then let it cool completely before lifting the ornament.

The finished ornament combines bright color with the natural shape of the cone.

Use it on a Christmas tree or other interior decor. This is a decoration, not a toy: keep it away from open flames and other heat sources, and place small parts and hanging loops out of reach of babies, young children, and pets.