DIY Pinecone Snowman with Headphones for Christmas Decoration
Updated on February 25, 2021
In my house, the opportunity to craft with supplies that are at least a little unconventional always makes for the best afternoons, especially on cold days when everyone is trapped inside. That’s why, when I was struck with a recent surge of inspiration for crafting with real pine cones, my kids were all for it! In trying to come up with child-friendly ideas that we could all make together, I made up these adorable little music-loving pinecone snowmen and my kids loved them so much that I couldn’t help making another one and documenting the process for others to follow and try.
Check out these step by step instructions complete with photos! If you’d rather follow along with a video tutorial instead of written words, scroll to the bottom of this post to find just what you’re looking for.
For this project, you’ll need:
- A pinecone
- Pink paint
- A black marker
- Pipe cleaner (gold and orange with pink stripes)
- A paintbrush
- A spun cotton ball
- Two googly eyes
- A red pom pom
- A checked ribbon
- Gold thread
- Scissors
- Hot glue
Step 1: get what you need
Gather your materials all together!
Step 2: glue cotton ball
Flip your pinecone upside down so its wider, flatter end is now the top and its more tapered, smaller end is now the bottom. This will be your snowman’s body. Apply hot glue in the center of the top and stick your spun cotton ball there. This will be your snowman’s head!
Step 3:
Cut a two inch piece from the end of your gold sparkly pipe cleaner and set both pieces aside for later.
Step 4: make the headphones
Apply glue near the top of the spun cotton ball on the right side, where a person’s ear might be. Stick one of your little red crafting pom poms into place here. This is one side of your snowman’s ear-muff style headphones. Repeat the process on the left side with your second pom pom to make the other ear piece.
Step 5: connect the pom poms
Take the shorter gold pipe cleaner piece you cut earlier and bend it slightly into an arc shape. Apply hot glue to either end and press the ends onto the outside of the red pom poms, arching over the snowman’s head from one side to the other. This is the band of the headphones.
Step 6: make the nose
Cut a half inch piece off the end of your orange pipe cleaner and fold it in half. Apply hot glue to the side of this folded piece where the ends meet and stick it down in the center of your snowman’s face, letting the bent part stick out to make a carrot nose.
Step 7: add the eyes
Apply hot glue to the backs of your googly eyes and stick them onto your snowman’s face just above the carrot nose, one on each side.
Step 8: paint
Use your paintbrush and pink paint to give your snowman two circular rosy cheeks on either side of the carrot nose.
Step 9: add the tie
Cut a piece of gold thread about four inches long and wrap it around your snowman’s neck where the spun cotton ball and pinecone meet. Pass the strings around the back and tie them in a double knot there. Then tie the strings together in a knot at their ends. You now have a loop to hang your snowman from like a Christmas tree ornament.
Step 10: draw a smile
Use your black marker to draw your snowman a friendly smile below the carrot nose.
Step 11: make the scarf
Make your snowman’s scarf by cutting a strip from your plaid ribbon that’s about four inches long and an inch thick. Fold the new strip in half to double it over and make the colouring more opaque, using your hot glue gun to stick it in place so it stays folded.
Step 12: attach the scarf
Wrap the scarf around the snowman’s neck so the center of its length rests right at the back where your gold loop is. Make sure the loop is sticking out above the scarf before you apply a dot of glue to anchor the scarf in place. Bring the ends around to the front, gluing the first one down where it passes under the snowman’s chin and the second one down where it crosses over the first.
Step 13: finish
Trim your ends to whatever length you please and then turn your scissors to cut short strips in the end to give the scarf fringe.
Your pinecone snowman ornament is officially finished! Just in case you’d like to try this project out for yourself, here‘s a fantastic tutorial video to help you!