Wreaths and Centerpieces

• Wreaths and table centerpieces are pine cone crafts that play up the natural beauty of pine cones without adding to the cone directly or pulling it apart. Using large pine cones as the central theme, gather other material such as plants, berries, holiday or other ornaments, gourds and seasonal items. For wreaths, arrange items and large pine cones around your circular wreath frame. Continue adding pine cones and other materials until the balance is perfect, then affix them to the frame with hot glue. For a center or mantelpiece, begin with a flat polystyrene foam or wooden base. Place your largest pine cone in the center and add other materials around it to get the desired look. Use hot glue to affix the items to the centerpiece base. Ribbons, glitter, paint and other finishing touches can be used to add sparkle to the pine cone creation.
  
  

Animals and Other Characters

• Play off the ovular shape of large pine cones by turning them into animals and characters. This is an excellent craft idea for children, with adorable and hilarious results. Each child gets one large pine cone and shares from a supply of assorted materials from the natural world, including acorns, twigs, stems and leaves. Also include craft materials such as pipe cleaners, cloth, cotton balls, felt, old buttons and anything else that might spur creativity. Pipe cleaners can be woven around to create long, gangly arms and legs, or a long neck for each pine cone character. Other materials are added to create the eyes, nose, clothing, feet and hands. Pine cone creatures can have many legs or just two, sit or stand and even hold hands.
  
  

Bird Feeders

• A classic large pine cone craft perfect for a cold winter day indoors is a bird feeder. Tie a piece of yarn or string to the pine cone so it can hang upright. Spread a thick mixture of two parts peanut butter and one part margarine all over the pine cone with a spatula. Roll the covered pine cone in a dish of birdseed until the entire thing is covered, then place it in the freezer for an hour or more to set the mixture. Hang the covered pine cone feeder on a tree near the window and watch the birds feast.
  
  

Picture Frames

• For older children and adults, pulling apart a large pine cone to use its scales opens up a world of crafting possibilities. Using gardening scissors, cut the large flat scales off of the pine cone as close to the spine as possible. For children, an adult may do this ahead of time. Take a plain frame from a craft store, or cut out a simple frame from cardboard, and affix the scales to the frame using hot glue. For a lovely effect, glue the scales so the wider, flared end comes off the frame, giving the square or circular edge a textured shape. Combine the scales with small plastic flowers, buttons or beads.