DIY Pine Cone Christmas Tree

Make a rustic Christmas tree using pine cones and a few simple supplies. This easy holiday craft is inexpensive and works well with foraged or pre-dried pine cones.

If you’re using fresh pine cones, drying instructions are included below.

Supplies

• Pine cones
• Corrugate cardboard
• Clear packing tape
• Scissors
• Garden sheers
• Red foam holly berries
• Hot glue gun

How to Make a Pine Cone Christmas Tree

First, you’ll need to make a cone out of corrugated cardboard for the base of the tree. The cardboard cone I made measures 11 inches tall x 4.25 inches wide at the base. Make a cone any height and width you like. Just remember, your final tree will be larger once all the pine cones have been glued on. My completed tree is 12 inches tall and is 7.5 inches wide at the base.

Gluing the Pine Cones

Hot glue pine cones to your cardboard cone, starting at the bottom and working your way up. I used whole pine cones at the bottom and cut pine cones into smaller pieces as I moved up the tree. Below are tips on cutting them.

Cutting the Pine Cones

The Round Variety — I’m sure these have a name! I found these pine cones to be very tough, some prickly, and they had to be cut with garden shears.

Long Pine Cones — I figured out that I could twist pieces off of the longer pine cones with my hands. Some of mine were so dry they crumbled. Don’t throw crumbled pine cones away, save the pieces to fill in any gaps at the end.

Finish and Decorate

When finished, use small pinecone pieces to fill in any gaps. Hot glue some foam holly berries for decoration.