I'm sure everyone has made glittery pinecones before at some time or another - after all they're not rocket science, but the idea is so simple, and we had so many pinecones that my elder son had collected, that I thought we'd make some. We have a very minimal, artificial twiggy tree, so I thought they'd look good hung on that, though I think they would also look good either individually or grouped together in a bowl, as table decorations (a considerably cheaper alternative to Kirsty's gilded pears, if anyone watched her Handmade Christmas!)
I thought it was a simple enough activity for my 3 and 5 year olds to join in - and in theory it is. The 5 year old made quite a few, but unfortunately the just turned 3 year old got bored after doing just one and decided it would be much more fun to be disruptive by throwing the glitter around. The elder one then decided to try and make glitter glue by pouring the glitter into the glue (I can see his logic, but it was a criminal waste of both, creating just a lumpy useless mess). Nevertheless, I'm quite pleased with our creations - that is I'm pleased with the glittery pinecones, which are quite effective, but not so pleased with the mess we made. We used an awful lot of glitter, and it is now EVERYWHERE and probably will be for a long time, in spite of my best efforts to clear up. I suspected that this is what would happen, but somehow the reality always seems to be worse than my expectations!
3 year olds and glitter - MiniMad turns in to a curly haired glitter terrorist. So I only give him glitter glue or the tubes from ELC (mothercare).
ReplyDeleteThey look great through
The pinecones look great! I am going to make some myself, we have a lot of pinecones left over from those we picked for our xmas decorations and you just gave me an idea for a table ornament. Thank you:)
ReplyDelete@ the Madhouse
ReplyDeleteI guess we all have to learn the hard way!
@ fabmums
Glad you liked them - they really are simple, especially if you do them by yourself!!
Oooo I like - they are effective and easy to make I see a craft afternoon coming on next week! Happy Christmas!! x
ReplyDeleteyet another beautiful and inspiring craft project from you. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyones elses little one manage to get glitter even in their nappy like Snaffles does?
They look ultra professional. Would grace any table or tree.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't believe those gold leaf pears on Kirstie - didn't even think they looked that nice. But I did like the napkins and teddy bear and stocking.
Have only let my 2 year old loose with glitter at a playgroup so far so I didn't have to clean up!
@ violet Posy - yes, there's still time to do some for Christmas, they don't take long to do!
ReplyDelete@ SnafflesMummy - Thanks, I just love to do art and craft, and it's nice to be able to share.
@ deerbaby - I think the more 'professional' looking ones are probably the ones I made - the others were a little more patchy!
A final tip (from experience) - just make sure you have shaken the loose glitter out of the cone after it has dried and before you attempt to hang them or use them, or you'll have yet more glitter everywhere!
We are going to make these on Monday with twin 3yrs old and a 7 yr old. Oh my, I guess I better prepare for the aftermath of glitter. I do love these ornaments though. Yours turned out lovely.
ReplyDelete@Blessed Mommy - You're a brave woman tackling it with 2 3 year olds - just keep close control of the glitter!
ReplyDelete