AD | These project is in collaboration with Gorilla Glue, but all opinions are my own
A few months ago whilst making some pinecone fall mason jars, I noticed that if you cut the top off pinecones they look like flowers. That is where I got the idea for this gorgeous Valentine’s pinecone flower decoration.
Even though pinecones can be cut to look like flowers, the colour isn’t great. I’m not a fan of brown flowers! To pimp the pinecones for Valentine’s decoration, I first bleached them and then painted the pinecones a riot of reds, purples
To show off these beautiful pinecones, they were arranged in a heart shape and glued onto card so that they could be displayed in a frame.
This gorgeous pinecone flower heart doesn’t just have to be for Valentines. Why not do like the Scandi’s, and decorate with hearts all year round!
This pine cone flower heart will go really well with the painted wood slice rustic heart I also made for Valentine’s day.
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What You Need To Make A Pinecone Flower Heart
- Pinecones, smaller ones are better. If you can only get hold of big pinecones, don’t worry you’ll just end up with a bigger heart. You’ll need 15-18 pinecones depending on their size.
- Bleach to lighten the pinecones, making them easier to paint. Normal household bleach works well.
- Acrylic paints in an assortment of pinks and reds. Also a little bit of yellow paint for the
centre stamens of the pinecone flower. - IKEA RIBBA 23cm shadow box frame
- Gorilla Glue Clear . This was the best glue for sticking the pinecones to the cardboard backing. It’s crystal clear and as the adhesive doesn’t set straight away so you have time to fiddle with the flower heart arrangement before it sets.
- Pink chalk spray paint
- Secateurs
How To Make A Pinecone Flower
1. The first thing to do is bleach the pinecones. Place them in a large jar with a 50/50 bleach water solution for a few hours. The pinecones will close but don’t worry they will open up again once taken out and dried. Bleaching the pinecones will not make them white it will just lighten them few shades.2. Take the pinecones out of the bleach and leave them overnight to dry. Once dry using the secateurs cut down the pinecones by removing the top two rows of pinecone petals.
3. The pinecones are now ready to paint. Paint the petals a variety of pinks, purples, and reds. On the edge of the pinecone petals paint a lighter shade of pink to achieve a variegated effect. Paint the center of the pinecones yellow or pink so they look like stamen.
Making The Pinecone Flower Heart
- Firstly, spray paint the shadow box frame with pink chalk spray paint.
2. Next, on the cardboard mount paint a pink heart. Use the same paints that you used for the pinecone flowers. The heart should be the size of the pinecone flower decoration.
3. Once the paint on the pinecones
4. Next, glue the pinecones to the painted heart background one by one using the Gorilla Glue Clear. As both the cardboard and pinecone bottoms are porous there is no need to wet them before gluing. Just squeeze a small amount of the glue onto the base of the pinecones before sticking them on the pink heart.
5. Carry on adding the glue to the base of the pinecones until the whole of the pink heart is covered.
The thing I love about this Gorilla Glue Clear: It’s so clear that it’s virtually invisible.
6. Once you are happy with the arrangement of pinecone flowers place a heavy object such as a book on top of them. This will weigh them down as the glue sets. Leave the arrangement for at least 2 hours before removing the book.
7. Finally, place the mounted pinecone flower heart in the shadow box frame.
The pinecone flower heart can either be hung on the wall. Or as the box frame stands up on it’s own you can simply place the frame on a shelf or mantle.
I’ve made another Valentine’s decoration for my mantle, which also uses natural elements, with these embroidered hearts. Or if you fancy a wall hanging check out these watercolor paper Mache hearts.
If you liked this post you might want to check out other ways to paint pine cones and these pine cone craft ideas.
For more Valentine’s craft visit favecrafts.com
Judy
How do you cut them? I’ve tried before and gave up. Is there a special tool that works best? I love this look!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you. I just use a pair of garden secateurs and use that to snip off the scales.
Linda at Mixed Kreations
Oh how fun and super cute! I painted some a while back to look like zinnias. But I really love how yours turned out. I have some more and I think I’ll try beaching them first too.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, bleaching them first is not necessary but does make them easier to paint.
Maria
I have millions great idea.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, have fun making them.
Lins @ Boo & Maddie
It’s brilliant when you can use things you can find in nature for fab projects like this! Thank you for sharing as always Claire X
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, I love to craft with the things around me.
Caro | The Twinkle Diaries
They look AMAZING! Almost like 3D watercolour flowers! So clever Claire 🙂 #HomeEtc
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, I like the 3D effect.
Kids of the Wild
So pretty and happy looking, though I’d definitely not bleach my pine cones for environmental reasons. Perfect for Valentine’s Day #GoingGreen
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, yes you can miss out the bleaching if you want.
Annette, Four Acorns / Quatre graines de chêne
Never thought humble pinecones could look so pretty and colourful.
#GoingGreen
Claire Armstrong
Thank you. It’s amazing what a bit of paint can do. ?
Steph
Ah that’s very cute, and so easy to do it as well
Claire Armstrong
Thank you.
Rosie (@greenrosielife)
This is so pretty but I am wondering if you could miss out the bleaching stage. I am not on mains sewage and have a septic tank so I can’t pour bleach down the drain. #GoingGreen
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Yes you can miss out the bleaching stage.
Mary
Claire I never knew pine cones could look so happy and festive. You have transformed them into something else!!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Mary. It’s amazing what a bit of paint can do.
Virginia
Love this! Pinned.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much.
Sara
This is beautiful; wish I had some pinecones right now! Just wondering how bleaching makes the pinecones easier to paint? Doesn’t the paint cover them up anyway?
Claire Armstrong
Thank you. The bleaching lightens the pinecones so you don’t need as much paint. However, bleaching is optional.
Linda at Mixed Kreations
What a clever idea! The pine cones look really pretty shaped into a heart. Not only pretty Valentine’s decor but some that you could leave up all year long. Love it!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Linda. It’s part of my gallery wall and will be staying up all year.
Cecilia
Wow, this is gorgeous, Claire! I love the colors! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much Cecilia.
Julie
That’s very clever, and a great way to use those left over Christmas pinecones.
I love that Clear Gorilla Glue too, it’s so versatile 🙂
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Julie. Yes the glue was perfect for this job.
Lora Bloomquist
Adorable, Claire! Pinned!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you and thanks for the share.
Sheri
I absolutely love this. Thanks for sharing at To Grandma’s House We Go DIY, Crafts, Recipes and More Link Party. I pinned this! Hope to have you join again next week. Have a great day!
Claire Armstrong
Aww, thank you so much. It was fun to use pinecones and they are free which is a bonus.
Lidia
I absolutely love everything about this project – the reuse and originality! Thanks for sharing on “Sweet Inspiration”!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much, I like to craft with the things around you,
Theresa @ Shoestring Elegance
Claire, I absolutely LOVE your creative mind!! These are absolutely beautiful!! Thank you so much for sharing them with us at the Thursday Favorite Things party, I’m featuring you this week! Congrats!
Happy weekend! xo
Theresa @ Shoestring Elegance
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much, I’m pleased you liked them and look forward to seeing the feature.
handmade by amalia
This colorful heart immediately caught my eye at Kathleen’s party. So pretty and unique.
Amalia
xo
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, the bright colours do make it stand out on the mantle
Kerryanne
I love the three dimensional affect of the pine cones in this project Claire. It look absolutely fabulous!!
Thank you for sharing this DIY at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week. I’m delighted to be featuring it at tomorrow’s party and pinning too.
Hugs,
Kerryanne
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much, I can’t wait to see the feature.
Linda on Poinsettia Drive
How beautiful…Hi, I would like to invite you to my blog party “The Classy Flamingos” held each Wednesday thru Friday. You’ll get large picture exposure and shout outs. You may get PINKED and get even more exposure! I hope you’ll come join us. ~Linda poinsettiadr.com
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much, I will definitely visit.
Barbara Chapman
Hello Claire! Sooooo cute!!! I am so glad that you are being featured this evening at Share Your Style #195 ~ such a fun, easy to make {and inexpensive} project to make. I am sure your pinecone heart is just brightening up your home so much.
Thanks again and congratulations on being featured,
Barb 🙂
Claire Armstrong
Aww thank you so much that is awesome and I look forward to seeing the feature.
Kippi
Really fun idea using the pine-cones to your art piece. I love the texture of the painted pine-cones. Happy Valentine’s Day, Kippi #kippiathome
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much Kippi. I love the 3D effect with the cones.
Louisa
Oh my goodness, I adore these. The end result is so pretty and effective *off to find some pinecones* #homeetc
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much. There are still plenty on the ground in our park.
chickenruby
Gorgeous and I agree it can be displayed all year round #goinggreen
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, I will be keeping it up.
Amy
Oh, I love this so much! I am always looking for pinecone crafts. My next door neighbor has two pine trees that drop lots of pinecones in our backyard (although they are the large pinecones, not small). So, I always have pinecones on hand. Thanks so much for sharing at Sweet Inspiration!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you. It will work just as well with big pinecones as small, you’ll probably just end up with a bigger heart.
Gail @Purple Hues and Me
Your pinecone heart is stunning! What a terrific idea!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much. I think it’s the colours that make it!
Kristin
I love pinecones and this is so inspiring!! Beautiful! I’ll be sharing it as one of my features at Share Your Style tomorrow. Thanks for linking up!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much I look forward to seeing it!
anna
Superbe !
Anna
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much!
Carol
I’ve seen pine cone flowers before but I love making a heart out of them.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you. I thought a heart would be quite festive for this time of year.
Debra
This is so pretty. I love how the pinecones look like flowers. Thanks for sharing at the Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make Party.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Debbie. It is fun that they look like flowers.
Karren Haller
This is such a cute project and I have saved pinecones for something, Im thinking with such pretty bright colors it would be cute out in my garden on a tree, I need a little color. I would love to have you stop by and share your projects for my readers on my Wonderful Wednesday party.
Keep creating!!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much and I will visit.
Michelle Leslie
Cooooooool!!!!! Love how this turned out so much. I have got to go find me some more pinecones
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Michelle. Painting pinecones are fun and really does transform them.
creativejewishmom/sara
Love it Claire, brilliant idea to paint the heart shape first on the background. thanks for sharing on craft schooling Sunday! I may be starting art classes with some of the kids in my neighborhood again (as my heart just can’t take it that they don’t have exposure to creativity) and I’m sure the little girls will just love this one.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you. Painting the background helped with the placement of the pinecones and how they looked at the end.
Marie Blackburn
I really like this idea, Claire! Who knew pine cones could be so beautiful.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Marie. I know it’s amazing how some paint can transform them.
Kristina
Hi this is Kristina visiting from Homemade Hangout. This is so pretty! I wish I was this creative.
Claire Armstrong
Hi Kristina, thank you. They are very easy to make, I’m sure you could give it a go.
Wendy
That looks amazing Claire! I will definitely be attempting this. Thank you x
Claire Armstrong
Aww, thank you, Wendy. It was fun to make.