How to make a pine cone Christmas Tree

Red Ted Art has  toilet roll fetish when it comes to craft. Nurture Store is a mahoosive fan of playdough. I have a (very) soft spot for crafting with corks. What’s not to like? At the very least they give me a reason to regularly open a bottle of wine. And not just at home either. Whenever we go out to events or restaurants, even the Parents’ Drinks at LBG’s school, I have been known to sidle up to the bar staff and flutter my eyelashes in exchange for a few corks.

This craft is one of those that was borne out of a desire to make something specific (in this instance a Christmas Tree) with whatever you have to hand. And if there’s one thing I always have to hand, it’s a few corks. So when LBG and Dimples were saddened by the removal of the Christmas Tree, a replacement was required. One trip into the garden later and we were ready for action.

To make our super-simple snowy pine trees, you will need:

• corks
• pine cones
• glue gun, although other glue would work, but the effect would be less instantaneous
• salt
• pva/Elmers glue
• glitter (optional)

Firstly, you’ll want to trim the base of your pine cones so that they are as flat as possible.

Next, cut your corks in half. Glue each cut edge to the base of a pine cone using the glue gun.

Once your tree is dry, paint liberally with pva glue.

Sprinkle with salt and/or glitter.

Continue until your cork supply or enthusiasm is exhausted: you could have your own wintery forest to play with!