Pine cones are budget-friendly home decor.You can put them in a glass bowl or hang them on your Christmas tree.You can either dip them in latex or spray them with spray-paint.While spray painting pine cones makes them look frosted, dipping them gives them a vivid, consistent color.
Step 1: You can choose between latex or acrylic paint for your project.
Both options work.Water and chemical-based paints are used.Acrylic is more expensive and only available at craft stores, but it lasts longer and comes in a wide range of colors.You can buy latex paint at a hardware store.Make sure you have a color that you are excited about.pine cones can be painted white or jazzed up with other colors.
Step 2: You can stir the paint with a stir stick.
You can stir the latex paint in the bucket.You can stir the paint by squeezing it into a bowl.Stirring the paint makes sure that it is an even color and consistency.
Step 3: Attach the bamboo skewer to the pine cone.
The skewer needs to be securely attached to the pine cone.The pine cone will be dipped in the paint with the skewer.
Step 4: The pine cone can be dunked in paint.
You can get rid of excess paint by shaking the pine cone.You don't want paint spatters on the floor if you shake over your paint bucket or old newspaper.
Step 5: Remove the skewer from the pine cone by drying it on wax paper.
You can use the skewer to dip the next pine cone in the paint.Continue until you have dipped your pine cones in paint.
Step 6: Allow the pine cones to dry on wax paper.
The waxy surface of the paper won't absorb as much paint as other surfaces, so more of it will stay stuck to the pine cones.The scales tend to pull in on themselves when they are wet, but that is okay.You can open the pine cones in the oven if they close up.
Step 7: The pine cones should be placed on the baking sheet.
The pine cones are opened up by heating them.The foil protects the baking sheet from drips.Make sure there is enough room for them to expand as they open.
Step 8: The oven should be set to its lowest temperature.
The center shelf of the oven is where the baking sheet should be placed.The pine cones need to be checked every 30 minutes.It may take an hour.Remove them from the oven when they are open.Place the tray on a heat safe surface and let the pine cones cool.
Step 9: If you want, you can sprinkle glitter on your pine cones.
If you want to add some sparkle to your painted pine cones, glitter is a great tool.You can brush liquid school glue along the pine cone scales with a small paint brush.Then put the glitter on.The glitter will fall off if you shake your pine cone.Silver glitter on pine cones can make them twinkle in the winter.
Step 10: You can choose an outdoor location for spray-painting.
Paint fumes are bad for you to breathe in.Make sure the room you are working in is well-ventilated if it is not possible to spray-paint outdoors.A well-ventilated garage is a great place to work.
Step 11: You can protect the floor or ground from spray paint with a newspaper.
If you are a beginner, spray-painting can spatter a lot of paint around, so having something on the ground is important.If you don't have newspapers, cardboard or plastic, you can use a drop cloth.
Step 12: Shake the spray paint canister for a minute.
It will take a long time to shake it, but it will make sure that all the paint is ready to be sprayed.Some spray paint cans have instructions on how to shake them.Follow the instructions if that's the case.
Step 13: To find out how far away you can hold your spray paint, test it on some scrap material.
If you practice a few sprays, you will be able to spray a smooth, consistent oval of paint on your scrap material.You can determine how far away from the pine cone you want to hold your spray can by the thickness of the paint on it.Hold it closer and you will get a smooth, fully-coated look.If you have never used spray paint before, this is important.A scrap of plywood is a good surface to practice on.
Step 14: Thin coats of spray paint can be applied to the pine cones.
One coat of spray paint can be enough for a lightly frosted look.Give the pine cone a few coats to make it look better.
Step 15: The pine cones need to be dried before you can smell the paint again.
The pine cones should stand upright on the newspaper.The paint could be smudged if you test the dryness with your fingers.Sniff them.They are all dry when you can't smell the paint.
Step 16: If you want, you can decorate your pine cones more.
You can decorate your pine cones after they are dry.The pine cones can be brushed with glue, painted with a paintbrush, or left as they are for a simple look.