Get a head start on fall crafts by creating this pine cone picture frame. This rustic frame is an easy fall craft idea you’ll enjoy making!
Give your picture frame extra personality by adding a popular messy bow or a printed fall saying like I did.
PINE CONE PICTURE FRAME
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SUPPLIES NEEDED:
- unfinished wood frame
- 1 extra large pine cone
- or small pine cones
- glue gun (my favorite)
- brown paint
- paint brush
- sandpaper
- scissors
- raffia
- fabric
HOW TO BAKE PINE CONES BEFORE CRAFTING:
You should bake pinecones you find outdoors to remove insects, spiders, and mold.
I researched baking pinecones so I could save you the time of googling. There was a varying range of temperatures and time for baking. The most common findings are below:
- Make a single layer of pinecones on a baking sheet lined with foil
- Option 1: bake at 250 degrees for 30-45 minutes
- Option 2: bake at 200 degrees for an average of 2 hours
HOW TO MAKE A PINE CONE PICTURE FRAME
STEP 1: PAINT AND STAIN FRAME
Paint the entire frame brown. Only one coat will be needed since you’ll need to sand the front side once the one coat is dry.
Use sandpaper to distress the frame to your desired look. I left the back side solid brown.
STEP 2: CUT THE SCALES FROM THE STEM
I had to use garden clippers to cut the pine cone scales off because I couldn’t find my snips, but as long as you have strong scissors of some sort you should be good.
STEP 3: ATTACH THE PINE SCALES
My original plan was to completely cover the frame with scales by slightly layering them, but the large pine scales were just too big and bulky to get that idea to work.
I think if you use scales from small pine cones you can accomplish that complete coverage idea since the scales will be small and less bulky
Use a hot glue gun to attach the scales to your picture frame.
STEP 4: MAKE THE FABRIC BOW
- determine the side of the fabric that doesn’t feel slightly stretchy
- you want the edge to feel taut
- decide the width you want your strips
- snip about 1/2 inch into the fabric edge
- pull and rip the strips from the fabric
- make an alternating layer of strips in shape of “x”
- tie together with another strip
STEP 5: MAKE THE RAFFIA BOW
- tie raffia pieces into a bow
- cut the loops apart
- begin separating and pulling apart the raffia
- I used my fingernails to do this
- fluff to desired look
STEP 6: ATTACH THE RIBBON
- hot glue the fabric bow to the top of frame
- hot glue the raffia bow on top of the fabric bow
Now, you’re all set to make your own pine cone picture frame. Collect some pine cones from your yard or purchase some and start crafting!
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YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN SEEING THESE PICTURE FRAMES:
NUTS AND BOLTS PICTURE FRAME FOR FATHER’S DAY
It’s time for another monthly Sustainable Pinterest Challenge, where my blogger friends and I pick an idea from one of our Pinterest boards and make it into a “use it up,” recycled, upcycled craft or decor.
Our September theme is “Nature” and I used this inspiration pin. Be sure to click the links at the end of my post to see eleven more nature projects!
CLICK THE PICTURES BELOW TO SEE MORE NATURE PROJECTS!
MEET THE PARTICIPANTS
Julie | Sum of their Stories ~ Gail | Purple Hues and Me ~ Julie | Treasures Made From Yarn ~ Terri | A Good Life ~ Ann | The Apple Street Cottage ~ T’onna | Sew Crafty Crochet ~ Donna | Modern on Monticello ~ Allyson | Southern Sunflowers ~ Jo | Rose Tinted World ~ Niki | Life as a LEO Wife ~ Marianne | Songbird ~Mel | Decor Craft Design
Sharing my pine cone picture frame at these fabulous blogs!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
AllysonAllyson is the founder and content creator of Southern Sunflowers, which shares tutorials for DIY crafts and decor on a budget.
I love seeing ideas I can actually replicate since they are simple. This is the perfect craft for me!
Mireille, my frame idea is definitely an easy project. Thanks for dropping by!
How perfect for Fall! I love this idea. Come share it at the Home Imagined Link party (Tuesday 9am-Thursday 5pm). Hope to see you there.
Glad you like my picture frame idea, Meagan! I’ll add your party to my list, thanks for the invite.
Your frame is so phenomenal! I’d never thought of taking apart a pinecone and using the pieces! Such an innovative idea — and I love it! Smiles, Linda at Paper Seedlings
Thank you for the compliment, Linda! So glad you like my pinecone frame.
Omg, I love it so much, Allyson! That’s a very creative and a clever way to use the pinecone. Fantastic job!
Mel, thank you for the compliments on my pinecone frame!
I love this Allyson and I’m glad it didn’t work to do a complete cover with pine cones. I think the contrast makes it look richer. Thanks for sharing. Pinned!
Thank you, Denise! I like how my frame turned out in the end, too, but I wasn’t so sure at first.
I adore the texture of this so much. I can even see spray painting it gold for an extra punch!
Terri, changing the frame to gold sounds good for a different look!
Super cute Allyson! So clever and I love your “messy bow!”
Jenna, thank you! I’m glad messy bows are still “in” because I love them, too.
I absolutely love this! This would be adorable in a vignette or on a decorative tray. I’m definitely going to try this at some point. So adorable! Happy hopping with you!
Niki, I’m so happy you love my pinecone frame. Nice hopping with you too! 🙂
Your picture frame is so cute and perfect for fall! I really like the raffia and fabric bow you created. This is really cute!
T`onna, thank you for the compliments on my picture frame!
Great idea, Allyson! My ‘extensive’ collection of pinecones has several large ones that would be perfect for this project.
Glad you like my idea, Ann! I wish I had small pinecones to see what I can do with smaller scales.
This is a lovely eco-friendly picture frame, Allyson! It certainly looks like a work of art by lining up the scales side by side instead of layering them. It gives off a very surprising artistic effect!
Gail, so glad you like my picture frame, and YAY, you think it looks artistic, too!
This frame has so much texture, it looks great. It’s interesting how we have to change our crafting plans sometimes as we go along if it’s just not working! I love the scrappy fabric bow, perfect for using up small bits of leftover fabric.
Thanks, Julie! Yep, there always has to be a “Plan B” just in case.