Decor of cones will be an ornament of the interior of the room and the exterior of the house. From this simple and accessible material, funny animals, miniature trees, original bouquets, decorative wreaths for holidays and whole wall panels are made. In our country cones or achenes, as they are also called in the common people, are associated with a new year, dressed up with fir trees and the smell of mandarins. In Western countries, they decorate traditional wreaths for Christmas. They are made from wood branches, decorated with bows, beads, candles and artificial snow. A ready-made composition is attached to the front door or placed on a festive table. When creating crafts, acorns, chestnuts, nutshells, fabrics and various accessories are additionally used. There are several most accessible types of natural material:

• If you get curve specimens or vice versa, you need to bend in a certain direction, then the shape is easy to adjust. Collect cold water in the container and soak the cones for the night. In the morning they are taken out of the liquid already pliable. In places that need to be corrected, the cone is pulled over with a string of string and dried. Original looks miniature bud, which is surrounded by blossoming "petals".
• To lighten the scales prepare a solution of water and bleach in proportions of 5: 1. It is soaked with cones for 2 hours. Then they are thoroughly dried and washed with water and soap to remove microscopic particles of household chemicals.
• To make the bumps do not open, they are soaked in carpenter's glue. After the procedure, dry it. Original copies look like they only soaked half. As a result, one side will be securely glued, and the second will eventually blossom like an exotic flower.
• In a warm room, the buds will open sooner or later, to speed up this process, boil them in boiling water for an hour, and then put it on the battery for subsequent drying. Some "bake" the material in the oven. It is heated to 250 degrees and the future decor is prepared for two hours. During this time, the bumps open up and will remain so.

The latter method of treatment additionally also disinfects the material.

By the way, with thermal processing of cones, the apartment will be filled with a unique coniferous aroma that will stay in it for a long time. This method is used to create the atmosphere of the New Year holiday.

New Year's ideas

Required attributes of the New Year decor are a pine or a Christmas tree, garlands, balls and of course tangerines in a basket. From cones you can make not only jewelry or bouquets, but also wreaths, toys, decorative candlesticks that will decorate the room and the festive table. In the baskets of achenes give gifts or add them to sweets for guests.

       

Variants of Christmas-tree toys

Christmas toys made of cones look stylish and original. They are usually combined with simple balls. All toys are conventionally divided into several types:

• Simple knobs on the thread. They are painted or decorated with accessories;
• Figures of snowmen, owls, deer, mice and other animals;
• Garlands;
• Christmas trees;
• Volumetric snowflakes.

See also: Interior items with your own hands

To create a simple decor, which nevertheless will look stylish and natural, you will need:

• Glue. It is better to take carpentry;
• Strong thread;
• Needle-gypsy;
• Aerosol paints;
• Friable sparkles;
• Usual cotton wool.

For additional decor use ribbons, bows, miniature gifts, red beads, imitating rowan hands. When the cones are properly prepared, they are stained from the can. Usually they use paints with a metallic or gold tint, because such decoration looks more impressive. If you use simple colors: red, green, purple, then they are additionally decorated with glitter on top. After the paint dries completely, the surface is covered with a layer of glue and, until it is dry, sprinkled on top with shiny chips. In some cases, the tips of the blossomed flakes are painted white, imitating snow (sprinkled with salt). A similar coating, but more voluminous, can be made from small pieces of cotton wool. "Spine" cones pierce a needle with a thread threaded into it or tie a loop on it. In this way the toys will be attached to the Christmas tree. On the thread string "brushes" of beads, attach satin ribbons and bows with tiny gifts. The latter is simple enough:

• Cut out a cube of polystyrene and glue it with glue;
• Wrap it with shiny wrapping paper;
• Decorate the gift with a gold thread or ribbon.

Garlands of cones are created according to a simple scheme:

• Achenes of different sizes are prepared for decoration;
• The "spine" of each bump is pierced with a needle or an awl;
• A thread or line is passed into the hole. If the garland is long, then it is better to use the latter, since it is more reliable;
• The resulting "ribbon" is painted or decorated with "snow caps" (glued with cotton wool).

Christmas trees and big snowflakes are created according to one principle. The only difference is that the second ray will have more. The asterisk traditionally has five ends. For work you will need:

• Wire for the frame;
• Directly the material itself;
• Joiner's glue;
• Awl;
• Paint, sequins, decorative elements.

First, a five-pointed frame is made of wire. For snowflakes, add "rays" at the discretion. Then bumps (approximately the same size) from the side of the "cuttings" pierce with an awl. The wire is smeared with glue and the decor is threaded on it. After the bonding agent dries, the finished products are painted, sprinkled with sequins or artificial snow. To create snowflakes, the cones to its core are attached with sharp ends to make the figure "fluffy".

To make decorative beasts you will need basic material, toothpicks or wire, glue, eye beads, pieces of felt or other fabric for clothing and cotton wool. To create an animal out of cones, you have to connect fantasy. A large specimen will become a trunk, a small cone will fit for a muzzle, and the legs are made of thin wooden sticks. Santa Claus and snowmen are dressed in tiny suits. "Parts of bodies" are connected by the principle of fastening the star (wire and glue). To create individual elements use a felt that holds the shape well. Thus, the tree is hung with hedgehogs, squirrels, cubs, bullfinches, owls, deer, mice and dwarfs.

The original solution will be the use of old little toys that are no longer suitable. They are "gutted" into separate parts, which are subsequently glued to the tiny body.

       

Wreath of cones

As the basis for the wreath, use a ready-made frame, wire or cardboard, curling twigs, old newspapers tightly twisted into a ring. You can attach decor in several ways:

• With glue. The simplest version, which is suitable for a paper or purchased in the store circle;
• To each decorative element attached miniature rings, which thread on the wire. The connection of the ends of the circle will have to be done after the wreath is completely decorated;
• Bumps, nuts and balls attached to the line or twine, which is then wound on the frame.

Wreaths of achenes hang on doors, on walls in rooms or put on a table, near a Christmas tree. For their registration use tiny balls, asterisks, silk ribbons, beads, plastic figurines, dried fruits (halves of oranges) and branches of coniferous trees. Cones are painted in different colors, sprinkled with sequins, decorated with snow and "draped" with translucent ribbons.

The original decoration in the New Year's Eve will be a ball of achenes. To create it, you will need:

• Toilet paper and glue;
• Balloon;
• Paint under the color of cones;
• Sami achenes.

First inflate the ball, then gently wrap it with paper, which is pre-soaked in the glue. The composition is left alone until completely dry. Then, its surface is dyed to avoid translucent paper between the slender rows of achenes. On the ball put on a festive ribbon, which will serve as a loop for attaching to the ceiling or doorway. Now the most difficult stage of work: sticking cones. Since the base is very fragile, it should be treated with the utmost care. The achenes are glued to it in a row, trying to avoid the formation of voids. After drying, the surface of the ball is additionally decorated.

The frame can also be made from an old wire hanger. Her shoulders are connected to each other, and the hook is cut or used as a basis for the voluminous detail of the future wreath.

       

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Christmas tree

Of the cones not only decorations are made, but also the Christmas trees themselves. For these purposes, you will need either one lump or a dozen specimens of similar size. A miniature Christmas tree is placed in the same pot. The cone is stained from the can in a green or silver color, and waiting for complete drying. Then proceed to decorating. On the opened flakes hang tiny snowflakes from azhura, bead-balls, asterisks from a foil or shiny packing paper, a thread of a rain. For the big Christmas tree a cardboard cone is made. On it rows are glued achenes with sharp ends outwards. Large cones are attached from below, and those that are smaller are left under the top. A ready-made tree is decorated with New Year's attributes. The presence of even a tiny Christmas tree in the workplace will bring with it a sense of celebration.

       

Candlestick

Candlestickи можно с нуля создать самостоятельно или декорировать уже имеющиеся. Самый простой и быстрый вариант: использование стеклянной тары. В нее насыпают соль, которая имитирует снег, и украшают мелкими веточками. В центр композиции помещают свечу. Горлышко банки обмазывают клеем, на который сыпят соль. Поверх «снежного» слоя закрепляют пару декорированных шишек на шпагате или атласной ленточке. Для более сложных композиций потребуются:

• Cardboard;
• One big bump;
• Glue and scissors;
• A small container under a candle made of glass;
• Sequins for decoration.

       

The opened cone is carefully disassembled into separate scales. From a cardboard a small circle is cut out twice more, than a bottom of a glass for a candle. On the paper base, glue the first row of "scales". Between them, the gaps are left, since the surface will have a chess order. Then, gradually for each row, glue the next, thus forming a bump. Closer to the top, the scales are directed with their tips inward to repeat the outline of the sample. Then the candlestick is decorated with "snow" or sparkles, and a container with a candle is placed in the center.

On the festive table are placed not only decorated candlesticks, but also bouquets of achenes, small coniferous twigs near utensils or miniature Christmas trees.

Children's crafts

Cones are an excellent material for making crafts with the child. They are a worthy competition for clay, plasticine and cardboard. From achenes often create funny little men and beasts (turkey, spiders, chanterelles, dogs). The main thing in this process is to connect the imagination and to see in the outlines of cones muzzle, back or paws. The work uses the main material, fabric for the decoration of suits, glue, awl and wire (toothpicks) to connect the parts together. Additionally apply twine, feathers, buttons for eyes or noses and twigs.

       

Bear cub of cones

For a bear cub, it is better to take a big fir cone. The animal will "sit" like a human being. Pine "paws" are attached to it. To do this, use a wire, which is passed into pre-prepared holes. The muzzle of the beast is made out with peas of black pepper or beads, which will replace the button of the nose and eyes. The ears can be made from felt or loops of woolen thread. To create another model, the seed imitating the trunk is wrapped in twine. Beforehand, paws are attached to it using a thin wire (it is tied around the "body"). The head is also decorated with twine and attached to the rest of the bear body with a piece of hard wire that will act as a frame. Finished beasts are dressed in tiny costumes, caps are put on their heads, and satins are tied around their necks. In more complex models of crafts, ears and paws are collected from torn and re-glued "scales". To soften the toy, the "heels" and ears are decorated with pompoms, pre-assembled from threads of light colors.

       

Cones and chestnuts

From chestnuts, excellent caterpillars are obtained, and paired with cones they imitate smooth heads of hand-made articles. In the New Year's composition these fruits are poured in an organic way. Preliminarily they are cleaned from the barbed shell. Park nuts are easily attached to wire or toothpicks. The result is an improvised "bud", which is woven into wreaths and bouquets. A chestnut-nut filling can decorate a basket of cones. They are also used to create large trees: the surface of the fruit is covered with artificial snow.

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Cones and acorns

Caps of acorns are usually used to create legs and handles in handicrafts that imitate people and beast. Of these, you can make a magnificent voluminous wreath. On a solid basis of paper or cardboard paste whole acorns, their empty hats and pine cones. The finished wreath is covered with shiny spray or paint and wrapped in twine. From acorns and cones are obtained original topiari. The tops of such "trees" do not specifically color, as the composition with different shades of brown itself looks harmonious. Along with walnuts and hazelnut from acorns decorate additional decorative elements in winter bouquets of cones.

       

How to make a basket

The basket is made in two versions:

• Simple with cardboard base;
• A complex composition made entirely of achenes.

       

For the first option take the cardboard, and glue it in such a way that the cylinder has turned out. On one side, its edge is vertically cut into small pieces, which are folded inwards. They will be needed to secure the bottom. Then cut a circle of the same material and glue it to the cylinder. Pine cones in rows are attached to the base, and spruce can be placed vertically. In a more complex version, the achenes are tied with a thin wire. It is passed under the blooming scales. As a result, you get several "shish" circles, which are connected with the help of the same wire. Subsequently, it can be masked with ribbons. The handle of the basket is made using a similar technology.

       

You can also make a semi-circular basket. A foam plastic ball is half wrapped in several layers of foil. To it stick bumps, and after drying a basis delete. The drawback of this craft is its fragility.

Gift decorating with cones

The wrapped gift can be decorated in a "winter" style. To the bow, which traditionally decorates the top of the presentation, attach the composition of spruce twigs and one or two achenes. The latter is pre-painted, sprinkled with sequins or decorated with cotton. Gather a mini-bouquet with a simple thread: it is fastened with "cuttings" of cones and the tip of a twig. Complement the composition with an asterisk or a Christmas tree of shiny cardboard, on the back of which they write the name of the recipient of the gift. You can decorate with cones and tape itself, they are simply glued to its tips.

Original in a similar "bouquet" will look miniature balls made of woolen threads. Previously, they are wound on an air "relative", coated with glue. After drying, the ball is pierced, and the residues are removed from the "thread" frame.

Winter bouquet

To create a bouquet or a topiary you do not need deep knowledge in floristry. Of these elements of decor create a real winter gardens and flower beds in the house. The original addition will be such a composition in the hands of the bride at the wedding. To make topiary (figuratively cut trees) of papier-mâché form a ball. It is pasted with cones, and pierced from below with wire, which will mimic the trunk. In the pot, pour in the soil or fill in the gypsum and place several ready-made "branches" of different heights and sizes. Preliminarily they are stained or wrapped in twine. The ready composition is decorated with accessories, ribbons and sequins. Such trees are placed in the house, since it is believed that they are luring good luck. To create a miniature bouquet, you will need:

• Cones;
• Smooth twigs or wire;
• Glue, scissors;
• Tapes for decoration;
• Beads, colors and sequins.

       

As a basis of the composition, real twigs or wires are used, which will have to be masked additionally. Attach the cones and beads to the tops of the rods using glue. They are painted ahead of time or sprinkled with sequins. Then separate branches are collected in a bouquet and tightly bandaged with ribbons approximately in the middle. Possible "voids" in the finished composition are filled with satin bows in tone. For a larger "winter" effect, real spruce or tui branches are added to the bouquet. They have neat little needles, which will not spoil the miniature decor.

Conclusion

Cones are a practical and accessible material. The creation of crafts from them includes the collection of material, its preliminary preparation and the embodiment of bold decorating ideas. The process of independent decoration of the premises for the holiday will delay even the most serious people who have long forgotten how to believe in New Year's miracles. The environment created by their own hands, will become the pride of the hosts and a real magic for children.