Fall Craft Project: Pine Cone Owl

This easy craft project makes an adorable owl from a pine cone. This is an excellent craft project to do with the kids on a cold fall day. Try making this craft to decorate your home for the Thanksgiving holiday season. Be sure to take the kids outside into the yard and to the park to select your pine cones when the weather starts getting cool. The best pine cones for the owl project are ones with scales that are spread outward. Select pine cones that are in good condition. Avoid pine cones that look discolored or sticky.

What You Will Need for the Pine Cone Owl:

Pine cone

Orange chenille stem

Large google eyes

Medium pom poms

Felt

Hot glue or craft glue

Prepare the Pine Cones

Before you get started making this craft, you’ll need to either wash or bake the pine cones. To wash them, simply fill a small basin with warm, soapy water. Go over the pine cones with an old toothbrush, then rinse them and allow them to dry. To bake them, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Bake the pine cones for about 20 minutes, then allow them to cool.

Make the Pine Cone Owl’s Feet

Bend the chenille stem about 1/2 inch away from the middle. Bend the stem again about 1 inch away from this. You should now have a chenille stem with a 1 inch bend in the center. Bend the left side of the stem in the middle. Bend the stem back again to create the owl’s toe. Bend it again to create two more toes. Create three more pine cone owl toes on the right side of the chenille stem. See image 2 for step by step pictures of how to make the owl’s feet.

Make the Pine Cone Owl’s Body

Turn the pine cone large side up. Cut a small beak out of yellow felt. Get two brown or black pom poms. Use hot glue to attach the beak to the bottom of the pine cone. If working with children under the age of ten, use craft glue or do all the hot gluing yourself. Attach the two pom poms just above the beak. Apply a small drop of glue to the front of the pom poms, then attach the large google eyes.

Turn the pine cone over, then secure the owl’s legs between the scales of the pine cone. Cut tail feathers from brown felt, then attach this on the back of the pine cone on the small end.

Display your pine cone owl as a decoration on a mantlepiece, a bookshelf or place him in the center of your Thanksgiving table along with other pine cone ornaments. He will make a lovely decoration all fall and winter long. Consider giving him a place of honor during your Christmas celebrations, as well. If you’re looking for more holiday craft ideas, check out my other articles.