DIY Network

Pine Cone Tree Craft a Christmas tree from pine cones. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-138

You'll love the rustic charm of your own pine cone tree.

If you're looking for a tabletop Christmas tree with personality—and no plastic in sight—Michele Beschen has the tree for you. This pine cone tree is loaded with rustic charm, but also has sophistication and style that make it a great "grownup" decoration.

Christmas tree pro Jenny Howell of Howell Tree Farm joins Michele Beschen on B. Original to show just how easy it can be to craft your own pine cone tree. Scroll down for their how-to.

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Materials:

small stool
dowel rod
chicken wire
pine cones
bucket of water
wire cutters or heavy-duty shears
gloves

Note: Jenny Howell uses Norway Spruce pine cones for this project. They are firm and stiff, which means you can hang larger ornaments.

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

• Soak your pine cones in water for about 20 minutes. This will cause the cones to fold up and make them easier to insert. Don't worry—they'll fluff back out as they dry.

• While the pine cones are soaking, drill a hole in the center of the stool and run a thick dowel rod through it.

• Cut a piece of chicken wire and wrap around the stool at an angle to give a pointed top. This is the framework for the tree (figure A).

• Trim away the excess chicken wire from the cone with wire cutters or serrated scissors.

• Use a staple gun to staple the chicken wire directly to the stool. Trim away excess chicken wire that is wrapped around the legs (figure B).

• Connect the chicken wire all along the seam by twisting the wire together and folding it to the inside of the tree so no sharp edges stick out.

• Begin adding the pine cones (figure C). Starting at the bottom of the tree, stick the larger pine cones into the chicken wire holes. Don't insert the cones more than 1/3 of the way in. The cones will fit loosely when wet, but will expand and tighten against the wire as they dry (figure D). Once the pine cones are dry, the wire won't even be visible. It takes about two days for the cones to fully dry and expand after soaking.

• Start using smaller pine cones as you work your way up to the top of the tree. You may need to hot-glue the cones at the very top of the tree.

• Add a few berries, ornaments or garlands to the tree. You also may want to drape the stool with a pretty fabric as a tree skirt. To clean the tree, simply spray compressed air from a can to get rid of any dust.

GUESTS :

Jenny Howell
Howell Tree Farm
3129 Howell Lane
Cumming, Iowa 50061