DIY {Christmas Pinecone Elves}
Last year, inspired by Martha Steward, I made these little pinecone elves, one for each member of our family.
I made these based on Martha’s tutorial, with a few tweaks here and there (since I didn’t want to sew) and added the little nametag.
Supplies:
- Pinecones
- Wool felt (for hat and scarf)
- Pipe cleaners (for arms, legs, and I added some around the hat)
- Tiny felt balls (I used them for hands, feet, top of hat)
- Hot-glue gun
- 3/4-inch wooden craft bead
- Black marker (eyes)
- Red crayon (cheeks) Step 1: Make arms and legs: Cut 2 pieces, each about 4 inches long, from pipe cleaners. Hold a pinecone (about 2 inches long) so bottom end points up. Tuck 1 piece of pipe cleaner between the scales of the pinecone, positioning it as the arms. Position the other piece as legs. Secure with a hot-glue gun. Bend ends of legs to make feet- here I attached the tiny felt balls to the end of the pipe cleaner to make hands and feet, instead of making gloves like Martha did (I tried the felt feet and hands on one elf, then gave up). Here’s a picture from her website depicting how to make the body and head.
Step 2: Make head: Hot-glue a 3/4-inch wooden craft bead (hole side down) to the end of the pinecone. Draw 2 eyes with a black felt pen. Draw cheeks with a red crayon.
Make scarf and hat: Cut out a rectangular piece of felt for the scarf and tie around the neck. For the hat, cut a piece of felt in the shape of a triangle and glue the ends together. Place a tiny felt ball at the top point of the hat. (Martha sewed hers, I used hot glue).
Step 3: Make nametags: I used my computer to print the names in “Kingthings Christmas” font on red paper, then hole-punched one end to stick onto the arm.
Here are Martha’s elves in action:And here are mine:
P.S. I got my elves to stand up by gluing the pinecones to these little flat wood pieces that I found at Walgreens in a bag of something similar to potpourri.**********
Those are so cute, Megan! My girls would love to play with those, so I don't know how long they'd last at "little people level," but perhaps up high?? 🙂
Very cute! I'm not big on sewing either, so I think your tweaking is just up my alley! Great idea… I'm so excited for Aidan's first Christmas! Does James have cousins that he will be able to play with on Christmas day?
Those are super cute!
super cute. Riley would love to help me make those. Hope you had a great weekend!!!
I love your elves! Those are so cute and festive!
love your elves!!! 🙂
Those are adorable! Now you will have to make one for James.
Okay, these are stupid cute!
http://lisafergus.blogspot.com/
How cute! I will have to try to make a few for the grands. They are fascinated with the "elf on a shelf" story right now. Thanks for sharing your streamlined version of Martha's.
Super cute!
Too cute, just adorable!!
I hope you have come to enter my giveaway from Empress of the Eye!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
i love these, i think i might need to add them to my list!
Your blog and home are beautiful!!! So much inspiration here gorgeous 🙂 xoxox
Oh so darling! They don't look that hard to make either. What a fun gift…hmmm might have to make some : ) Thanks for sharing!!!!
They are UBER cute…and you make me uber jealous. Please send some crafty dust your way. Nothing in the project world seems to be working for me today. I may just have to copy this for Thurgood's little bedroom tree. So cute!!!
Cheers~
e
These are so cute! I just may have to try them.
These are cute – I think I'm going to try them this winter break!
sooo cute! and super easy! i think i need to drag my boys out on a nature walk to find some pine cones one of these days!! thanks for sharing!
ps. your closet is an enviable place of supreme bliss and i love it!
These are adorable!! I love them! I love using pinecones in crafts! Here's what I did!
Amie, http://kittycatsandairplanes.blogspot.com/2010/10/pinecone-flowers.html
So Cute!! I've never seen these before. I host a craft time at my local library and I can totally see these being a blast…thanks!! 🙂