DIY Cotton Stems with Pinecones and Cotton Balls
Make realistic-looking faux cotton stems using cotton balls, pinecones, and natural branches.
Equipment
- Hot glue gun
- Glue sticks
Ingredients
- Dry branches or twigs
- Large cotton balls
- Pinecones
Instructions
- Remove several scales from a clean, dry pinecone.
- Gently pull and fluff each cotton ball so it no longer looks perfectly round.
- Add hot glue to the curved side of a pinecone scale and attach it near the bottom of the cotton ball.
- Glue another 3 to 4 pinecone scales around the cotton ball to form the cotton boll.
- Add hot glue between the scales and attach the finished cotton boll to the end of a branch.
- Continue adding cotton bolls wherever the branch needs more fullness.
- Fill bare areas by gluing cotton bolls directly to the main branch when needed.
- Repeat with additional branches until you have enough for your arrangement.
- Place the finished cotton stems in a vase, bottle, jar, or pitcher and arrange as desired.
Video
Notes
If you gather pinecones outdoors, make sure they’re completely dry and free of dirt and insects before using them.
I would brush away loose debris first.
If you regularly bring natural materials indoors for crafts, you can also treat your pinecones using your preferred method before storing or crafting with them.
The important part for this project is that they are clean and dry before you start pulling off the scales.