How to Use Digger Pines for an Art Project

The Print

• 1

  Gather some smaller digger pine cones. (See Resources) Collect pine needles and branches of different sizes and shapes. You're looking for a variety, including branches that have knots or buds on them. The needles should still be attached to the branch and not loose.

• 2

  Fill several of your little bowls with water-based craft paints. If you've chosen a color theme, pour each color in its own individual bowl. Lay down some newspapers on your work area and place the drawing paper on them.

• 3

  Dip the side of a pine cone into the paint and dab on the paper all over. It'll leave a print of the side of the pine cone. If you want more than one color, dip another fresh pine cone into another paint color and dab all over your paper after the first coat of paint dries.

• 4

  Make some pine branch prints on the paper as well by dipping a pine branch into the paint. Spot the paper with the pine branch prints just as you did with the cones. Allow to dry. Make a series of prints in the same way.

The Frame

• 5

  Break some of the scales from the pine cone. These are the woody parts that open to drop the seeds. Set these aside in a small dish.

• 6

  Pull some pine needles loose from some of the pine branches. Set these aside.

• 7

  Gather some of the smaller branches from the earlier part of the project. They can still have the pine needles attached, but the branches themselves shouldn't be as long.

• 8

  Dab a bit of glue onto frames and arrange the pine scales, branches and needles on the frame. The frame should look like it's encrusted with pine boughs and pine scales when you're done. Allow to dry. Make enough frames for all the digger pine prints you made.

• 9

  Allow to dry. Make enough frames for all the digger pine prints you made. Frame your prints.