Ombré Painted Pinecones

This activity has a great mix of outdoor and indoor fun! It challenges your preschooler to search for a pinecone, then assist with mixing and painting. It only requires a few items, some of which you can find outside! Creating an ombré pattern will teach your preschooler about light and dark colors, and how just a little white can create a whole new color!

Materials:

- Pinecone

- Acrylic paint (whatever color you’d like)

- White acrylic paint

- Small paint brush

- Paper or newspaper to lay down

- Toothpicks

- Cup of water for cleaning the brush

- Paper towels

Step 1

We suggest going outside on a hike, nature walk, or trip to your backyard to find a pinecone that isn’t tightly closed. You will want to see some of the edges. Let it dry in the sunshine (outside) if it is damp from the ground or the night before. Then gather your materials and lay paper or newspaper down on a flat surface in case any paint spills. Visually break your pinecone into 4 sections. If it helps, you can draw it yourself on your paper.

Step 2

First, start by squeezing a dot of paint (I’m using blue) the size of a pea on your paper. Take your paint brush and dab it in the paint then begin painting the first (bottom) section of your pinecone. Once you go around the entire pinecone, rinse your brush in the water and pat dry.

Step 3

Then, squeeze another pea sized dot of your primary color, and add half a pea sized dot of white paint to it, and mix with a toothpick. Paint around the second section of your pinecone. When finished, rinse your brush and pat dry.

Step 4

Next, squeeze another pea sized dot of your primary color, and add a pea sized dot of white paint to it, and mix. Paint around the third section of your pinecone. When finished, rinse your brush and pat dry.

Step 5

Lastly, squeeze another pea sized dot of your primary color, and add 2 pea sized dots of white paint to it, and mix. Paint around the fourth (top) of your pinecone. When finished, rinse your brush and pat dry.

Step 6

When finished, set your pinecone aside on a piece of paper to dry. After 5 hours your pinecone should be completely dry, if it still feels a bit sticky, leave it for another hour. Once completely dry, put your pinecone on display!