Mark Valentine’s Day with these easy Pine Cone Love Bugs! Pine cone crafts are a favorite, and these charming love bugs are a delightful project to create for Valentine’s Day! Use pine cones from your craft supplies, or take a nature stroll through your neighborhood and gather a few fresh ones.
Kids will have a wonderful time making this Valentine’s Day project – once they create several, they can give them to friends and family as Valentines!
We left these love bugs undecorated, though you can add a short message to their wings or attach the entire love bug to a small cardstock piece and write your note there instead. Consider these message ideas:
- “Valentine, you make my heart flutter!”
- “Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day, Love Bug!”
- “Bugs and Kisses for you, Valentine!”
- “Valentine, you’re absolutely fly!”
Materials Needed
- Pine cones – 1 for each lovebug, refer to the notes below
- Wood beads – 1″ wide, 1 for each love bug
- Colorful paper – pink and red shades
- Googly eyes – 3/8″ size, 2 for each lovebug
- Pipe cleaners – pink and red shades
- Hot glue gun – use with help from an adult
- Tacky or white glue
- Scissors
- Paint – pink and red shades
- Paintbrushes – medium in size
- Black permanent marker
- Pencil – to trace the templates onto paper
- Free printable wing templates – available at the end of the post
Note
When using pine cones gathered outdoors, make certain they are dry and suitable for crafting. You may bake the pine cones in an oven at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-20 minutes on a baking sheet lined with parchment or foil (adults only). This can accelerate the drying time and ensure no insects remain inside the pine cones. Watch them carefully while they are in the oven, then allow them to cool fully before beginning your craft.
Watch the Video Guide!
How to Create Pine Cone Lovebugs
1. Put together the love bug bodies.
With adult help, use a hot glue gun to secure a wood bead on top of the pine cone, keeping it steady while the glue sets.
Cover the complete body, including the bead and pine cone, with paint, then leave it aside until it has dried thoroughly.
2. Create the wings.
Print the complimentary wing template located at the end of the post. Snip out the templates, trace them onto colored paper, and cut out the bright wings.
Attach the paper wings to the rear of the pine cone body with glue. We chose hot glue, though tacky glue works too if you allow sufficient drying time.
3. Form the antenna.
Snip a 2″ section of pipe cleaner and fold it in half to create a V shape.
With adult assistance, use hot glue to place the pipe cleaner into the opening of the wooden bead, creating the love bug’s antenna.
4. Design the faces.
Adhere two googly eyes to every wood bead. Alternatively, use a black marker to create the eyes with two tiny dots.
Next, draw a mouth using a black permanent marker.
To finish, dip the tip of a paintbrush in pale pink paint and add dots beneath the eyes for rosy cheeks.
The pine cone love bugs are now prepared for Valentine’s Day!
