Instead of store-bought trimmings, dress your tree with what it might have worn outside: pinecones. With their natural beauty, they deserve to accompany a tree indoors, too. For garlands and ornaments, which appear on this potted tree, use a variety of pinecones in different shapes and sizes, as well as miniature glass Christmas balls and beads strung along with them.

Pinecone Decorations How-To:
1. To glitter pinecones for these projects, if desired, brush craft glue over tips of scales. Then, working over a bowl, spoon fine glitter over scales. Let dry completely. 

2. For a drop ornament, hot-glue miniature glass Christmas balls or beads (you can unstring a garland of balls for this purpose) between three pinecones arranged in descending size. Snip off the ends of each pinecone, if necessary, to make flat places to glue balls. Run twine through hole in top ball for a hanger. 

3. For a garland, use a strong sewing needle and heavy-duty thread to string tiny pinecones, such as tamaracks, alternating them with red and green glass beads until desired length is reached.