This family of painted pinecone penguins colonizes a magical snowscape decorated with glitter, bits of flocking, and a mirror pond.

You can use any sturdy flat surface -- a tray, a wide mantel, a piece of cardboard -- as the base of the snow scene. 

Tools and Materials
Small round craft mirror
Dulling spray (available at art-supply stores)
Cotton batting
Faux snow or white flocking (from craft stores)
Clear glass glitter
Pinecones
White spray paint
Spray adhesive
White card stock
Small sawed-off piece of a birch log
Small paintbrush
Craft glue or hot-glue gun
Red construction paper
Twig 

Snow Scene How-To
1. Make the pond: Spray craft mirror with dulling spray to give it a frosted appearance. Lay mirror on whatever surface will form the base of the snow scene. 

2. Make the snowy landscape: Tear an opening, slightly smaller than the size of the craft mirror, from a large piece of cotton batting. Lay cotton batting, with opening over pond, on base of snow scene. Sprinkle cotton batting with faux snow and a small amount of glass glitter. 

3. Make snow-covered trees: Working from above, coat a pinecone with spray paint, letting paint "fall" onto scales to imitate the look of fallen snow. Let dry. Have ready a small bowl of faux snow. Working from above again, coat pinecone with spray adhesive, and invert pinecone into faux snow to cover. Sprinkle with glass glitter. Repeat to make more trees. 

4. Make iceberg: Cut a band of card stock long enough to fit around birch log; cut an icicle pattern in card stock, as shown. With paintbrush, brush card stock with craft glue, and sprinkle with glass glitter. Let dry. Wrap icicle band around birch log, and secure with craft glue or a hot-glue gun. Tear edges of a small piece of cotton batting. Brush top of birch log with craft glue, and cover with cotton batting. Sprinkle with faux snow. 

5. Make sign: Cut a sign from red construction paper. Write on sign, and attach to twig with craft glue. Prop sign against iceberg.

Penguin how-to from the December 2008 issue