These cute little creations will make wonderful decorations for your Christmas tree. Or why not make them as a present for a friend? They are completely plastic-free and full of character!

What you need:

• Pine cones
• One-inch wooden beads for the head (we up-cycled some orange ones from an old necklace)
• Black and yellow felt (small pieces
• Paintbrush
• Black and white craft paint
• Glue gun and glue
• Scissors
• String/twine
• Newspaper/sheet (to cover your work surface)

What to do:

Step 1:Cover your workspace.  Paint the tips of your pine cones white. Leave to dry.

Step 2: Paint your wooden beads white. Allow them to dry. They will need at least two coats.

Step 3: Cut out some wings from the black felt. With help from an adult, use your glue gun to glue them to the sides of each pine cone.

Step 4: Cut out some feet from the yellow felt. Glue these to the base of each pine cone.

Step 5: Thread a piece of twine through each bead and secure the end with a large knot.

Step 6: Use your black paint to draw each penguin’s head and eyes. For the eyes,
it’s easiest to use the end of a very thin paintbrush to dab them on. Wait for
the paint to dry.

Step 7: Glue each bead to a pine cone. Cut out a small yellow triangle for each penguin’s beak, and glue it to the centre of a wooden bead. Ta-da! You’ve made your festive penguins!