Material List:

• Pine cones (store bought or found will work)
• Mod Podge Matte
• Salt (fine)
• Kosher Salt (coarse)
• 1 inch paint brush

I prepared my work area using paper plates on top of plastic plates so I could reuse the over spill of salt. I also used another plate for my mod podge. That allowed me to control how much product I was using.

*Tip- walmart sells the 2 fl oz. size for 97 cents.*

Since this was my first time using mod podge I started off conservatively and applied the product to the edges of the pine cone.

This is how the pine cone looks once it is is completely painted with the mod podge.

Then I started pouring the fine salt all over the pine cone and covering the mod podge.

This is how the pine cone looks prior to gently knocking off the extra salt. If you use paper plates you can be heavy handed with your salt and still reuse what doesn't stick to the pine cone.

I did a few pine cone with the fine salt and then decided to use the coarse salt on the others. I wasn't sure how the coarse salt would stick so I put more mod podge on these ones.

Then I poured the coarse kosher salt all over the pine cone. Make sure you lift the pine cone up to get to the bottom row. You may need to add more mod podge and salt to the top stem area after you handle it to get the pine cone covered all over.

Let them dry for a day before handling. After that they are ready for decorating.

NOTE- I am planning to spray these with Minwax water based matte polyurethane to help hold the salt on and be able to use year after year with no mess. Fingers crossed it works.

*If you have tried this preserving method please leave a comment and let me know how it worked for you! Thanks!