Clean your shears with a mixture of anti-bacterial soap and water. Spray the mixture onto the shears and wipe clean with paper towels; use different paper towels each time you clean. Clean the shears before using and whenever you switch between plants, to avoid spreading disease.
Locate the central growing point of the tree near the top; this will be your starting point. For the basic cone sculpting design, this point will be thinnest area of the tree; the rest will spread out as you work your way down.
Start with long-blade pruning shears to make rough, general cuts to shape your tree. If the tree is short enough, stand over the tree so that you are looking down the opposite side and trim there; this will give you a better perspective of the shape of your tree. Work on forming a gradual curve to the tree, so that the base of the tree is wider than the thin top. Step back from your work every few minutes to ensure that the cone is even on both sides.
Use assistance tools to help you form shapes other than the general cone. For instance, if you want to form a spiral, wrap a piece of string in a spiral pattern up the tree and trim around that piece.
Switch to short-blade pruning shears to make smaller, intricate styling cuts, while working on removing the final pieces or working around assistance tools like the string. This will help you form your final sculpture.
Continue to trim and sculpt as the tree grows and fills in; depending on the growth rate and weather, you may need to trim and correct every two to three weeks to maintain the shape of the tree.