Thanksgiving is over, and you’re probably starting to
decorate for Christmas. If you live in an area with pine trees, you’ll find
pinecones covering the ground this time of year. Not only do pinecones make great
holiday and winter decorations, you can also use them to make fire starters for
yourself or as a holiday gift for anyone who has a fireplace.
To make the fire starters, first send the kids
outside to fill up a grocery bag full of pinecones in various sizes and shapes.
Male pinecones work best. Those are the ones where the scales are spread open
rather than closed tightly. The pinecones need to be dry, so if the weather has
been damp, let them sit for a few days to dry out.
Besides the pinecones, you’ll need white, red or
green beeswax or paraffin, a double boiler, thin floral wire or bamboo skewers, wax paper,
salt (optional), essential oil (optional), and a decorative basket large enough to hold the finished fire starters.
You can use plain table salt, Kosher salt, Epsom
salts, salt substitute, or a combination. The salts will turn the flames different
colors when they burn. If using essential oil, add 1/4 tsp. per 1 pt. melted wax. Peppermint or cinnamon will fill your home with holiday scents.
Melt the wax in a double boiler to 150-175 degrees F. Stir in optional essential oil.
Hook a piece of wire around each pinecone, leaving a
piece long enough for you to hold, or twist the pointy end of the bamboo skewer
into the bottom of the pinecone.
Carefully dip a pinecone into the wax, then place on
the wax paper. Allow the wax to dry for a few minutes. Dip a second time and
immediately shake salt over the wax. Place on wax paper to dry.
Fill the basket with the finished fire starters and
set beside your fireplace or use as hostess gifts when you attend holiday
parties.
In addition to fire starters, you can decorate with
painted pinecones. Using 3 parts acrylic paint to 2 parts water, dip the
pinecones in the paint. You can go with traditional Christmas colors of red,
green, and white, or go wild with jewel tones. Gently shake off the excess
paint. Sprinkle with glitter, then place on wax paper to dry.
If the pinecones close up as they’re drying, don’t
worry. It’s easy to open them. Let them dry overnight. Then place them on a
parchment covered cookie sheet in an oven set to the lowest temperature. Check
the pinecones every 30 minutes. Once they’ve opened, remove the cookie sheet
from the oven.
Don’t want to bother with the possibility of pinecones
closing after they’re painted? Simply add a dollop of gesso or thick acrylic
paint to the tips of each scale and sprinkle with glitter.
Intersperse the painted pinecones around candles for
a centerpiece, line them up in a row across a mantle or a wide windowsill, or
fill a clear bowl with them. You can also use them as tree ornaments, wire them
into wreaths, or string them into garlands. Let your imagination run wild.
