Pinecones are one of nature’s gifts to the holidays. They come in all sizes and can be used in a number of ways to decorate your home. They can be simply sprayed with aerosol craft glue and them rolled in a variety of glitter to produce some simple ornaments. Added to a holiday wreath they will add special charm and beauty.
Here are a few other ideas to “spice” up your holiday festivities.
Spiced Pinecones
Items needed:
Pinecones
3 tablespoons Ground ginger
3 tablespoons Ground cinnamon
Craft Glue
Foam Brush
Dilute 1 part craft glue with 1 part water in a small container. In a small bowl, combine the ground ginger and the ground cinnamon. With a foam brush, paint the pinecone with the glue and water mixture and sprinkle the spice mixture over the pinecone. Allow the glue to completely dry. The spiced pinecones will carry a wonderful holiday spice smell and can be used as part of your tabletop decorations or placed strategically around the room in bowls to carry the smell of spice throughout your house.
Colored and Scented Pinecones
Items Needed:
Pinecones
Paraffin Wax
Double boiler
Broken crayons pieces with paper removed
Cinnamon oil
Use the double boiler and carefully melt the paraffin wax. Once the wax has melted, add small pieces of crayons, stirring to completely melt the crayons and color the wax. Add a few drops of the cinnamon oil. Use a pair of tongs and carefully immerse the pinecone into the wax mixture. Remove the pinecone and allow the wax to dry. Redip the pinecone another time or two, drying between coats, until it is completely covered with the wax mixture. Allow the paraffin to completely dry on the pinecone before storing. These colored, scented pinecones make great fire starters or you can place them around the house to add color and scent to any room. Turn them into pretty Christmas ornaments by sprinkling the wax coating with a bit of glitter before it has been allowed to dry completely, add a wire hanger and hang from your Christmas tree.
Colorful Burning Pinecones
You can create colorful pinecones to burn a variety of colors with a few simple steps. Pre-heat your oven to 225 degrees. Place the pinecones a foil lined baking sheet and place in the oven until they have the cones have opened all the way. Allow the pinecones to completely cool.
Place ½ gallon of hot water in a deep glass bowl. Add 8 ounces of one of the following chemicals, depending on your choice of color, and allow the pinecones to soak in the solution for 6-8 hours. Dry the treated pinecones on newspaper for at least three days before burning.
Chemical choices:
Alum (thallium) - bright green
Strontium chloride - bright red
Boric acid - deep red
Calcium - reddish-orange
Calcium chloride - yellowish-orange
Table salt - yellow flame
Borax (sodium tetraborate) - yellow-green
Blue vitriol (copper sulfate) or Barium - green
Saltpeter (potassium nitrate) - violet
Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) - White
Warnings: Some of these salt compounds can be poisonous, so use caution and read the manufacturer’s labels carefully. Do not try to mix the chemicals. Use only one compound at a time for color.
Tips and tricks:
Before beginning a craft project using pinecones, you may want to soak them overnight in a large bucket of water. This will cause the pinecones to close up and force out any bugs that may be hiding inside. You can “reopen” the pinecones by placing them on a foil lined baking sheet and baking them in a 225 degree oven for about 30 minutes.
Ribbons and bows can be added to a pinecone for a simple decoration. They can be tied or wired onto a holiday wreath to add a bit of the outdoors. Or place a few on a platter in the middle of your holiday table; add some pine boughs and a few red and green ornaments for a simple table decoration.
You can easily scent your pinecones by placing them in a trash bag with a few drops of scented oil, tie the bag tightly and leave the pinecones for a few weeks to absorb the scent from the oil. Give the bag a gentle shake every few days to evenly distribute the scent. Consider wearing gloves when working with pinecones to protect your hands from the sticky pine oil they contain.
