Holiday Hearth Fire Starters
- 12 Medium to Large Very Dry Pine Cones
- Wax (You can use newly purchased candle wax, odd candles
and candle stubs, or commercial paraffin for jelly making)
- Colored candles or old crayon bits (optional)
- Essential oils (optional)
- 1 Large Metal Coffee Can
- 1 Large Pot
- Wax Paper
- Butchers String
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You need enough melted wax to completely cover your largest pine
cone. To figure out how much wax you actually need, wind a 12 inch
length of butcher's string around the layers of the pine cone to
create a hanger/handle for dipping. Suspend the largest cone into
the can and make a mark on the can just above the top of the cone.
- Place the can in a pot of water on the stove and turn on low to
medium low heat. Add small pieces of wax to the can and continue
until the melted wax reaches the cone height mark.
- Remove from heat and stir in coloring agents or essential oils.
Holding pine cone by the string handle, dip slowly into the wax
until the cone is just covered.
- Gently remove and let the wax drip back into the can.
- Place the cone on wax paper and allow to harden completely. Repeat
with remaining cones.
Build fire using kindling above and below 1 firestarter. Light
the string handle (now a wick) or a wax cone edge.
Pine Cone Twinkle Lights in a Basket
- Pine Cones
- String of 35 to 50 MiniLights
- Holiday Garland
- Wicker Basket
- Ribbon trim
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Place 3 to 5 pine cones in the bottom of basket, then twine a few
pieces of garland between the pine cones.
Loosely arrange the lights among the pine cones and garland. Continue
to build uplayers of pine cones, garland and lights until your basket
is attractively filled.
Conceal cord and light set plug.
Decorate basket handle or rim with ribbons, lace, and a sprig of
silk greenery, poinsettia blossom, or holly.
For extra fragrance, add potpourri or essential oil to the pine
cones before assembling
Pine Cone Birdseed Ornaments
Gather dried, fallen pinecones in your yard or park and make bird seed ornaments for the outdoors. You'll have a lovely natural decoration for winter and the birds and squirrels in your neighborhood will be delighted.
Recipe !
2.5 cups Wild Bird Food
2 packets unflavored gelatin powder
2 Tablespoons corn syrup
1 cup water
Mix birdseed with unflavored gelatin, corn syrup, and water, then press the misture into cookie cutters. Poke a hole for a string hanger using a skewer or plastic straw. Allow the ornaments to set up and firm, then add a string hanger to fasten them to tree or shrub branches.
Recipe 2
An alternate recipe for bird ornament mix uses organic or all natural peanut butter and suet mixed with the bird seed that's then slather the mixture onto the tiny branches of natural pine cones. Roll the filled cones in more mix, then add a loop of craft wire or hemp string to use for hanging.
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