Pine Cone Fire Starter Gift Baskets

My girlfriend, Paula, has once again proven without a doubt that she is the most creative person I know. I visited her in Hope, Arkansas last week. We had a great time being creative together once again. Paula was prepared with a fun and easy craft idea for the Holiday’s. We made pine cone fire starter gift baskets. The pine cones ended up looking like miniature Christmas trees. We were thrilled with the results. This is an easy, inexpensive, environment friendly craft project that works great as a gift for anyone with a fireplace. I have tried to summarize the process for you.



PINE CONE FIRE STARTERS

Add some color and sparkle to your fire! Pine cone fire starters are helpful when getting your fire started in the fireplace or at campfires. They will change colors adding a fun twist kids and adults alike will love.

Supplies:

Candle wicks

Coffee Can

Cooking Spray

Crayons

Epsom Salt

Glitter

Medium Sauce Pan

Muffin pans

Paraffin Wax (Gulf wax for canning)

Pine cones

Tongs

Fragrance Oil (Scent of your choice)


Instructions:

Soak pine cones in Epsom salt water (1lb of epsom salt for every gallon of water) for 24 hours. Ice chests work great for soaking a large number of pine cones.

Lay the pine cones out on a towel and let them dry completely.

Begin boiling 1-2 cups of water in medium sauce pan. (Just enough to fill about ¼ of the pan)

Make sure your coffee can will fit on top of the sauce pan.

Place coffee tin on top of boiling water (like a homemade double boiler).

CAUTION: Be VERY careful while melting and handling the wax.

Carefully begin melting paraffin wax in the coffee tin. Be sure to use pot holders or mitts to hold the coffee can as it heats up.

Mix in your crayons to create your desired color.

Add a little fragrance oil to wax mixture.

Once the wax and crayons are completely melted, remove from heat.

Use tongs to dip pine cones in wax mixture.

Dip pine cones several times to coat them thoroughly with wax. Be careful not to coat too thick. Just keep in mind; they will be used in fireplaces.

If desired, add glitter to pine cones before wax completely dries.

Coat your muffin pan with cooking spray.

Pour leftover wax in the muffin pan cups, about 1/3 full.

Place the candle wick and then the pine cone in each muffin pan cup to create a bottom for the pine cone to stand up and a wick to light.

Place the pan of pine cones in the refrigerator to harden.

When the wax has completely cooled, remove pine cones from the pan.

Your pine cone fire starters are ready to go.

Simply decorate a gift basket with basket fill or tissue paper. Insert your pine cone fire starters. Embellish the basket with Holiday flowers, berries and ribbon.

You will have gift baskets of pine cone starters for great holiday gifts that people will love for their beauty and functionality.


Helpful Tips:


Collect your own pine cones instead of purchasing them. We found over 50 in one, quick walk.

Find old, worn out crayons around the house.

Save your old coffee tins. Use them to melt the wax in and then recycle it when you’re done.

Lay paper (packing paper or newspaper) on your working surface for easy cleanup.

CAUTION: Be VERY careful while melting and handling the wax.

Share