Pine Cone Fire Starters with "Bottoms"
This is the Stuff you need to make these:
Pinecones - I use
Grey Pitch, Shortleaf, and
Grey Austrian Black Pine
{older cones burn best}
Wax - Candle, soy or paraffin used for canning {very flammable}
Candle Coloring or Color squares -
{You can use old candle stubs too!}
Double Boiler OR
Large Metal Coffee Can & a Large Pot
Tongs {To grab & dip the cones}
Wax Paper
Wax-Coated Wicks
OR String {The string doesn't work well, but you need something!}
Muffin tin(s)
Non-stick Spray
Essential oil for scented fire starters
{Optional}
Sawdust, mulch, crushed up leaves and acorn tops, cinnamon stick bits.
{Optional}
Use your imagination ~
{Optional}
LOL
Do This First:
Spray muffin tins with the non-stick spray. Place one end of a wick
{string} in each muffin cup, allow an end to hang over the side.
Sprinkle some Sawdust, crushed up leaves and acorn tops or cinnamon stick bits in the muffin tin.
Next:
1. Melt wax in top of double boiler over boiling water.
{Or melt the wax in the coffee can in a pot of boiling water on the stove.}
2.
Add color and/or essential oil when wax is melted.
3.
Lower heat a bit.
4.
Pour some of the hot wax into each muffin cup, covering wick and set a pinecone upright into wax right away!
5.
Let harden completely! Pop each cone out, one at a time.
These look great au natural!
If you want to coat the cones with wax, follow the rest of the instructions:
6. Make sure you have enough wax in the top
{can} to submerge an entire cone!!
7.
Melt more wax in the can if you need to.
8.
Take your tongs, grab a pinecone bottom and dip the cone in the wax. Turn it to coat all over.
9.
Lift the cone over the wax for a few moments to allow the wax to harden. Dip again until well coated.
10.
Repeat with all the pinecones. Add more wax and scent as needed.
11.
Place pinecones on waxed paper to cool.
12.
Let harden completely. {Sometimes I cheeet and put in the fridge! }
They look great, eh?
How to Use:
To light a fire, put a pinecone firestarter inbetween the logs and light the wick.
The wax base will keep the cone burning for up to 10 minutes!
Excellent Gifts For the Fireplace ~
Put firestarters in a big basket and tie a fancy ribbon on it. Looks great next to a fireplace.
Put some of the pinecones in a cellophane bag. Tie bag with metallic curling ribbon or raffia. Attach a little card with the instructions on how to use them. |
