Request: Homemade Pine Cone Fire Starters
Archived on 09/28/2009
A basket of pine cone fire starters is a wonderful gift to make. It is fairly inexpensive and I have fun making them every year. Carefully melt paraffin or old candle ends in a double boiler and use tongs to dip your pine cones. I sprinkle some of them with glitter and leave some without then set each dipped cone on wax paper to dry.
I pick up very inexpensive baskets and containers at sales all year long. I also get candles at these sales for change, it does not matter if they have already been partially used. If you do not have a few baskets and containers on hand, save this tip for next year.
Source: A friend gave us a basket of fire starters many years ago and she shared with me how to do them. Enjoy.
By Bobbie G from Rockwall
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Tip: Pinecone Fire Starters as Christmas Gifts
Archived on 12/11/2008
I'm always running low on extra money for gifts, and always watching for things found curbside or that are recyclable and free, especially at Holiday time:
I'm about to warm old candle wax and crayons swirled for exotic color, with cinnamon oil and vanilla added for fragrance. Then I will take the pine cones I find being left to weather beneath pine trees around the malls and forgotten, dip, swirl and sprinkle with glitter and add to a washed mesh grocery bags from fruit, veggies or turkeys. I'll place into old but good painted baskets or wooden containers and add single threads of thin red ribbon woven loosely all through the bundle and around ends, handles, or tops of what I finish with, along with a sprig of rosemary from the lawn care clippings at the same mall where it over-grows by a bank, with their permission of course.
I hope to find an attractive but frugal box of safety matches to tuck into it for their fireplace or outdoor firepit-burning of the lightly waxed scented cones. My notecards tucked in will be made from phone-directory homepressed spring flowers and leaves that say such things as "Hope this leaves you blooming with memories from your warmest holiday ever. Merry Christmas, dear hearts."
By Lynda from Richardson, TX
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RE: Pinecone Fire Starters as Christmas Gifts
I wish I were on your Christmas list! (12/05/2007)
By Jean in GA
RE: Pinecone Fire Starters as Christmas Gifts
We to make our own fire starters, but we use (paper) egg cartons and dryer lint and sawdust. Fill the "egg" part of the cartons with dryer lint or sawdust, melt your old saved candle pieces and pour over the lint, sawdust or combo of both. After they dry/set we cut them apart in 2's. Not as pretty, but just as functional! (12/23/2007)
By lavenderdeer
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Tip: Pinecone Fire Starters as Christmas Gifts
Archived on 12/04/2007
This is a very inexpensive if not free quaint and useful Christmas gift. You see them in the gift stores for ridiculous prices, why not clean your yard and make lovely presents at the same time.
Gather up pinecones, all except the white pinecones that have pitch on them. Save the ends of used candles and remelt the wax in a foil pan (use as a double boiler). Dip the pinecone in the melted wax to coat it.
You may add fragrance oils, dried crushed herbs, and food color to create a sensory delight. Place the pinecones on a sheet of wax paper to dry within seconds.
Place an assortment of cones in a wicker basket or gift bag. Add bunches of dried tied bouquets of mint, cinnamon sticks, or lavender to give that extra few minutes of fragrance to the fire. People will love it and say how creative and talented you are...not that you are a cheap penny pitcher that makes rubbish look good.
By Live Again from Wiscasset, ME
Feedback:
RE: Pinecone Fire Starters as Christmas Gifts
It is my understanding that burning pinecones creates creosote, which is a sticky tar-like substance that gunks up the inside of your chimney and can create chimney fires. I would reconsider the safety of this idea. (11/09/2005)
By Linda
RE: Pinecone Fire Starters as Christmas Gifts
Hi Linda,
Thanks for your concern. I think this might be a problem if all you burned was pinecones. Just using them as a firestarter, I doubt if there would be enough creosote to make much of a difference.
Susan from ThriftyFun (11/09/2005)
By ThriftyFun
RE: Pinecone Fire Starters as Christmas Gifts
Hi Live again...
That's a lovely idea. Thank you. It was especially nice to see that you are from Wiscasset. I live in the midwest, but I grew up in Maine and spent a lot of time with my aunt, uncle and cousins in Wiscasset. Happy memories!!!
For those conerned about creosote, you can use them as a decoration for the winter...like she said...in a pretty basket. etc, and burn them in a campfire or outside fireplace in the summer. Nice! (11/09/2005)
By mousie
RE: Pinecone Fire Starters as Christmas Gifts
Hi Live again, I too am from Maine,lived there from the time I was born until 3 1/2 years ago and then moved to Tennessee( to much snow in Maine).Yes, they are great firestarters We've used them before and never had a problem with built up creosote. When using anything like that remember to open your flue for a while after burning them and the creosote will burn out. It helps to run your flue open every once in a while to keep the creosote burnt out anyway from other types of wood. (11/10/2005)
By Megan's mom
RE: Pinecone Fire Starters as Christmas Gifts
If you didn't have your flue open when using your fireplace, wouldn't that make your house real smoky? I use pinecones, and also dip leaves and small sticks in the wax to burn also. Great for when your fire starts dying and you want to revive it quickly. (11/13/2005)
By Dede
RE: Pinecone Fire Starters as Christmas Gifts
May I put your site on a forum?
I was looking at a way to make pine cone firestarters and your site came up?
Lar
Editor's Note: Sure, feel free to link to any of our pages. If you have any trouble, email us using the contact information at the bottom of the page. (10/08/2007)
By Wanda
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