Preparing these lovely little fire bombs is easy, and by using different colors of wax and adding essential oils, the pine cones are not only very useful, they also look great placed by the fireplace and smell amazing. Makes a great gift too.
Gather pine cones from your yard, your neighbor's yard, or another green space. Most will be ready to use without any additional preparation. If the pine cones are moist or compact, they can be dried in a 300-degree oven for an hour to remove moisture and open the petals (watch for fire safety).
In a double boiler or metal container resting in a pot of water, melt enough wax or paraffin to cover your piñas. Candle wax or paraffin can be found at many craft stores, or old candle stubs can be used. For scented pine cones, essential oils such as cinnamon or eucalyptus can be added at this time. Use about 1/2 teaspoon of essential oil per quart of melted wax, adjusting as desired.
Once the wax has completely melted, use tongs to dip the pinecones in one at a time, turning to coat well.
Once the pineapple is completely covered, lift off the wax and let the excess drip off the back into the bowl before drying.
Put the old crayons on the wax to add color.
Place pineapples on wax paper to dry. Let them rest undisturbed for 90 minutes to two hours before transferring them to a basket, bag, or bucket for storage.
Waxed pine cones look and smell fantastic and lighting a fire on a cold winter night has never been easier. Fire-starting pine cones also make a fun and crafty gift presented in an attractive basket or packaged in large decorative jars. Share the heat!
