How to Glaze Pine Cones For Decoration

If you want to use pine cones for decoration or crafts, and you want them to look shiny this works really well, and it smells good while your doing it.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Pine cones with pitch on them.
• Aluminum Foil.
• oven.
• Old cookie sheet.
• Oven mits.

1. Vatiety of Pine Cones. Go somewhere that has a nice variety of pine cones that are already on the ground, like mountains, parks, trails and maybe even the lake.
2. Gathered Pine Cones. I like making a day of it. Take a picnic lunch, enjoy the scenery and most of all peace and quiet. Sounds good, Huh?
3. Hair Dryer. I like to get the dirty part over with as soon as I get home, so I plug my hair dryer into an extension cord outside and blow off all the dust, little critters, and whatever else may be on or in the pine cones.
4. Cookie Sheet. I have an old cookie sheet that I use, you can use anything that can go into the oven as long as it is shallow and something that you don't want to use anymore for cooking food in.
5. Aluminum Foil. Then cover cookie sheet with one layer heavy duty aluminum foil or two layers of regular.
6. Oven. Temperature on the oven should be about 200 degrees, ovens may vary. You don't want the oven too hot because the pitch will turn white, not clear and shiny. I use the middle rack.
7. Old Pot Holders. Place pine cones on the cookie sheet with the foil already on it, place the cookie sheet in the oven on the middle rack. Use old pot holders and very carefully turn each pine cone just a few inches at a time about every 10 to 15 minutes or sooner if the pitch is starting to melt.

Tips & Warnings

• When turning the pine cones try touching them as little as possible, and only on the ends.
• Take out of oven AS SOON as the pitch is melted and the pine cone is shiny.
• Let cool off and dry before handling them.
• Decorate them if you wish.
• VERY HOT!!! Do not touch the pine cones with your bare hands until they are completely cooled off.
• (For Kids) Make sure an adult is with you to help you do this project.
• If the oven is too hot the pitch on the pine cones will turn white and won't look good.