How to Make Pinecone Fire Starters

Pinecone Fire starters make great, inexpensive Christmas, Hannukah or other winter holiday presents for anyone with a fireplace, or for yourself!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pinecones
• Candle stubs, candles, or parrafin
• Large coffee can and pot (or double boiler)
• Tongs
• Wax paper
• wicks (or string)
• Muffin tins

1. Spray the muffin tins with the non-stick spray and stick a wick or piece of string in each section, hanging over the side.

2. Melt the wax over boiling water in a double boiler, or place a large coffee can in a large pot of boiling water, and melt the wax in that. Used candle stubs are great for this!

3. If you want, you can add essential oils or color to the melted wax. This is optional.

4. Turn down the heat, and pour some wax into each section of the muffin tin, placing a pinecone in the wax immediately!

5. Let the wax harden completely, and pop the cones out!

Tips & Warnings

• You can also use tongs to submerge entire pine cones in the wax in the boiler or can, making sure you have enough to cover it completely. Place the cones on wax paper and let them dry completely.
• To start a fire, place a pinecone between the logs and light the wick. The cone will burn for about 10 minutes.
• A rustic basket full of these cones tied with a red bow make an excellent gift presentation.
• Please use caution when melting wax and when adding wax to cones as hot wax can cause a nasty burn.

[motherNN]

on 11/2/2008 Love this idea and an excellent way to do something fun together...with the kids helping too. 5*