Pine Cone Craft: Wax Fire Starters

A basket of homemade pine cone fire starters is a gift that can help bring warmth and cheer to those you love, especially when you add festive coloring and add special ingredients that create colorful flames when the fire starters are burned.

What You Need for this Pine Cone Craft

Pine cones, gathered or purchased
String or wick
Paraffin wax (1 lb. coats about 20 pine cones)
Chopping knife
Crayons
Large pot
Water
Large disposable can (slightly deeper and wider than your average pine cone)
Tongs
Wax paper
Paper plates
Basket

Optional, if You Want Your Pine Cone Fire Starters to Produce Colored Flames

Borax (laundry additive) – yellow-green flame
Epsom salt (pharmacy item) – white flame
Salt – yellow flame
Salt substitute – violet flame
See other options here

How to Create this Pine Cone Craft

Step 1

Dry your pine cones if you gathered them from outside. Simply allow them to sit out at room temperature in a single layer for several days, or speed up the process by placing the pine cones on a cookie sheet in a warm oven (200 degrees Fahrenheit) for 20 minutes. This will also eliminate any bugs that may have taken up residence. Allow to cool completely before handling.

Step 2

Cut as many 7- to 8-inch lengths of string or wick as you have pine cones. Attach one to each pine cone base by inserting one end of the string between the petals of the pine cone, as far in toward the middle as you can get it. Wrap the string around the base of the pine cone at least once, wedging it among the petals and pulling down toward the base to make it as invisible and secure as possible. Allow the other end to hang loosely. This is your wick. Repeat with each of your pine cones.

Step 3

If you wish to roll your pine cone fire starters in Borax or one of the other items that will create colored flames when they’re used, prepare those now. Simply pour Borax, Epsom salt, salt, salt substitute and/or any of the other colored-flame-producing items onto individual paper plates. You’ll need enough to cover the bottom of each plate and easily coat your pine cones. Set aside.

Step 4

Fill your large pot with water and bring it to a boil on the stove. In the meantime, chop your block of paraffin wax into smaller chunks that are faster melting. Place the wax chunks in the can. (Not all will fit at once and you’ll want to save some if you care to switch colors.) Use a rinsed and dried can such as a 28 oz. can from which you’ve removed the tomatoes or pineapple and the label. The can and pot act as a double boiler. Don’t use a regular double boiler if you have one. You’ll want to discard the can afterward.

Step 5

Place the can in the pot of boiling water and allow the wax to melt. You may need to hold one edge of the can with tongs or a hot pad to keep it upright in the water.

Step 6

Color your wax by adding bits of broken crayons that are the color you want your pine cone fire starters to be. If you divide your pine cones and wax in two quantities, you can make one batch of green pine cone fire starters and one batch of red for a festive holiday gift basket. One full crayon per half pound of wax should produce a rich color, but keep adding crayon until you’re satisfied with the color.

Step 7

Grab a pine cone by the string and dip it into the melted wax to cover as much of the pine cone as possible. It’s OK to get wax on the string that is tied around the pine cone, but don’t wax the entire string. During the dipping, the can should remain in the pot of boiling water. At some point, you will need to adjust the heat of the burner to maintain a slow, rolling boil. Once the wax is melted, high heat is not necessary. You need only keep it warm enough to keep the wax liquid.

Step 8

Pull the pine cone out of the hot wax and allow it to drip. Hold a piece of wax paper or a paper plate under it as you transport it to the counter where your plates filled with Borax, etc. are. While the wax is still warm and pliable, roll the pine cone in the item of your choice (spoon on if rolling doesn’t work well). Fine-grained Borax creates a snowy effect for your pine cone fire starters, while Epsom salt’s course texture adds sparkle. When coated to suit you, place the pine cone on a sheet of wax paper to harden completely.

Step 9

Repeat steps 7 and 8 until you’ve coated all your pine cones. If you wish to make two or more colors of pine cone fire starters, such as red and green, simply change the wax/crayon mixture mid-project and proceed.

Step 10

Arrange your completed pine cone fire starters in a gift basket lined with tissue paper or cloth. Tie a bow on it, and you have a beautiful and useful gift.