How to Make Pine Cone Fire Starters

Here's How:

1. Gather pine cones, and allow them to dry until they open fully. (You can speed up the process by drying them in the oven at a low temperature, but don't leave them unattended)
2. Heat wax in a double boiler (with a couple inches of water in the bottom pot) until fully melted.
3. While you're waiting for the wax to melt, wrap a piece of wicking around the first pine cone, taking care to tuck it in as far as possible. Leave an inch of wick extending out past the cone (this is what you'll use to light the fire starter). Repeat with the remaining cones.
4. Lay out a piece of wax paper on your work surface.
5. Then, hold the first cone by its wick, and carefully dip it into the wax.
6. Pull the cone back out, and allow it to drip over the pan before placing it on the wax paper to dry.
7. Repeat until all of the cones have been dipped.

Tips:

1. Never leave melting wax unattended
2. Add a few drops of essential oil to your melted wax to make scented fire starters
3. Fill up a bucket with your homemade fire starters, and give them as a gift

What You Need

• Pine cones
• Candle wicking
• Wax (new or recycled from old candles)
• A double boiler
• Wax paper
• Scissors