Make Your Own Color-changing Fireplace Pinecones |
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Prep Time: 0 Minutes Cook Time: 0 Minutes |
Ready In: 0 Minutes Servings: 1 |
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Read more . While I thought it was a pretty cool idea, I was a little surprised by the price – nearly $40. I wondered if it was possible to make your own. A little web searching turned up a whole bunch of DIY versions of this project, which would make great holiday gifts for those on your list with fireplaces. I also am not claiming the picture as my own. It is just a picture from plow and hearth of their pine cones they sell. Once I make these I will take pictures as I go and upload them, or you can add yours as you make them. Ingredients:
large bucket |
tongs or slotted spoon |
flame colorant – choose one of the following, depending on the color flame you prefer (though most are common household chemicals, remember to keep out of the reach of children and pets) |
yellow – table salt |
yellow-green – borax |
white – epsom salts |
green – boric acid |
red – strontium chloride (found with aquarium supplies in pet stores) |
Directions:
1. Prep Your Pinecones: (If you use pinecones you purchase at a craft store, you can skip this step.)
2. If you’ve gathered pinecones from the great outdoors, you’ll need to bake them in a 200 degree oven for one hour to remove bugs and open up closed cones.
3. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil first, as sap will drain from the cones.
4. Allow them to cool.
5. The Process:
6. Pour 1/2 gallon of hot water into the bucket.
7. Add 1 cup of the colorant of your choice, and stir until dissolved.
8. Add pinecones to the mix.
9. Be sure to add only as many as can be completely covered by the solution.
10. Soak for 8 hours or overnight.
11. Remove the pinecones and set on newspapers to dry completely – at least 3 days.
12. Now your pinecones are ready to burn! Simply add them (one at a time) to your fireplace and watch the colors appear.
13. Tips and Precautions:
14. You can make several batches of different colors, but don’t mix the colors in a single batch.
15. Burn only one color of pinecone at a time.
16. Do not use colored pinecones on cooking fires or BBQ grills.
17. Always use common sense and caution with open flames.
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