This week I want to take some time to focus on crafts made from items found in nature. We are blessed to live on some acreage that is filled with items that can be used for crafting. I will be sharing some of the items I have collected and some crafts that I have completed and/or hope to complete with these found items. I would love to hear your comments and check out any links you may have about these items.
Last week I gathered pine cones from our yard. They were very sticky, and I made the mistake of just picking them up by hand. My advice would be to wear some sort of gloves. Just make sure they are old and you don’t care that they become sticky from the sap.
I did a little research and decided that the best way to get rid of the sap was to bake the pine cones. Below are the steps for completing this task.
1. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
2. Place pine cones in a single layer on the foil.
3. Put in a 225 degree oven.
4. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
5. Remove from oven and allow to cool on baking sheet.
6. Now you are ready to craft!
If you bake pine cones be prepared for your home to smell like Christmas!
I have a few ideas for these pine cones. One is to make them into miniature Christmas trees in tiny clay pots. Another is to make a wreath. I am also envisioning some sort of tree fashioned from several pine cones. Plus, I will let the children play with them. I imagine they would be fun to stack.
Let me know if you have any other ideas for me.
