Pine Cone Firestarters

Starting a fire in your fireplace can sometimes be a little challenging, but starting fires with festive pinecones makes this process way easier!!

Recipe makes approximately 20 large fire starters..
Ingredients
Pinecones
Paraffin Wax - An easy cheap way is to get the pillar candles from the dollar store that you can get unscented or scented in cinnamon.
Choice of Fragrance Oil - If you are using a prescented candle you do not need to add additional fragrance oil.
Liquid Candle Dye (or if you buy pillar candles from the dollar store, you can get these already colored so when melted down you will have your desired color)
Cotton Wicks (62-52-18z)

Equipment
Waxed paper
Melting pot
Cookie Sheet

Directions
1. Gather pinecones from a pine tree. Remove any debris or dirt on them. Place the
pinecones on the cookie sheet. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Carefully, slide the
cookie sheet into the oven. Turn the oven off after 30 minutes. Leave the pinecones
in the in the oven for the duration of two hours. This will ensure that they are
completely dry.

2. Starting at the bottom end, wrap the cotton wick around the pinecone two or three times. Try to get the wick as far into the pine cone layers as possible. Leave 1 to 2inches of wick at the top of the pinecone.

3. Melt two pounds wax. Once the wax hits 195 degrees, add coloring if desired. Let the wax temperature drop to 180 degrees. Add 1 ounce of fragrance oil per pound of melted wax. Stir gently. (Additional fragrance oil does not need to be added if you are melting down a scented candle for use of wax.)

4. Now, you are ready to dip the pinecone. For the first dip you need to prime the wick. Holding the end of the wick, immerse the pinecone completely in the wax for 45
seconds.

5. Place the dipped pinecone on wax paper. Allow the wax to cool and harden. Repeat
step 4 until the pinecones are completely coated to your satisfaction.

6. Allow the pinecones to dry overnight, then store in airtight containers.

7. You are now ready to set the night a fire. Do not use these as regular candles! They are meant to start fires in your fireplace.