Anyone know anything u can do with pine cones. Got tons around the house thought it would be good 4 Yule?? Still thinking but would love any thoughts from anyone![grin]

That's a great idea.

Some things I found from a quick google search:

http://familycrafts.about.com/od/pineconecrafts/Pine_Cone_Craft_Projects.htm Some really good links

http://www.pineconelady.com/

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/66764/pine_cone_craft_how_to_collect_and.html Some good info about collecting and preparing them for decorating.

Pictures of the finished products would be a nice touch. [wink]

Liked the pinecone lady site!

I like making firestarters from pinecones . In an old pan melt on low fire end bits of leftover candles remove wick bits. Remove from heat source add few drops of fragrance oil or essential oil of choice roll pinecone into melted wax lift out carefully add piece of candle wick place on tray leave to cool and harden. Keep your pinecone firestarters in a basket so they are kept dry.

Sounds great. I have a lot of bits of leftover candles and a ready supply of pine cones, so people may be getting some of these for Winter.

I love using them as Yule decorations. I get a bunch of pine boughs, a few pinecones, glue, and some gold and/or silver glitter. Just arrange the pine boughs how you want (as a centrepiece, an altar decoration, etc.), glue the glitter to the pinecones as desired, and arrange on top of the pine. You could also add holy berries, bows, or other things as you see fit. It's always made a simple but beautiful decoration for me.

they make great Yule Decorations, Candles, and birdfeeders

To feed birds...

In a saucepan, melt lard, or you can 'collect' a large canning jar of grease from cooking. After lard/grease is melted, add in 3 tablespoons of crunchy peanut butter, and stir well. Burner should just be on 'simmer' at this point.

On a cookie sheet, spread parchment paper, wax paper, newspaper...etc.... . Sprinkle a good amount of sunflower seeds on this or you can use just regular birdfeed, but the birds like sunflower seeds the best...lol.

Dip or roll the pinecones in the lard/peanut butter mixture...Let excess drip off. (Before I do this, I put a heavy string or rafia hanger on the pinecone, then you can dip it with ease. After pinecone is coated, Roll in the sunflower/bird seed. You will have to sprinkle the seeds in the cones to get full coverage.

After the mixture and seeds 'set' on the cones and they are cool and coated well, wrap lightly in waxed paper and put in your freezer. When winter comes, you can take out as many as you want at a time and tie them to a birdfeeder or to a branch on a tree. Birds go crazy for them.

Not only do the birds enjoy the coating, but they enjoy the 'nuts' on the ends of the pinecone 'petals.

great ideas guys I cant wait to make some firestarters . Shaam thats a new recipe for the bird feeders for me Ill have to try that thank you guys