Colorful Christmas Scented Pine Cone Trees
When the calendar page turns to December, I go into full – on Christmas mode. I start listening to Christmas music all day long, decking the house, shopping for gifts, baking cookies and bringing that wonderful Christmas tree scent into the house.
I also like to make a few gifts, small ones to give to hostesses, friends, neighbors, and more. Today I am sharing how I make scented pine cone trees using pine cones from my yard, crayons, (yes, crayons) and Balsam Fir and orange essential oils.
I love the pine scent that makes the house smell so good when we bring the Christmas tree into the house. It smells so fresh and clean. Fresh greenery around the house also adds to the scent.
I am not a fan of the pine smell that wafts off scented pine cones that are sold in a net bag at the craft store and Walmart. When I pass them on the store shelves, I cover my nose, the scent is way too intense. I like that the pine cones look decorative and can be used as fire starters, but I have found to get the fresh pine scent in my house that is not overwhelming, I have to make the pine cones myself. Instead of simply adding Balsam Fir or other fresh smelling oils to the pine cones and display them in mass in a bowl, I decided to make Christmas trees that are cute, colorful, decorative, and will give any space they are placed in that Christmas tree smell.
My yard is filled with pine trees so there is never a shortage of pine cones on the lawn… like… ever! It is a weekly chore to go out an pick them up. I fill one to three – 30 gallon trash bags every week. Last week I saved a few of the cones to make the scented pine cone trees.
Making the pine cone trees is a fast and easy project. You do have to be careful though since you will be working with hot melted wax.
How to Make Colorful Christmas Scented Pine Cone Trees
supplies needed:
- Pine Cone
- 9 oz. Paper cup
- 5 crayons
- Small glass or ceramic bowl
- Microwave
- Straw or popsicle stick to use to stir the melted crayons
- Essential Oil – Idaho Balsam Fir, Orange, and or Thieves
- Paper towels
- Scissors
Note: If the pine cones you find are closed, have a lot of sap on them, or have bugs in them, you can bake them first. Line a baking sheet with foil, place the pine cones on and place in a 200 degree oven for 30 minutes. This will kill any bugs and lessen the sap.
1. Cut the paper cup as shown above so that there is about 1-inch left of the cup.
2. Remove paper from 5 similar color crayons, break them up and place in a small glass dish.
3. Microwave for 3 minutes. Melted wax will be very hot, use a pot holder to carefully remove small glass bowl from microwave. It will be hot. Stir melted crayons with straw or popsicle stick. If crayons are not fully melted, place back in microwave for 30 seconds, remove and stir until all the crayons are melted.
Note:
- The wattage of your microwave may differ from mine, but 3 – 4 minutes should melt the crayons.
- It would make it easier if the crayons were placed in the paper cup and microwaved, but the cup does not get as hot as a glass bowl does. The crayons do not melt as well.
4. Pour melted crayons into cup. (If you are planning to make a few different color bases for your trees, as soon as you pour out the wax, wipe the inside of the bowl with a paper towel. The liquid wax will wipe away easily so you can repeat the melting process with a different crayon color.
5. Fill almost all the way. The wax should be high enough so when you place a pine cone on top, it will sit in the wax.
6. Before wax hardens, make sure pine cone is straight. Let wax harden. To speed up the process, place the cup with the pine cone in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes.
7. When wax is cooled and hardened, remove paper cup by ripping the top edge down and then carefully around the wax.
It should look like this.
Optional: Spray a light coat of spray glue over pine cone…
… and shake glitter over it. Let dry.
- If you don’t add glitter, after the holidays the trees can become fire starters for your fireplace.
To add that Christmas tree smell, shake a few drops of Balsam Fir, Orange essential oil over the pine cone. If you don’t have one of these, use your favorite smelling oil since it will act as an air freshener.
How to Gift Wrap Each Pine Cone Tree
supplies needed: affiliate links included to the products I used
- Clear gift bags
- 4-inch Plastic snowflake ornaments
- Garland ties – cut each to 9-inches long
- Jingle bell
- Florist wire
- Wire cutters
1. Open gift bag and place a snowflake ornament in the bottom. The snowflake will flatten the bottom of the bag.
2. Place pine cone tree in bag and center on snowflake.
3. Cinch top of bag closed by twisting a pine garland tie around it.
4. Tie a jingle bell on with wire. Note: After making a few of these, I found it easier to tie the jingle bell on the center of the garland tie before I tied it around the bag.
All ready to give to friends, hostesses, teachers, neighbors and more.
Video Tutorial: Making Colorful Pine Cone Trees
For more holiday decorating inspiration, I’ve assembled a gallery of all of my most-loved projects and ideas.
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