If you're like me, there's such a change in the level of activity and things to do after Christmas that sometimes I feel listless. It's hard to get going again without that drive of an impending holiday to push you!
Here's a craft idea to give you something to get you going again and it can be used from fall to spring if you want. I followed a link from Pinterest to a blog and found further down the page, some information on bleaching pine cones. Who knew?! I sure didn't. So I had to give it a try.
You need:
- Bleach
- water
- pine cones
- bucket
That's pretty much it. DO THIS PART OUTSIDE. Make the bleach solution 50/50 bleach to water. (Add bleach to the water so it doesn't splash on you and it be straight bleach - don't ask me how I found out). They will float so it helps to put something on top of them to weight them down or have a lid or just stir them occasionally. The instructions on the site said to leave them in there 8-9 hours. I think you could leave them overnight. In fact, in cooler weather, it may help to leave it longer.
Don't be surprised if the pine cones close back up when they get saturated. They will open as they dry out again. Empty the bleach water and rinse and rinse the pine cones. Spread them out to dry. It could take several days depending on your weather. I got impatient and dried them out in the oven with them spread out on a cookie sheet baked at 200 degrees in 30 minute batches, checking and turning them. That doesn't smell the best so if you can let the dry naturally, you'd probably be better off.
My cones varied in how light they got from a cream color to barely being lighter. I guess it depends on how old the cones are and the type of tree they are from. After looking at them like that for a while, I began wondering if I sprayed them with my Color Mists from Outside The Margins online shop and I like the results especially when they are put in a basket together.
These (below) were sprayed with white, copper, turquoise, magenta and it was surprising how well the color showed up.
I hope you'll give it a try sometime. I can picture a wreath full of these. Remember if you put them outside you'll need to spray with an outdoor sealer.
This is a great idea. I'm going to tuck it away in the back of my head and try it some day. Thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: Judy Streger | January 14, 2012 at 11:51 PM
They look great.I may have to give this a try.
Posted by: joanne thieme huffman | January 15, 2012 at 07:15 AM
These look great Christy, I'm definitely going to try it this week! I'll have a whole bunch of pinecones when I do a final rake-up of my yard, and I love the idea of a wreath.
Posted by: Jo Ann Grissom | January 21, 2012 at 12:29 PM
NEATO! What a fun thing to do with pine cones.
Posted by: Kris | January 21, 2012 at 12:57 PM
Clever Clever girl! Come visit, we'll collect them by the laundry basket full!!!
Posted by: Kari McKnight Holbrook | January 21, 2012 at 02:19 PM
Love these Christy. I am going to try this with some pinecones I have shaped like roses... and make some kind of shabby ornament with them... I will let you know when I post them on my blog... Tha
nks for the inspiration! Hugs
Posted by: Karan Simoni | January 21, 2012 at 06:36 PM