How to dry pine cones for crafts
I love to use pine cones for my autumn and winter crafts. I often pick them up whilst out dog walking. If you want them to open out and last for a long time. It is best to dry them properly before using them. Here is how I dry pine cones for crafts:
What you will need
- Pinecones
- A baking tray
- Baking parchment
- An oven
- A dry paintbrush
Bake the pine cones
Start by lining a baking tray with baking parchment. Place the pinecones on the tray with a bit of space between each one.
Set your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit 100 degrees Celsius roughly. You want them to slowly dry rather than burn. (I often use my aga for this and if you have one, you can pop them in the warming oven and leave for longer) Then bake the pinecones for 30 minutes. During this time, they will dry out and open up if they were closed.
You need to keep an eye on them while they bake. Depending on how damp they are, you might want to give them an extra five to ten minutes.
Brush off any loose bits
Once baked, take the tray out of the oven and let the pine cones cool completely. They should now be dry, open and ready to use.
At this stage, I use a dry paintbrush to gently brush out any loose bits or dust. This helps remove anything that might have been stuck between the scales.
Store and craft
Once they are cool and brushed off, you can store your pinecones in a box or paper bag until you are ready to use them.
Now they are ready to add to wreaths, table displays or garlands.
