Scented Bleached Pinecones -use simple household bleach to whiten and brighten natural pinecones, and then add any scent to them you like.
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Scented Bleached Pinecones are the perfect way to create lighter coloured pinecones for decor and add beautiful scent to a room. They're easy and fun to make too.
Sometimes the simple little DIY’s are the sweetest, and this little project fits in that category.
A pinecone, all on it’s own is beautiful. But, add some paint, or group various kinds together, or bleach some and the simple beauty it has all on its own is magnified. Natural elements are a such a great addition to any home decor.
Here's how to make your own Scented Bleached Pinecones
Materials:
- Pinecones
- Bleach
- Large Bucket
- Something to use as a Weight (I used a cutting board and some rocks)
- Cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
- Essential Oil
- Ziplock Bag
The first thing you'll need for this craft project is some pinecones. Look for pine trees, and you will usually find some pine cones on the ground nearby. Pinecones drop from trees in the fall, so that's the best time to look for them.
To Make Scented Bleached Pinecones:
Place your pinecones in a large plastic container or bucket, and then fill with enough bleach mixture to cover the pinecones. I did about 1:1 ratio with one part bleach to one part water. Using equal parts of bleach and water worked well for us, but you can go all the way up to 2 parts bleach to 1 part water, or somewhere in-between
Put something over your pinecones to weigh them down and hold them in the bleach water solution, since they float. I used a cutting a board with a few rocks on top, you could place bricks on top as well.
Let sit, outside or in the garage if you're able because of the bleach smell you'll want to do this in a well-ventilated area. Leave the pinecones in the beach solution for about 24 hours. After one full day in the bleach solution, don’t worry if the pinecones still look kind of dark and are closed up. The pinecones naturally close up when they are in water. Once they're removed from the bleach bath and they dry, the pinecones will open back up and as they dry they'll look lighter.
The next day, drain the pinecones and rinse them with water a couple of times to remove all the bleach.
Next place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet in a single layer for the drying process. To dry out the pinecones place the baking sheet in a 200 degree oven for a few hours until the pinecones are open again and they look dry.
Lastly, place pine cones in a ziplock bag and add some essential oil -any scent you like we used apple pie. Seal the bag and let them sit a few days or up to a week. When you open them up all the bleach smell will be gone, and they will smell like your oil.
This step is optional, but it makes such a nice addition. You can use any essential oil scent that you like, and refresh it years later if the scent wears off.
Materials
- 24 Pinecones
- Bleach
- Large Bucket
- Something to use as a Weight
- Cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
- Essential Oil
- Ziplock Bag
Instructions
- Place your pinecones in a large bucket, and then fill with enough bleach mixture to cover the pinecones. Use between a 1:1 ratio with one part bleach to one part water, all the way up to 2 parts bleach to 1 part water, or somewhere in-between.
- Put something over your pinecones to weigh them down and hold them in the bleach water solution, since they float, like a cutting a board with a few rocks on top.
- Let sit, outside or in the garage, you want it to be in a well ventilated area. Leave the pinecones in the beach solution for about 24 hours. After one full day in the bleach solution, don’t worry if the pinecones still look kind of dark and are closed up. The pinecones naturally close up when they are in water. Once they're removed from the bleach bath and they dry, the pinecones will open back up and as they dry they'll look lighter.
- The next day, drain the pinecones and rinse them with water a couple of times to remove all the bleach.
- Next place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet in a single layer for the drying process. To dry out the pinecones place the baking sheet in a 200 degree oven for a few hours until the pinecones are open again and they look dry.
- Lastly, place pine cones in a ziplock bag and add some essential oil -any scent you like we used apple pie. Seal the bag and let them sit a few days or up to a week. When you open them up all the bleach smell will be gone, and they will smell like your oil.
How To Use Your Bleached Pinecones
I’ve used the pinecones all over the house, and grouped them with different varieties, shapes and sizes, and even a few painted ones. I love all the texture of the dry pine cones. They're perfect for Christmas and adding to your Christmas decor. Add them to your Christmas trees, use floral wire to add a bunch of pine cones to wreaths, or even hot glue them to presents as an easy way to make a gift topper.
They'll also perfect for fall and winter decor. And, they smell so nice and sweet from the essential oil
I added some little screw in eye hooks to some and used them as ornaments.
I really love how they turned out.
So simple and so pretty.
With Scented Bleached Pinecones, life really is a party.
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