Pine cone crafts are fun and easy to do, not to mention highly affordable in many areas. Pine cones are the ideal craft component because they are not in short supply and therefore can either be found lying around or bought for a fairly reasonable price. Using pine cones takes away a lot of the stress of needed to be perfect as you can afford to make a few mistakes and either replace the pine cone that you may have not crafted just right or find appeal in the natural look of imperfection.
With all of the things that you can do with pine cones it is also important to point out that there is a need to keep safety in mind. Just as with most crafting materials, pine cones present their own unique hazards and no one wants for an accident to put a damper on the creation of a fun project. Below you will find some of the most common safety measures and concerns that you will need to keep in mind while you are making pine cone crafts.
•Scissors/blades – Too many people underestimate the power of a simple pair of scissors or a pocket knife. It takes relatively little pressure or force to cut yourself. Depending on where you are cut even a small laceration can be very serious. If you must use a knife or a blade to cut through the tough shell of a pine cone, use precautions. Make sure that you have a steady and flat surface to work on. Never cut towards yourself. Always position the blade and pine cone so that if your grip slips the knife will move away from your body. Keep your cutting tools sharpened and out of the reach of young children. A sharper knife is safer because it can be used with more accuracy and less force, but can be more dangerous if accidentally grabbed or played with.
•Hot glue – Hot glue is a very common adhesive used with pine cones but there are some obvious dangers that must be addressed. Safety measures for working with hot glue include avoiding burns and knowing what to do if you are burned. Use non-porous and insulated gloves if you are going to be working with a lot of hot glue.
Have a bowl or cup of cold water ready in case you are burned so that you can quickly relieve the pain of the burn and prevent the burn from progressing. Always supervise children if they are to be using hot glue and emphasize these safety measures with them.
•Chemical sprays – One safety measure that many people forget about when working with crafting materials found in nature is that there is no way to tell whether or not that element has been exposed or treated with any kind of chemical substance. Although pine cones and their trees are not typically the focus of any pesticide sprays, the possibility for exposure still exists. Be sure that if you are going to be using the pine cones indoors or anywhere that you may touch them and them touch your face or mouth, that you wash them and allow them to air dry before using them. You may be thinking that of all the thousand of pine cones that you have come in contact with over the years, not one of them has made you sick, and that may very well be true. But when it comes to safety measures, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
•Insects – Remember that pine cones are natural elements and therefore they play a role in the environment. This could mean that insects and other tiny creatures could find a home in a pine cone and then decide to take up nest somewhere in your house as you use those pine cones for decoration. Usually a quick look over and a good washing will eliminate the threat of these creepy crawlers taking up shelter in your home.