Pine cones

[BankerMommy2010]

When is best to go collecting & what can I do with them thats decorative and creative

You can collect pretty much any time! If there's an arboretum near you, you could find lots of different sizes.

You could wire them into bunches to go on your tree (for the retro look, spray gold or silver). Or into a wreath? Last year my DS stuck painted modelling clay heads on them and made them into tree baubles.

Oh great. We'll go collecting soon. I was thinking of adding them to a nice decorative bowl and adding some christmassy oils... but do little bugs and germs live in them?

That sounds a really nice plan. You might get an earwig or two Give the cones a good shake, and then put them in the freezer overnight. Or maybe in a medium oven for 10 mins!

Our trees are dropping loads now.

Last year we sprayed some with gold and silver spray and while it was wet sprinkled glitter on, tied a ribbon around the top so they could hang on the tree and they looked lovely.

Oooh im scared of bugs! What do I do if I put them in the oven?

Just spread them on a baking tray. And beware crispy baked bugs

I have stuck mine into a bag with the failed applesauce and cinnamon decorations that fell to bits and left them for a few months. They are smelling fantastic and will use to put around the tree, wired for inside the tree and maybe some in a bowl on the coffee table for a nice smell. Airwick eat your heart out!

I've collected a load in the last few weeks.

A lady who has a fir tree in her garden said that they tended to drop when it was hot and sunny.

Don't leave it too long or you won't find any or they will be wet and soggy!

I might go this afternoon when I pick my little boy up from nursery. .. how is best to fragrance them?