• Nifty & Thrifty

Nifty & Thrifty

Many of the ideas discussed in this newsletter involve using items found in nature to decorate your creative table setting. But how do you get the unwanted guests such as bugs and other critters out of pinecones, branches and other items? There are two main methods to de-bugging items from nature.

One is the oven-baking method. For this process, preheat your oven to 200 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spread pinecones, branches, acorns or other nonflammable items across it in a single layer. Place the items in the oven for 30 minutes. Make sure you supervise the items while they are baking. This method will kill any bugs and melt any tree sap due to the heat.

If you would rather not use the baking method, try washing the items instead. Wash the natural items in a sink filled with warm water with 1/2 cup to 1 cup of vinegar added. Let them soak for 20 to 30 minutes. Make sure all the sap has been washed away. To dry the items, create a flat layer of newspapers. After soaking, rinse the cones in fresh water and then lay the items on the newspapers in a single layer. Allow them to dry for two to three days.