Tag Archives: pinecones

December 3, 2025 · 1:12 pm

Winter Solstice Herb Crafts

Merry meet all,

Yule or the Winter Solstice is only a few weeks away. I have been busy. Busy getting ready for the Winter Solstice. I have foraged for spruce, pine, juniper, cedar on the nature trail. I foraged for sage, thyme, lavender and rosemary. I’m saving seeds from herbs like oregano, sage, thyme from my Mom’s garden then I store the seeds in labeled white envelopes. 

I plan to use the herbs for soap making, spell jars, tea blends and smudge sticks. I dried sliced oranges in my dehydrator. I glued pressed herbs onto a glass mason jar to use as a winter lantern. Where I live, we don’t get holly or mistletoe, some of the more traditional winter herbs. But that’s good because holly is toxic to cats. I also want to craft a candle for Yule. I bought a lot of supplies to craft soaps. I’m excited to get started on that. I have glass measuring cups, colorants, soap molds, fragrances and essential oils, stirring utensils, rubbing alcohol, additives, a heat source, and Vitamin E to ensure the soaps have a long shelf life. 

I will either keep the herb crafts for myself or use them as gifts. Today’s post will focus on how to use herbs in various crafts so you can try this at home too!!

Play the Nutcracker soundtrack in the background or whatever you fancy for holiday themed music, burn some incense and light a candle and let’s get started. 

Find a work space where you can work on your crafts without being distracted. If you are doing these crafts with small children present, be careful using tools like hot glue guns, scissors, hole punchers. Be sure the children are supervised to avoid them being harmed or any accidents. 

I do not use lye to make soap. I purchase premade glycerin soap bases. I do not prefer lye and I see it as very dangerous to use, unless you really know what you are doing. In that case, power to ya. I just prefer the ready made soap bases.

Step 1: Prepare the mold and base
  • Gather supplies: Cut a pre-made glycerin soap base into small cubes. You will also need molds, a heatproof container, and your desired additives like fragrance and color.
  • Prepare molds: Set your molds on a flat surface and have them ready.
  • Microwave method: Place the soap cubes in a heatproof container and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each one, until the soap is completely melted. Be careful not to overheat the soap, as it can become rubbery.
  • Double boiler method: Place the soap cubes in a container and set it inside a pot of hot water. Stir occasionally until the soap is melte
    Step 3: Add color and scent
    • Add color: Stir in a few drops of soap-specific liquid colorant or a small amount of mica powder. Add more drops until you reach the desired color, but start with a small amount as colors can be intense.
    • Add scent: Stir in a few drops of essential or fragrance oil designed for soap. A general guideline is about 10 drops per 4-ounce bar, but follow the product’s instructions.
      Step 4: Pour and cool
      • Pour: Carefully pour the melted mixture into your prepared molds.
      • Remove bubbles: For a smoother finish, spray the surface of the poured soap with a small amount of rubbing alcohol to pop any air bubbles.
      • Cool: Let the molds sit undisturbed until the soap is completely hard. This can take about an hour, or you can place them in the fridge for 20-30 minutes to speed up the process. 

I want to use the herb oils I already have in my amber glass jars for the soaps. That includes spruce oil (invigorating), calendula ( wound healing and moistening), and lavender (nervine properties). I bought two colorants – one a yellow color to use with the calendula and lavender or goldenrod! and green for the spruce or pine soap and scents. I think I will add dried herbs, but I want to grind them up to a powder first. 

The next herb project to try is making smudge sticks with herbs. These would also make great gifts. I will use the herbs that I foraged for earlier, such as the white spruce (may not be sitka spruce as I initially believed, eastern hemlock, cedar and common juniper. I also have bay leaves, rosemary, and more spruce, cedar and juniper. I like to take my time to decide how best to arrange the herbs into a smudge bundle. This is also why I dried the orange slices. 

Lay the herbs down on a clean and dry surface. Be sure you have scissors and string, embroidery floss (best if it’s a matching or corresponding color), or a rubber band to bind the herbs together. Place the spruce, pine or cedar down first as a base then arrange rosemary, bay leaves or cinnamon sticks on top of that. Trim the odd ends and arrange them together neatly. Then set the dried orange slices down on that and if you choose, you can place a star anise on top of the orange slices. I might adhere the star anise to the orange slice with a hot glue gun. This is not meant to be ingested, so that’s okay. Bind the herbs together with string, floss or a rubber band. You could also add. baby’s breath, eucalyptus, mint or sage leaves or even thyme. Once you have it all arranged the way that you want, bind them together and be sure to trim those uneven ends! Then let it dry. Tie a pretty bow onto the smudge stick, or use natural raffia or a pretty natural ribbon that just gives you a pretty boho vibe. 

The next cool herb craft to try involves using twigs arranged around a candle jar! Very earthy and witchy. I want to make this craft too.

How To Make It

  1. Hold a twig against the glass and wrap twine around the jar several times to secure it.
  2. Continue adding twigs one by one, tucking each under the twine as you go.
  3. If you prefer a sturdier hold, place small dots of glue behind a few of the twigs.
  4. Tie the twine firmly and adjust the twigs until the ring looks even.

Variation

Place a little moss around the base for a touch of softness. Credit given to: https://thewildenchantment.com/simple-diy-twig-craft-ideas-for-witchy-home-decor/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOdRwVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeiiSlBEV0ZIDfDdWoP7BcI-NUp-o9SR0JWowRM3-ZJZA0BiN0nA2vTl4xEVY_aem_eKOOod3dIja7DOE0U0Rt0g

I would add some essential oils to the twigs or the candle to enhance the natural earthy look. Cedarwood, pine essential oils or eucalyptus would work well. 

This weekend, I crafted a Yule candle holder jar. I hot glued found twigs to a candle holder. I kept the twigs to the same size roughly and secured them around the jar. I painted them gold, (good for concealing unsightly hot glue). I tied raffia around the twigs and secured it in a bow. I had a cool piece of gold trim and glued it to the twigs. I love how it looks! 

I sprinkled pine, cedar, spruce and thyme in a tiny glass vial. I put the cork on and dripped hot candle wax over the cork, sealing the herbs in the jar. 

Make a Yule Bundle

CREATING YOUR YULE BUNDLE
Search the ground below your woody pal, and also in her tangle of limbs, for broken or fallen branches and sticks. Gather a piece up from each type of woody plant that speaks to you, and trim each sample to a uniform size (about 10 inches is nice).Grasp all your tidy little stick gifts in your fist, one of each type. 
You are holding a mini forest. 
Can you feel its strength? Its beauty? Its life supporting gifts for beings of all types?

Look closely at this fistful of forest. Can you still identify the species of each stick? This can be quite a challenge! Yes the colors vary, but get curious about the fine, distinguishing details:

  • Do you see leaf scars from opposite or alternate branching patterns?
  • How does the flexibility vary between your sticks?
  • Does the bark harbor moss, lichen, fungi, or algae species?
  • Is the core pithy or woody?
  • Does the bark peel away easily?
  • Close your eyes and see with your fingertips. What do you notice about the texture of each stick?Use a length of natural fiber string or yarn, or perhaps a strip of bark or length of vine or grass, to secure your bundle.These bundles make a sweet holiday gift to share with loved ones who live in your “neck of the woods” — or especially for someone who perhaps moved elsewhere and is missing the forest they used to call home.

    The next step is an important one: 
    Before you burn your bundle and literally transform your dark bits into light, remember to thank all that you are releasing. Everything on your strip of paper has been a part of creating who you are.

    I’ve noticed that often what I want to release, those aspects of myself that feel like they are holding me back from being who I truly am, are actually survival mechanisms I developed to get me through a particular chapter of my life. Though the chapter has been written – and I’m now several books ahead in the series!—these unnecessary ways of being have persisted. They served their purpose and for that I am thankful. Now it’s time to let them go.

    Feel the weight of the bundle in your hands and all it represents.
    Feel the strength, diversity, and unique ways of being of your plant allies.

    Place your bundle into the fire (oh how lovely an outdoor fire is, but a wood stove also works!) and watch the light it creates as it burns, darkness and energy literally transformed into flame, smoke, and warmth before you.

    Notice the lightness in yourself and carry it with you into brighter days ahead. Credit given to: Dandelion Herbal Center- making a Yule Bundle. I know the instructions tell you to burn the bundle, but I can’t bring myself to do it. The sticks are so beautiful. 

Here is a link for more ideas on how to use items from nature to make crafts: https://thewildenchantment.com/11-easy-winter-solstice-nature-crafts-that-double-as-gifts/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOdSiBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeTwaT_WDuQyoqiGxs-PKJytfD2jW2M4ucsCFFgkMvXlvhWvLAGtFseH3anP8_aem_ccTGoBe1kMcgImyytxiPAA

Pinecones, spruce needles and piencones and cinnamon sticks are a lovely, magical combination. 

Here is another link that gives you lots of crafty ideas sure to keep you busy! 

50 Awesome DIY Yule Decorations and Craft Ideas You Can Make for the Winter Solstice

I hope you have lots of fun with these crafty ideas! I will post more about the Winter Solstice. Till then, stay spooky!

Blessings, Spiderwitch

Leave a comment

Filed under Paranormal and Witchy Fiction

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

May 2, 2023 · 9:50 am

Bewitched Bookcase )O(

Coltsfoot in spring

 

Merry meet all,

Hello my dear readers! I have been so busy the last two days. I decided that since it’s spring, I needed to spruce up my kitchen. The bookcase was so much work to put together but it was so worth it! I am here to tell you how I created my beautiful spring bookcase. So sit back, have a cup of tea and read on…

I found the bookcase I liked on IKEA. The one catch was that the shelves aren’t wooden. I found a way around that. I might buy green placemats at the Black Market if they have them. The shelves are white steel, Epoxy/polyester powder coating. The bookcase is also made of wood. I got my Mom’s help to assemble the bookcase. We then realized I couldn’t paint the bookcase after it was assembled. Ok. So I had to paint the wood before we put it all together. I already had the perfect shade of moss green paint ready to go. So after she left, I set about preparing to paint. I gathered paint brushes, patience, the paint, a drop cloth and black garbage bags. The bookcase is an open shelf unit. 

It is still freezing outside. But I had to entertain a cat and paint a bookcase. Anyone who has a pet cat or dog knows how hard that can be. I barricaded myself in my bedroom with the bookcase and the paint supplies and got to work. First I cut up an old bedsheet, and 5 or 6 black garbage bags. I taped the garbage bags to the bedroom furniture and to the office chair to avoid paint stains. I put down the drop cloth. The drop cloth was so aggravating. The shelving sections kept sliding on the cloth. There was some paint on the floor by the time I was done. I did my best to avoid a big mess. The back door was open all day to let Penny see out the screen window. Eventually I finished and let the shelving units dry. I had taped a small section on the shelving units so I could turn them around and avoid paint on my hands which happened anyway. The next morning, I had to clean up my apartment which resembled a war zone because Mom was coming over to finish assembling it. 

 

 

 

 

 

Ugh. I made myself some coffee and tidied up the apartment. I touched up the shelving units and checked them over. They looked great. I washed the floor, threw away the garbage, and cleared an area to work in. We assembled the bookcase. We enjoyed tea and lemon bread as we worked. Penny stayed out of my way as we assembled and I painted the bookcase, which I really appreciated. She returned home. Now I was ready for the final and most fun step: decorating it!

I gathered the artificial moss, butterfly and insect stickers, hot glue gun and glue sticks, the pinecones I found outside, bird feathers, the birdhouse I painted and decorated, acorns, white glue, paint brushes, etc. I used the hot glue gun to adhere the moss to the bookcase. The colour of the shelving unit is perfect for the moss, which is why I selected it. Here is a sneak preview of how it looks: 

 

 

 

 

 

I have finished gluing the moss to the bookcase shelving units. It was the most time consuming part of the project. I am currently preparing the pinecones for the bookcase. I soak them in a solution of vinegar and water for half an hour then bake them to kill the mites and pests for a few hours. This is done to avoid having an infestation in your home. I also clean my paintbrushes when I am done using them. These extra steps go a long way in taking care of your crafting tools. 

I hung a hook from the bookcase. I hung the birdhouse up on the hook. The birdhouse is now accepting winged/ feathered occupants. I will glue the pinecones to the moss once they are dry. I use the timer on my phone to keep track of how long something is in the oven. Cellphones are so useful!

I still have to add the leaves and the fairy lights. I am so happy with it all so far. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love it and I think it looks great! I installed a paper towel holder under the kitchen sink, have stocked the new beautiful bookcase with the books and what I had stored there before. I love how it looks. I still have a lot of moss to glue on and more pinecones, acorns, feathers, butterflies and the birds. I love how it looks. I would love to hear how you are all celebrating Spring!

Enjoy Beltaine!

Blessings, Spiderwitch 

Leave a comment

Filed under Paranormal and Witchy Fiction

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 25, 2021 · 5:10 pm

How to Enjoy Samhain Safely

Merry meet all,

Samhain is only days away!! I bet you are all excited. I want to share tips on how to better enjoy our fave time of year! Mm I enjoyed roasted acorn squash and reheated mulled cider for lunch. You can watch and subscribe to Lair of Voltaire for the recipe. See link below. 

On to the tips:

  • You might be attending a party or two. You may need (or not) a costume. Take it from an experienced sewer. It’s so much less time consuming and less maddening to buy a costume at the thrift shop than to sew one. If you wanted to sew yourself a costume, I would suggest beginning a few months ago. Anything can go wrong in sewing. Buying the costume ready made spares you that. Make sure you are comfortable in your costume too. And make sure it is something you will wear more than once. If you do only intend to wear it once, then donate it. Why should a one time item take up that space in your closet?
  • If you can, you may have accessories at home to match your new costume. This can save you money. It costs more to sew a costume than to buy one. If you want specialty fabrics, then you are looking at spending a lot. I buy a lot of broadcloth cotton because it is $5.00 per meter. Silks, chiffon, velvet and linen are astronomically expensive. Five or six meters of fabric can easily run you up to a hundred dollars. I was gifted a black wool cloak. There is no way I would have sewed it otherwise. So if you can, and are crafty, consider making or acquiring cheap accessories. Masks can affect how best you see everything. At night, everything is in shadow. Consider this too. Masks aren’t safe. Wear comfortable shoes. 
  • This may go without saying but if you have a black cat, please keep your kitty indoors where it is safe. Raccoons and owls eat cats, your cat might get hit by a car, or catnapped, or lost, or get a disease or be attacked by another cat. There are all kinds of dangers out there. So keep Fido indoors. It is one night. Even one fun night out can be a hazard for your fave feline. Or pooch, lizard or guinea pig. 
  • If you are on duty to hand out candy to adorable costumed trick or treaters, consider offering organic snacks or treats. I might say this because I have teeth that crack from those hard caramel chews and now no longer eat them. But I’m not you. Raisins are a good treat. If you still want to get candies for kiddos, there are plenty to choose from at the local drugstore. Chocolate is good. I confess I can’t resist it either. I just don’t prefer the caramel chews. (They ruin my teeth which has resulted in expensive dental bills). 
  • Honoring your loved ones this year doesn’t have to cost a fortune. The local dollar store has everything you need. That includes picture frames which are quite nice for photos of your deceased loved ones. They sell affordable candles, incense, trays and other dishes. I bought a bottle of rubbing alcohol and long matches. I already had a jar of Epsom salts. I found and gathered sand at the local small beach. I performed a banishing ritual. I wanted to use the Epsom salts and rubbing alcohol in my extra large cauldron. It cost about $5.00. Not bad. I love shopping at the dollar store. Being a Witch doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune. I found a discarded Tim Hortons coffee cup and used that to scoop the sand into the plastic bag. I needed the sand to quickly extinguish the fire in my cauldron if it got out of control. Another good life saving item to have on hand is a fire extinguisher. 
  • Getting evicted from your apartment due to fire is never cool. Safety first. Always. 
  • I know you already know this, but it’s a good idea to check out your little sister’s Halloween candy haul or your own kid’s haul before letting them eat it. There are all sorts of weird crazy people out in the world now. Accompanying little kids as they sweet talk neighbours into offering sweets is a good safe idea. They shouldn’t go alone. I read stories online all the time about people who go crazy and commit crimes. I don’t have children of my own but if I did, I would go with them as they tricked and treated and check ALL of their candy. Yup. Make sure that the kids’ outfits are safe and warm and comfy and their masks fit well too and let them see easily. It’s a weird world now. 
  • Be sure to social distance, sanitize your hands and wear Covid masks. It is a very good idea to keep a bottle of Echinacea tincture on hand too. Now is the time to stock up on lemons, raw ginger and jars of natural honey for the cold season. These ingredients will always outdo and outlast NeoCitran. NeoCitran does nothing as it has none of the nutrients that lemon and honey does. Lemon and honey are antibacterial and antimicrobial. They naturally boost the immune system. My throat felt scratchy. I drank a glass of water with a drop of Echinacea tincture and the feeling in my throat was gone. !! 

Have fun this Samhain (or Halloween, if you prefer)!!! I hope these tips help. 

BB Spiderwitch

Leave a comment

Filed under Paranormal and Witchy Fiction

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

December 14, 2020 · 2:34 pm

Celebrating Yule on a Budget.

Merry meet all,

As Witches, we celebrate the Winter solstice. Let’s decorate for the Winter solstice and celebrate with a joyful heart! It can be done in the midst of this covid craze. 

Let’s get started!

Save all of your orange peels! I baked my first ever Yuletide bread. I had saved all of my orange peels. I made candied orange peel (mmm) with the saved peels. You can grind them in your blender to use in simmering potpourri and incense. It releases the most delicious scent ever. I will include a link on how to make delicious candied orange peel. It’s easy to do. I will also include links on how to make Yuletide bread. 

Go out for a long nature walk. Gather pine needles and pinecones. Bring them in and clean them up. You can even burn them a little in the oven on low heat to kill the mites or germs. You can then paint them, roll them in glitter, and glue ribbons on them to make a garland. Pine needles have that famous earthy minty scent we all love. 

Star anise Store dry star anise in a dry jar. That prevents the anise from molding. Star anise smells like licorice. Cinnamon sticks correspond with fire and in my opinion, earth related matters. Nutmeg, clove and allspice also correspond to Winter Solstice. Allspice draws money toward you. 

Bay leaves Write your wishes for the coming year on a bay leaf. You can either burn the bay leaf then to grant the wish faster. Or you can add it to the simmering potpourri. Or you can tie your bay leaf to a pinecone and burn the pinecone. Pinecones in the home bless and protect the home. Slice oranges and apples and add them to the potpourri. 

All of these herbs, spices and barks can be enjoyed in a simmering potpourri. You can save the liquid from the potpourri in a labeled jar. You can share and give it as a gift to a loved one. You can let it all air dry and reuse as a potpourri. Put your intention into it and let the magic unfold. 

I baked gingerbread cookies. I can’t wait to frost the cookies. It will be fun. It was fun and a lot of work to bake the Yuletide cake. If you are eager to try, I suggest taking 2-3 days to make it. The orange peels need to dry for several hours. I roasted the almonds and chopped them. I also cut the orange peel slices into smaller pieces. I blanched the cranberries and pierced the berries with a sharp knife. As the berries baked in the bread, they were dehydrated. It takes a while but the scent that will waft through your home is amazing. The same can be said for roasting the almonds myself. The store bought bread doesn’t compare. If you bake it now, you will be prepared for Yule! It can be sliced and stored in the freezer if you wrap the slices in wax paper. 

I  baked the bread in a tube pan. It worked just as well. The Yuletide bread is meant to be a tall bread but the dough still rises in the tube pan. I purchased mine at the dollar store. 

For those of you who are like me and enjoy listening to music for the holiday season, I can’t recommend the Blackmore’s Night Christmas tunes enough. Subscribe and click like to get to enjoy the beautiful music as many times as you want. Play while you gift wrap or bake cookies! 

Here are the links: 

https://youtu.be/_sHMoyMajcQ

Easy Sugar Cookie Frosting Recipe – Jessica Gavin

https://youtu.be/Yp4EF9GCUO4

Yuletide Bread | King Arthur Baking

Here is some lore for you to enjoy: 

The Pagan Origins of the Yule Goat | Julia Penelope (patheos.com)

A Ritual to try:

Winter Solstice – A Solitary Ritual | John Beckett (patheos.com)

The True Meaning of the Winter Solstice: Hope | Jason Mankey (patheos.com)

Blessings, Spiderwitch

Leave a comment

Filed under Paranormal and Witchy Fiction

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,