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There
are many varieties of homemade firestarters to make. They make
a great homemade gifts. Fill a large basket full of various homemade
firestarters and don't forget to add some of the long wooden matches
to light the wicks.
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An
easy project is to sit pine cones into the sections of old muffin
pans. Before putting the pinecones in lay a piece of butcher cord in
the bottom of each section so that part of it lays over the side.
This will be the wick to light when you add the firestarter to your
fire. Melt wax (can be old candles) carefully in a double
boiler. Let wax cool slightly and pour over the
pinecones. If you want coloured wax, add some broken bits of
crayons. Some of the wax will stick to the cone and some will fall
into the muffin pan. Let set and remove. Package in a
cellphane bag or in a wicker basket. Attach the following poem.
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Want
a great fire?
Here’s
what to do
Toss
in a pinecone
with
the wood too
Light
the wick,
Nothing
else to do
But
feel the flames
Give
warmth to you.
©
MurLin Creations
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Nature
Muffins
idea
shared by Jazbo, poem by ShirleyT |
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When
trying to start a fire
don't
let it raise your ire.
Keep
nature muffins handy
for
lighting up naturally!
by
shirleyt@craftsayings.com
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If
you don't have pinecones, gather nature items like
...dried
leaves, acorn caps, small dried weeds
...dried
stems & clippings from herbs
...old
floral dried potpourri
...pistachio
nut shells
Line
a muffin tin with muffin papers. Add your dried items, then pour
your melted-down, left-over candle stubs into the papers, about 2/3
full. For color, melt crayons in with the wax. You can add a wick if
you like. We usually just set them in the fireplace or wood-burning
stove & light the paper.
For
gift-giving, put several in a small basket or in a mesh bag.
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If
you don't have pinecones you can use a cardboard egg carton, some
wood shavings, pencil shavings, bits of cardboard, butcher cord and
melted wax. Lay a piece of butcher cord in each section of the
egg carton and fill with wood shavings etc. Carefully melt wax
in a double boiler and fill each section of the egg carton. Let
set and then pull the sections apart. These are great for
starting outdoor campfires.
There
is no residue left from the wax as the high temperature of the fire
burns it all away.
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Coloured
Cones and Fragrant Fires
Yellow-green
Flames: one pound copper sulphate (Garden centres or hardware
stores) Blue-green Flames: 1/2 Pound boric acid (drugstores)
Orange-yellow
Flames: 1-1/2 pounds rock salt (grocery store)
Instructions:
Put 1 gallon of warm water in a large plastic pail. Dissolve the
chemical in the water, stirring with a stick. Submerge the
pine-cones, keep them submerged. Allow the cones to soak for 5-7
days, stir everyday. Remove the cones and dry on newspaper for up to
one week. Cones will open as they dry. Package them in burlap bags,
mesh bags, or in baskets. |
Fragrant
Fire Bundles
When
harvesting and drying herbs from the garden, don't throw out the
stems after the leaves have been pulled off. Bundle them up with
cinnamon sticks and raffia to make fragrant herb bundles to toss into
your fire. Fragrant stems include: lavender, rosemary, sage, mints,
thyme, and lemon balm.
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