HOMEMADE
Up-cycled Firestarters
The prefect project to up-cycle the end of candles, plus an original way to scent your home in cold days.
One thing I hate is waste and even a little end of a candle really bugs me… So I looked long and hard on how I could reuse them… And voilà…
I would recommend to use soy or beeswax candle for this and to be honest I would recommend them even for burning . 1 they are better for the environment, and 2 they are better for you to breathe in, especially since we use candles mostly with the windows shut when, during the winter months the air is heavier….
Anyway back to the subject.
what you will need:
This is pretty flexible and you could really experiment with this but I used:
- Cinnamon Bark
- Cardamon Pods
- Dried orange peel
- Lavender
- Pine needle
- Pine cones
- Hawthorn Berries
- Dried Eucalyptus
I also used essential oils… here are some nice combinations:
- 1 Drop frankincense + 1 drop pine
- 1 Drop bergamot + 1 cinnamon
- 1 Drop cloves + 1 vanilla
The choices is your.
You will also need a muffin tray, some cupcakes cases and of course some old candles.
instructions:
Line a muffin tray with paper cupcakes cases.
Then start the first layer of filling – Be free with your fillings. I also like playing with height and make sure that a few leaves or pine cones are sticking out, it will help catching light.
Believe it or not I don’t use a microwave so I used the good old bain-marie to melt the wax, but you could easily use a microwave, you might need to stir it a little, for this I used an ordinary chopstick. Whatever method you decide to use, I recommend you keep your wax in a heat proof glass jug like pyrex and keep it in hot water whilst you are working so it does not solidify too quickly.
Fill the paper cups by half then add a couple of drops of your chosen essential oils. Now add a few more branches, spices or filling and finish with a little more wax.
Remove the fire starters from the muffin pan but keep the paper cases on. Store in an airtight container, or package individually, maybe with nice ribbons and lovely labels (you can find some free printable Christmas labels that I made here) for an original and unusual gift.
This is to be used in an open fire only – place before adding your kindling and light the paper cups, then just add logs.
Have a warm winter!
