DIY Fire Starters

DIY Fire Starters
by Cheryl L. McClure

I thought about doing this for a long time, after I read about it on the Taylor-Made Homestead blog. It looked so simple and all I needed to do was DO IT!  As you can see in the blog, there were straightforward instructions so I followed along. By making this useful item, I will use up some things that I would have otherwise thrown away. 

Once all the moons and stars aligned, I discovered I had some partially melted "floating candles" that had been in the attic with Christmas decorations. I guess that was the last straw. We already had paper egg cartons and when I unpacked my antique nativity set for the umpteenth time, I saw it as an opportunity to repackage it with fresh tissue. I took out the old cotton fiber that had clung to the wooden manger year after year and decided this was one of those "use what you've got" moments that Tammy talks about in her blog! 

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What you need to make fire starters.

• paper egg cartons
  
• wax, old candles
  
• shredded paper, fiber, cotton batting or any fibrous material for filling
  
• can with pour spout
  
• pot holders/glove
  
• canning tong
  
• old newspaper to protect the counter
  
• cookie sheet
  
• 2 qt sauce pan
  
• water
  
• box cutter

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