These Dried Flower DIY Fire Starters are easy to make and a beautiful way to get a fire going when it is cold outside. Save this to Pinterest now so you can find it!
January is always the month when freezing and frosting temperatures set in. Since we have lived here at the farm, December tends to be up and down. Some years it is beautiful on Christmas (40’s and sunny) and sometimes it is awful (snow storm snowing us in). Even if we have a lovely December, January usually rolls around with the same ridiculously cold weather and piles of snow making cozy season a true indoor season. So I decided to make some Dried Flower Fire Starters to help keep us warm and toasty with below zero windchills.
In truth, I’ve been wanting to make these Dried Flower DIY Fire Starters for a long time. I always enjoy giving handmade gifts to people and these DIY fire starters are a great gift as well as somethign for your own personal use. In fact, they could work for Christmas and even Valentine’s Day too.
The wax I used
To get started, let’s talk about wax. There are two different types you can use for the Dried Flower DIY Fire Starters – Soy and Beeswax. Both of these types of wax are considered natural and work for burning. Some people like one better than the other for various reasons. If they are using beeswax, they probably consider it more natural. If they are using soy they probably still consider it natural and easier to work with and less costly than beeswax.
Soy wax
I used soy wax here. It is natural and made from soy beans and is also considered non-toxic. Most of the world’s soy beans are grown here in the Midwest. In fact, next summer I’ll have them growing on the back half of my property as my neighbor who farms it rotates his crops. The soy wax pellets I used are made here in the US by American Soy Organics. It is ethically produced, sustainable and not tested on animals. For two 5 lb. bags it cost $38. Soy is generally not considered organic even thought it is natural. Soy wax and paraffin wax are not the same things. I do not recommend paraffin wax.
Beeswax
If you prefer to use beeswax for the DIY fire starters, I’ve listed a product that is organic in the supply list below on the Amazon list. It is also cruelty free and responsibly made. Some people do not like beeswax because beeswax is essential for honey bee colonies. I personally find beeswax more difficult to use, but like it just the same. It has a higher melting point so it will take a little longer to melt. It also tends to tunnel more if you do not pour it at the correct temperature, which is 155 – 160 degrees. The easiest way to measure it is with a heat temperature gun {HERE}.
The dried flowers I used
I’ve provided a full supply list below, but I wanted to point out that I used the dried flowers on that list AND our farm dried flowers from our flower fields. The larger flowers you see in my DIY fire starters are from our personal dried zinnias, dahlias and strawflowers. You can use any natural item you find that can safely burn on your property as long as it has not been sprayed with any chemicals.
Supplies for the Dried Floral DIY Fire Starters
You can find the full list of products I used on Amazon {HERE}, or you can get your own using the list below.
- 18 vessel cupcake baking pan
- Plain/Natural cupcake liners. You will find that the wax may burn through these on the bottom. That’s okay. Really they are just there to help to keep the wax from sticking to the pan and make them easier to get out.
- 2.5 lbs. soy wax or beeswax pellets – Use whichever you prefer. beeswax tends to tunnel more if you do not pour it at the perfect temperature.
- Natural candle wicks, bottom metal piece removed
- Vessel for melting wax that is only used to melt wax
- Dried flowers, Pinecones and cinnamon sticks. This could also include fully dried fruit, bay leaves or pine branches from trees. Just as an FYI, the cinnamon sticks and some other items might make a crack sound as they catch fire in the fireplace.
Steps for making the Dried Flower DIY Fire Starters
Follow the steps here to make the Dried Floral DIY Fire Starters. There is a full, print out of the instructions below.
- Add the liners to the cupcake tins and then add in the bulkier items. The pinecones, flowers and cinnamon sticks will all soak up some of the wax and I like to have the larger items in liners first.
- Next melt the wax in a wax only, heat safe container over a simmer on the stove. You can use it as soon as it is all melted. I will do this in batches. I will not use the full 2.5 lbs. of wax all at once.
- Pour in the wax and then give it some time to sit. You will find the different elements soak up more wax and you might have to top off each liner. If i wanted to add any bulkier items (like additional pinecones) I would do this now. Each of my DIY fire starters contains about three of my mini pinecones.
- My wax took about 20 minutes to begin to really dry. As it did, I added more decorative items and flowers to the tops.
- Let dry fully (probably about an hour total) and then remove. The liners should make them easy to remove. If any of them stick to the bottom, flip the pan over and hit the bottom for that space a few times. They should pop right out.
DIY Fire Starter Gift Tags
I’ve created some Dried Flower Fire Starter gift tags that you can download for free. They look like the photo below. All you do is print them out on a card stock paper, punch a hole in them and attach them to a nice bag or box with string/ribbon. You can download them by clicking here –> Fire Starter Tags
Can I scent these?
You can add scent to the DIY fire starters if you like. I left mine unscented. If you want to add fragrance, add only essential oils unless you have candle making experience and are comfortable using scent oils. To add fragrance to soy wax, it is recommended to add it 180-185 degrees. If you want to add fragrance to beeswax you should add it at 160-165 degrees. Again, you will need a heat gun thermometer {HERE} to be able to properly measure.
Looking for more DIY projects?
If you are looking for more natural DIY projects or more homemade gifts, try these.
- Oven Baked Clay Mushroom Ornaments and Plant Stands {HERE}
- How to make seed paper {HERE}
- DIY Vintage Terracotta Planters {HERE}
- Vanilla and Peppermint Salt Scrub for feet {HERE}
- Pressed Flower Candles {HERE}
- Pressed Flower Bookmarks {HERE}
- Clay Garden Markers {HERE}
- Orange and Vanilla Exfoliating Body Scrub {HERE}
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Thank you so much for coming today! I hope that you love these Dried Flower DIY Fire Starters and that it inspires you to make your own. Please let me know if you have any questions! The printable directions are below. Happy Crafting!
Dried Flower DIY Fire Starters
Ingredients
- 1 18 vessel cupcake baking tin
- Natural, paper cupcake liners
- 2.5 lbs wax - either soy or beeswax
- Melting pot that is only used for wax and is heat safe
- Candle wicks, metal bottoms removed
- Dried flowers, cinnamon sticks, pinecones, dried fruit, pine branches, etc.
Instructions
- Add the liners to the cupcake tins and then add in the bulkier items. The pinecones, flowers and cinnamon sticks will all soak up some of the wax and I like to have the larger items in liners first.
- Next melt the wax in a wax only, heat safe container over a simmer on the stove. You can use it as soon as it is all melted. I will do this in batches. I will not use the full 2.5 lbs. of wax all at once.
- Pour in the wax and then give it some time to sit. You will find the different elements soak up more wax and you might have to top off each liner. If i wanted to add any bulkier items (like additional pinecones) I would do this now. Each of my DIY fire starters contains about three of my mini pinecones.
- My wax took about 20 minutes to begin to really dry. As it did, I added more decorative items and flowers to the tops.
- Let dry fully (probably about an hour total) and then remove. The liners should make them easy to remove. If any of them stick to the bottom, flip the pan over and hit the bottom for that space a few times. They should pop right out.
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