Tuesday, October 27, 2015

FIRESTARTER(S) -or- Don't Waste Wax!

Okay- this may go down as 
THE LAMEST POST
I have ever done.

BUT-
That being said, I was telling 
a friend about my
FIRESTARTERS 
and she said I should blog about them.
I dunno-
Maybe she secretly hates me 
and wants me to get laughed out of blogland...

Hmmmm...maybe she was talking about
Stephen King's FIRESTARTER...
Nahhhh















When my scented candles
burn down so low that I can't light them 
anymore there is usually about a half inch
of wax left in the jar-sometimes-
all the way around the jar.
I set the jar in a double boiler
so I don't start a fire AGAIN
Yes- I really did that once
but we don't talk about that anymore.
I put water in the bottom of the
double boiler AND in the top of it.

I let the wax completely melt down
and then I pour it into a small plastic container
that acts as a mold.
These are actually 
BABY FOOD CONTAINERS.
I have also used those little
plastic cups that applesauce comes in
and KFC's little serving containers.
On this one I stuck part of an old candle
in it so I had a wick-
but you really don't need to do that
I cut old candles I don't use any more
 in two or three sections
and just shove them down 
into the partially melted wax.
I then wipe the jar out completely with 
a paper towel and wash it in hot soapy water.
The bonus is I have a great little jar
for storage or gift giving of goodies.
When it is SET make sure you 
POP IT OUT of the plastic container.
You can use them again and again and again.

When you go to light a 
BONFIRE or a fireplace fire
you arrange your wood and put a few 
pieces of paper in there.
Then tuck your 
FIRESTARTER 
in there and light the paper
OR the wax itself if you have a wick.
I often put it on top of the wood
so that the wax drips down over it and 
the fire licks up and the melted wax
acts as an accelerator.  

I love a BONFIRE on a cool night!
Don't you?
MyHero tells me that I am
NOT GOING TO NEED FIRESTARTERS
where I'm going.
Not sure WHAT he means by that!
What do YOU think?

I'll be at the VA this morning
with all my sweet old vets.
I always come home with a 
story or two.

ps.  You can still sign up for 
the sign giveaway.
Click Here


your photo name

50 comments:

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

This is interesting / she was right.
BUT the end....lol!!

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

This is interesting / she was right.
BUT the end....lol!!

AnnMarie aka Vintage Junkie aka NaNa said...

This is very thrifty and creative of you to do! I don't have to worry about candles that burn like that.....I am weird but I don't like to burn my candles to ruin their design! Yup, I have a bunch of pretty, unburned candles around!

Susie said...

Diana, Ted and I make fire starters with melted old candle wax and wood shavings/sawdust. We used to make them in those little Dixie cups....now we have made a little newspaper cup and use them. We use one of these when we make fires in the fireplace. You are right they are great for bon fires too. We have dozens and dozens of these made up. We give boxes of them to our kids that burn wood for extra heat. Al Roker (weatherman) once said he takes a box of them for a house warming gifts. LOL Blessings, xoxo,Susie

Michelle James said...

What a great idea Diana! I hate to waste anything & when I see 1/4 of the candle left I get annoyed! This is a great way to repurpose. I bet you could package them up for some cute gifts for Christmas maybe with pinecones. Not my imagination is thinking of the cute firestarters to make from all the leftover candle wax! Thanks for sharing. Have a great day! Michelle :)

Pom Pom said...

That's smart, ND!
Have fun with the vets. Your light truly shines there, I think.
(BIG HUG!)

Penny @ Penny's Vintage Home said...

What a great idea! Enjoy your day with the vets....hugs...

Tessa~ Here there be musing said...

I put the no-longer-able-to-be-lit candle in freezer. Then I can break it up and pop it out. And I want to be able to melt them and "use" them again. But I wasn't smart enough to think of a double boiler. (Which of course, is the Resident Chef's and he might not like the idea of messing with his pans!)

Anyway, you have given me IDEAS here!!!!!! :-))))

I don't want to make fire starters 'cause we don't have an outside fire pit. And inside, is a gas fire. But!!! Maybe if I worked on it, I could make variety candles, out of my "smelly" candle bits!!!!!!!!! ,-)

And then again, maybe not! Sounds like a lot of work to me. And being so dern lazy, guess his loved pans, are safe. :-)))))

Pumpkin hugs,
Tessa

Jill said...

That's a great idea for getting them off the sides of the jar! I have so many candles though it will take me forever to use them up, lol. Have a great day!

Blessings,
Jill

Lorrie said...

Great idea, Diana. I used to save old candle stubs and use them, but this is a prettier idea. However, we now have a gas fireplace (sorta sad, sorta happy) and I don't think the man of my dreams would like it if I stuck an old candle in there, no matter how pretty it smelled.

Barb said...

Wow, this is a great idea, Diana. I have so many pretty candle jars and I always hate throwing them away.

If we lit a fire here, we would be arrested. Yikes.

Barb

This N That said...

Good idea..Look out Vets...Here she comes..Don't be too hard on them..

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

Super idea Diana, great way to repurpose and reuse! And what blessings and happiness you are bringing to the vets! Have a blessed and wonderful day!

Kelly said...

that's a great way to use up old wax from candles. I bet it would smell good if you use scented wax too.

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Oh lol.. your hero is as funny as you hon... great sense of humor is the best medicine!
Alejandro is very 'sweet' like that at times...heheheee
Thanks for sharing the tutorial about the scented candles reuse. I love it and I have a couple I should do just this!
Hope you are having a lovely week my friend.
FABBY

Lisa @ Texas Decor said...

Your Hero cracks me up with his comments! Hee hee! I think you have a great idea here. We were laughing the other day because my hubby still has empty baby food jars and baby wipes containers in the garage. Our boys are 21 and 16! Lol! Those baby food jars are good for lots of projects though. :)

camp and cottage living said...

Good idea for the little bits of leftover wax! I've had lamer post than this Diana.
You tell your hubby they don't allow pretty ladies with halo's over their heads in that fiery pit!

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

Diana, I don't think it's lame at all! Waste not, want not--right? My husband takes the old wax (after melting it on a tart warmer) and makes a multi-colored candle in an old candle jar. He buys wicking at the craft store. I've done similar fire starters by coating pinecones with old wax. We love fires at our home. Nothing beats a good barn fire, even if we do use a chimnea. Have a great day with the Vets! xo ♥

Dewena said...

You are so enterprising, Diana! Mine just go in the freezer.

Whatever could your hero mean?

Dewena

Row homes and Cobblestones said...

Wow I loved young Drew Barrymore in Firestarter. Love bonfires and with your candle idea ... You've got more patience than me!
xoxo

living from glory to glory said...

Hi we use drier lint and melted wax and pour them in cardboard egg cartons. Works great and we can use up those old candles. This was a good idea...
Hugs, Roxy

Lesley UK said...

What a brilliant idea! By the way. I receive your blog via feed, and tonight I've clicked on to find 3 blogs I haven't read. The same things happens. with blogs I get through my e-maill I do check every day to see the blogs I follow, so I don't understand why this is happening. Blessings

tammy j said...

if you want to hear something sad!
i'm allergic to scented candles. can't even walk down that aisle in a store.
my head stops up my eyes start watering like a faucet! not pretty. nor enjoyable!
SO...
i only have little pure beeswax candle tea lights. for some reason they don't affect me.
and i get to enjoy a pretty flame. they burn up completely. so no problem.
but... i think your solution is BRILLIANT! xoxo

Gypsy Heart said...

Great idea! I use the "left overs" with my warmer. Maybe you should tell the Mr that we know you're not going anywhere that
has fire! ;) I love a fireplace or fire pit ~ sadly neither here.

xo
Pat

Leena Milligan Lanteigne said...

Great idea Diana! we used to make fire starters when I lead a Girl Scout troop. Would you believe that they let me around children AND fire? Foolish humans LOL! For ours, we wrapped wax paper around birthday candles. And, not that I'm a pyro or anything, if you need a long match and don't have any, a piece of spaghetti will burn just like a match! How interesting LOL! I love your idea because I always like saving the candle jars and the scent would be nice as the wax melts in the fireplace! Stay toasty and warm! Hugs, Leena

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Diana, this is a great idea and I will have to try it. I have always put my candles in pretty jars etc. in the freezer for a day and the old candle just pops right out. Never used them as firestarters though but what a great idea. Thanks for sharing. I don't think you will ever be going to a place with fire.
xo

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Diana, this is a great idea and I will have to try it. I have always put my candles in pretty jars etc. in the freezer for a day and the old candle just pops right out. Never used them as firestarters though but what a great idea. Thanks for sharing. I don't think you will ever be going to a place with fire.
xo

Nonnie said...

You know I had to read this when you said it was lame! Really, I so enjoyed the pics and your story of being such a good steward of wax and candle containers! I used to save those little baby food containers for the kids to play with. Your husband's comment made me laugh! You two must have a great time together. I bet you make those veterans smile. Bless you.

At Rivercrest Cottage said...

Just got back from a road trip thru the South and catching up. The signs are great. Love seeing someone put someone else's trash into treasures.

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi! That is not a lame idea! We no longer have a wood burning fireplace but that would have been a great idea when we did. Gas fireplaces are easier on old age! Have a great Halloween! Nancy

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi! That is not a lame idea! We no longer have a wood burning fireplace but that would have been a great idea when we did. Gas fireplaces are easier on old age! Have a great Halloween! Nancy

Bethany Carson said...

This sounds like a very good idea to put extra wax to use!

God's Grace Overflows said...

Such a great idea! We make Firestartersure by using dryer lent, egg cartons and melted wax from old candles. They work great and stay burning for over 10 minutes. Perfect for getting your fires going!!
Enjoy your week, Diana!
Hugs, Amy

God's Grace Overflows said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
God's Grace Overflows said...

Such a great idea! We make Firestarters by using dryer lent, egg cartons and melted wax from old candles. They work great and stay burning for over 10 minutes. Perfect for getting your fires going!!
Enjoy your week, Diana!
Hugs, Amy

God's Grace Overflows said...

Such a great idea! We make Firestarters by using dryer lent, egg cartons and melted wax from old candles. They work great and stay burning for over 10 minutes. Perfect for getting your fires going!!
Enjoy your week, Diana!
Hugs, Amy

Liz@ HomeandGardeningWithLiz said...

Ha ha- now I know you cant be trusted! Firestarter!! Unique idea!

Jane@Bluebird1959 said...

Oh gosh, Diana - love these! I am going to start saving my wax and give this a try. Neat! Jane

Nellie said...

One "craft" that I was able to manage when I was a Girl Scout leader was making firestarters. We used little stubs of candles and wrapped them in waxed paper, similar to wrapping taffy. I think that was part of work on a badge of some sort.:-) Anyway, we made them to take with us when we were going to have a campfire. They worked really well! xo Nellie

Brenda Pruitt said...

What a great idea! And you should have lots of KFC containers!
Brenda

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...

Thanks for the DIY on Firestarters. Great way to use up old candles.
I am sure you have many stories to tell from the VA.
Have a great rest of the week.
Hugs,
Mary

Ana said...

Great idea Diana! Awesome way to recycle and reuse.

Hugs,
❤️Ana

Carla from The River said...

Hi -
My 13 year old makes fire-starters too. He uses the wax from my Scenty burners. He pours it into a cardboard egg carton and adds dryer lint. :-) They work really well.
Happy Halloween,
Carla

Kim said...

I used to burn candles all the time, I could've used your trick back then. Now, I am boring, I use battery operated remote ones. Click on and off...no wax. Boring, but easy!

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Good tip, as a witch and needing to keep the caldron going I embrace this idea. However, I don't have a fireplace so I just stick the glass jar in the freezer for awhile, or maybe a month, and then it comes out pretty easy. Then I can use those empties for storing the herbs and eye of newt! And yes I do know what your Hero means, as I've been told the same thing on occasion!..Happy Halloween Judy

Art and Sand said...

Not silly at all.

I should try to make some.

Vee said...

Now that is frugal! Makes me wish we were allowed a bonfire.

memorial garden benches said...

What a great idea! Interesting! Perfect for getting your fires going! An awesome way of recycling. Thanks for sharing!

Linda said...

I do the very same thing!!! Sometimes I dip pinecones in the wax and set them to dry on waxed paper. I never buy fire starters! Mine are all ready! Just waiting for cool enough weather to build a fire!!

Chatty Crone said...

You ought to write a book about these ideas - you are so smart~!