DIY Fire Starters

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If you’ve ever been a Girl/Boy Scout, you’ve probably made these DIY fire starters at some point. And if you haven’t, your’e in luck, because I’m going to show you just how easy it is. I decided it was time to make them because 1) we’ve recently (FINALLY) welcomed Fall here in Maryland and 2) we dug out our fire pit from the basement for driveway s’mores and didn’t have any newspaper (and consequently struggled a smidge with getting the fire going).

With a few supplies that you probably already have around the house, and a few minutes, you’ll be prepared for your next campfire with these diy fire starters!

(We didn’t have any leftover candles so we ordered this wax from Amazon and it was the perfect amount!)

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DIY Fire Starters

Struggling to find a way to start your campfire? Here's a quick and easy (and free-ish) DIY craft for you and the kids to make in preparation for your next camping trip or at-home fire pit.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Active Time10 minutes mins

Course: Craft

Keyword: DIY

Yield: 12 fire starters

Cost: Free-ish

Equipment

• Glass jar or measuring cup (used ONLY for craft purposes)
• Scissors

Materials

• 1 sandwich baggie lint If you laundry like we do, it doesn't take long to collect this!
• 6-7 oz wax This a great use for all those candles with a little bit of wax in the bottom. Or, you can buy wax.
• 1 cardboard carton from a dozen eggs

Instructions

• Put wax in whatever container you are using to melt it, then place the container in a pot of water over high heat. It will take 20 minutes or so for the wax to melt. You do not need to stir it.
  
• Meanwhile, cut the egg carton into 12 individual cups.
  
• Fill each cup with a little bit of lint. A sandwich baggie full will be plenty for 12 fire starters.
  
• Once the wax is melted, pour a little into each cup. Make sure you have something covering your table in case you spill a little.
  
• Let them cool and harden, then they're ready to use! I use 2-3 for a large campfire. And in case you need pointers on building a fire: create a teepee shape with your kindling (small pieces of wood) and place 2-3 of the fire startes inside. Light the fire starters. Sometimes it's easier to light one outside the teepee and then place it inside. Once the kindling is lit, add larger pieces of wood until your fire is as big as you want it.
  

These diy fire starters came in handy on our recent camping trip and they were fun to make with the kids (obvi I did all the steps involving the wax). Do you camp? Or are you more of a home firepit fam?