How to make Herbal Firestarters( or How to Use up Sweetgum balls)

  It's getting to where most people with fireplaces are going to be using them soon if they are not already!  Brrrr....the cold is really bothering me this fall.  I found an idea for herbal firestarteres on Pinterest and with a modification, I made a basket of them.  I Used what I have an abundance of---Sweet Gum Balls.  I do not have any pinecones around so I thought the annoying sweet gum balls work just as well.  Now I have a great use for the pesky sweetghum balls that are all over my front yard! Yippee!!  Now I just have to pay my neice and Grandaughter to pick them up for me!!
     Here are the materials needed:

 

Fresh herbs--I cut rosemary and thyme.

String or Hemp rope

Sweetgum Balls(seed pods)

Newspaper-not the shiny ads

Scissors

Cut one sheetof paper in half and place the herbs and sweetgum balls or pinecones on  the end closest to you.  Roll up tightly and tie ends with string or hemp.  I personally think the hemp string would be just adorable but I didn't want to buy hemp so I used what I had available--crochet cotton.

 

It's hard to see in this pic but I inserted a piece of herb into the one end tie.  Adds a little interest!

 

Here is the basket of firestarters that I made this evening. Only took a little while and is so aromatic.

 

Even my Hubby thought they smelled nice!

 

Remember you can use any herb or cinnamon sticks.  If you are lucky enough not to have a sweetgum tree in your front yard, you can use small pinecones or even dried twigs.  What kind of firestarters do you use?

 

Warm Blessings to you all,

Lisa