Crafty Home Candles

Kitchen Candles

• Try this Gourd Candle Holder in any room of your house.
  
• Tea Cup Candle
  Materials:
  1. Pink Colored crayon for color
  2. Scent
  3. Wax of Choice
  4. Wick
  5. Spoon
  6. Tea Cup
  7. Stick
  8. Wooden Spoon
  9. Double Boiler (or coffee can in an old pot
  10. Scissors
  11. Dowel
  Set up your candle with the wick supported by a stick across the cup. After you have slowly melted, stirred, scented, and colored the wax in a double boiler carefully pour the wax in the cup to within 1/2 inch from the top. The wax is Very Hot. It may even help to use some old pot holders when handling the double boiler. When the candle cools it will contract. Poke holes into it with the dowel and add more wax. Trim your wick to a quarter inch, and you're all finished.
• Beer Mug Candle
  Materials:
  1. Wax Gold Colored crayons for color
  2. Wax of choice
  3. Wick
  4. Fork
  5. Spoon
  6. Glass Beer mug
  7. Stick
  8. Wooden Spoon
  9. Double Boiler (or coffee can in an old pot
  10. Scissors
  11. Dowel
  Set up your candle with the wick supported by a stick across the glass. After you have slowly melted, stirred, and colored the wax in a double boiler carefully pour the wax in the mug to within 2 inches from the top. The wax is very hot. It may even help to use some old pot holders when handling the double boiler. When the candle cools it will contract. Poke holes into it with the dowel and add more wax. Once it is cool you will add the "head". Wait for your melted wax to form a skin on top and whip the remaining wax with a fork and spoon it on top of your candle. Trim your wick to a quarter inch, and you're all finished.
• A grater makes a charming luminary in a kitchen.

Candle Decorating

• Take the CD's that come free in the mail and scatter with small votives on top.
• Accent your candles with pressed flowers and leaves by melting clear paraffin wax and 'glueing' the flowers on with an old paintbrush. The candle can then be re-dipped and allowed to dry.
• Fill an fish bowl with 2 inches or shells or marbles. Add water and float a candle. For an added Nautical feel add some food color to the water.
• To make luminaries from tin cans fill them with water and freeze. This will make it much easier to nail holes in them for your design. Write on the cans with a marker to make it easier to punch out your design. Soak off the label, empty the ice, fill with 2 inches of sand and add your candle.
• To make a grunge candle start with any candle and roll or dip it in a mixture of:
  melted brown crayons, grocery store paraffin, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and oatmeal. The trick is to roll and let dry until you have the desired effect. I actually painted mine with an old brush rather than rolling or dipping.

Thoughts

• It is better to light just one single candle than to stumble in the dark - lyrics by J. Maloy Roach and George Mysels
• Let there be Light - Gen 1:3
• You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. - Mt 5:14 - 15
• My candle burns at both ends: It will not last the night; But, ah, my foes and, oh, my friends - It gives a lovely light! - Edna St. Vincent Millay

Candle Holders

• Nativity Hurricane Candle Holder Trio
• A grater makes a charming luminary in a kitchen
• Add a round candle to a wine or brandy glass.
• Float a candle in a pretty clear glass bowl with Decorative Colored Glass or shells scattered across the bottom of the bowl. Place a fat taper in the middle.
• Paint your own Hardwood Candle Cups to match your table decor.

Candle Themes

• Make this Floral wreath centerpiece for a fat candle
• One of our Newsletter readers sent in this poem to go along with a Christmas Bayberry candle:

  This bayberry candle
  Is a gift from a friend
  On Christmas Eve
  Burn it down to the end

  For a bayberry candle
  Burned to the socket
  Brings joy to your life
  And wealth to your pocket.

Candle Tips and Ideas

• Refrigerate candles before burning so they will burn more slowly and evenly. Wrap in plastic to prevent the wick from absorbing moisture.
• Safety First - Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Keep the wick trimmed to 1/4 inch or less to prevent smoking.
• Rotate your candles occasionally to ensure an even melt and try to avoid obvious drafts.
• Keep candles out of direct sunlight to prevent fading.
• Votive holders will clean easily if you add 1/8" of water to the glass before inserting the candle.
• Burn at least one hour for each inch in diameter. The flame needs time to soften and melt the wax on the outer edge otherwise they will burn right down the middle.
• Candles and centerpieces should be about two inches below eye level of your seated guest.
• For a summer look for your fireplace clean out all the ashes and add a candle grouping. The fat kind work best for impact. Five of them in varying heights on bases will add drama without adding heat.
• Wine glasses make elegant containers for the new round candles

Links

• The Top 100 Candle Sites