Making candles isn’t my thing, but decorating them can be a fun and crafty experience. That’s what I decided after I saw a few fancy-schmancy, designer candles in a department store. They were carved and elegant, shimmery and sparkly; but they were too expensive for something that would melt away in an hour or two. I liked those candles, but not enough to pay the department store price. My solution: carve up a few less fancy, less schmancy candles of my own. You can do it too.
To make these creative and crafty candles you don’t need expensive materials or carving skills. All you need is a little bit of creativity, a few dollar store candles and some simple “carving” tools you can probably find at home. I stretched my candle creativity with paint, beads and a few grommets from my craft stash; but you can add or not add whatever you choose.
Materials
Candles from a dollar store
Beads, paint, grommets and wire for optional decorations
A black marker
White tacky glue (optional)
Tools
Carving tools (photo #2): Wax is pretty easy to carve once you get used to it. You don’t really need fancy tools; but if you have small wood carving tools, dig them out. Otherwise try one or more of these items, just use them safely.
Small pointy files
Small chisel point screw drivers in different sizes
-Think up your design.
-Sketch it out on paper.
-Draw your design freehand on your candle with a marker. (photo #3)
Carve your design Candles are slippery, so it might take a while to get the hang of carving one. Once you practice a little, you’ll be able to carve a candle in about 20 minutes.
-Use a thin pointed object (A pen that’s out of ink) to begin “carving” away your design.
-If you want small/thin letters, you don’t need to use any other “tools.”
-If you want your letters carved larger or deeper, use a small file or a screw driver.
-To carve bold letters deep into the wax, cut away a little wax at a time.
-Use a small, dry paintbrush to brush away wax any fragments left from cutting.
Add easy details -Create wire shapes, such as swirls and hearts. Tape a shape onto your candle. Gently hammer the shape into the wax, remove the tape, then smooth away the rough edges. For wire shape instructions, see “Create Wire Details to Enhance Your Favorite Craft Project.”
-Add grommets for metal accents. Simply push them into the candle in a pattern of your choice.
-To add a bead, carve out a recess that’s the shape of the bead, add a little tacky white glue and put your bead into place. (photo #4)
-Use paint to enhance your carved words and shapes. (photo #4)
You’ll love showcasing your personalized candles on a holiday table, but you don’t have to. You can place them on a dresser, in a window, or on a bathroom shelf. You can put your personalized candles anywhere you have a bit of empty space to fill. You might even want to share one with a friend.
