Thank you so much for writing in and taking the time to let us know that you miss us, especially during these uncertain times. Even with all of the uncertainty it’s important that during times of stress that we remember to also take time to relax and enjoy some much needed self-care. Take a bath, read a book, snuggle with your loved ones and for me that means with my fur babies. But I will put the fur babies away to show you how to make these beautiful DIY candles that will not only give you a project to work on while you are home but also help you to relax. And guess what? You can make this from things you already have in your own home! Artisan candle making is a great way hobby and its easy to buy various types of candle wax from soy and olive to paraffin for pillar and container candles.
Ok…these candles were so fun to make, mainly because gathering the materials was so much fun. First, gather any candles you have that you’ve burned around the house. I found these tapered candles that will work. Then head outside to your yard (or your neighbor’s yard), and grab foliage…whatever you can find. I was able to find some rosemary, lavender, roses and others. Here is a tip – though you want your stems to not collapse, you don’t want them too hardy or they won’t stick to the side of your candle.
Here’s what you need to get started. Hopefully you have this stuff laying around the house if you are a DIY’er like me! Any size mason jar, glue gun, 100% cotton string. Then head to your kitchen to grab a cutting board, knife, skewers/popsicle sticks, glass bowl, and shallow pan. You will need to use your stove for this (or you could use a microwave). If you want to add fragrance to your candle, add essential oils.
Since we are using used candles from around the house, we need to chop them down to make them easy to melt. (If you have soy chips for candle making, you can skip this part…but I’m recycling.) I’m taking a large knife on my cutting board and making wax shavings.
Take your shallow pan and add about 2” of water to it, and put a glass bowl into the pan. Set on low to medium heat (you don’t want it to boil) and add your shavings to the glass bowl. I’m using a large measuring cup but any glass bowl will do. Tip – don’t get any water into the melted wax. Now this takes about 40 minutes…but I started early so y’all don’t have to wait! You can see that the candle shavings have melted into a liquid.
While your shavings are melting (you can just let them melt and don’t need to stir them), you can get started on your jars. To attach your wick, drop some glue into the center of the jar. Take a piece of your cotton string and let it drop into the glue. Push down with a skewer, popsicle stick or whatever you have lying around the house.
Grab your foliage, dry-fit them into the jar making sure they don’t rise above the lip of the jar, then cut them to size. With a hot glue gun, attach them all around the inside of your jar. Once that is done, you take a skewer and wrap the wick/string around it, making sure the wick is in the middle.
Take your melted wax, and pour it into the jar slowly. This is the time to add your essential oils if you would like. I’m using lavender – it promotes relaxation and has other health benefits, and it’s safe around animals. But you can customize this to any fragrance or any time of year. Like peppermint or nutmeg and cinnamon for Christmas.
Now, let this set up between 24-48 hours. Once they are set, cut the wick/string and discard the stick. You can be done at this point, or make it a little fancier. I tied some twine and added some lavender to the front around the lid. You need the outside of the lid, but we don’t need the middle part so you can just throw that away. Light the candle and enjoy!
Please remember stay safe and stay healthy, and stay connected by sharing with us all of your DIY’s on Facebook, Instagram and twitter @homeandfamilyTV @hallmarkchannel and you can find me @Paigehemmis. Sending love and light to you all!
You Will Need:
- Mason jars
- Glue gun
- Cotton string
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Skewers
- Glass bowl
- Shallow pan
- Tapered candles
- Foliage
- Essential oils
How-To:
1. Chop up old candles to melt down
2. Add about 2” of water to shallow pan and put a glass bowl into the pan.
3. Set on low to medium heat (you don’t want it to boil) and add your shavings to the glass bowl.
TIP: Don’t get any water into the melted wax. It will take about 40 minutes.
4. To attach your wick, drop some glue into the center of the jar. Take a piece of your cotton string
5. And let it drop into the glue. Push down with a skewer, popsicle stick or whatever you have lying
6. Around the house.
7. Grab your foliage, dry-fit them into the jar making sure they don’t rise above the lip of the jar, then cut them to size.
8. With a hot glue gun, attach them all around the inside of your jar.
9. Once that is done, you take a skewer and wrap the wick/string around it, making sure the wick is
10. In the middle.
11. Take your melted wax, and pour it into the jar slowly. This is the time to add your essential oils
12. If you would like.
13. Let this set up between 24-48 hours. Once they are set, cut the wick/string and discard the stick.
14. Light the candle and enjoy!
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