Candles are pretty much a necessity in decorating, in my opinion. I’m, by no means, a pro; but, in our house I am the one with the eye for the aesthetically pleasing. That’s a term I picked up from my 8th grade English teacher. Weird, right? Anyway, candles. Candles are one of those things that are easy to find and aren’t usually a strain on the budget. And, if they are a strain, there’s probably a way to DIY for a lot less than the name brands are asking. (Like, did you see these PB knock offs? I want me some of them!)
Here is a cheap, easy and relatively quick way to embellish your candles.
Here’s the How:
1) You will need a candle and something to use as a scraping tool. I used a mechanical pencil that no longer works to scrape the wax on my candle. It worked pretty well. I also used a cheap red candle from the Dollar Store. I did this on purpose, not ‘cause I’m cheap. Ok, partly because I’m cheap, but I also wanted a candle that just had the color layered on. With the white wax of the candle base, I didn’t have to paint my carving. Hopefully, that will make more sense later.
2) Begin by drawing your pattern on your candle or lightly scratching it into the wax. I just sorta free-handed the whole thing, but I go against the grain and hate patterns. I warned you about sewing, but really I just have a general dislike for patterns.
3) Take your scraping tool (mechanical pencil, in my case) and begin scraping deeper into the candle. It works best to work in layers. If you use the cheap Dollar Store candles you will eventually scrape through all the colored wax. The white wax of the candle base will then show through. If you are using a solid color candle you can paint your carvings with candle medium and that will make them more visible. After you’ve gone all the way around your candle or have your chosen design carved, that’s it. You’re done!
Disclaimer: These candles are for decorative purposes only. Don’t burn them, as the thinner wax may melt as your candle burns, creating a fire hazard.
If you MUST burn these (which would be really cool once your candle burns so you can see the light through your carvings) make sure you use a candle plate. Candles should always be burned on a plate! And ALWAYS supervise your lit candles. If you do burn these and your house catches on fire, I accept no liability. I did very specifically say don’t do that!
Krista
