Homemade Candles from Old Candle Remains
Posted by Shannon Buck on November 24, 2008
So yesterday Isaiah (my nephew), Zowie and I made candles. We are still working on them today.
We don’t actually know how to make candles, mind you. We had tons of candle ends, and used wax melts, that we needed to do something with. Plus we had all kinds of candle jars/holders. We decided to reuse these items to make holiday gifts.
Materials:
leftovers from used candles
used wax melts
used candle jars/holders
wicking – I purchased mine from Joanne Fabric. They have the metal ends for easy handling. They are $2.99 per package.
metal cans from soups, etc. Washed and labels removed.
pots
something to stir each cans contents in
*** This can be time consuming, but it is easy. Please do not let small children use sharp knives by themselves.
1. Before you begin, you will want to cut the used candles into chunks. Remove wicking (saving longer pieces or pieces with the metal to reuse for ‘new’ candles.) You can separate like colors into different bowls, but I just throw them all into a large bowl, even the smallest shavings, and pick through them as I need them.
I do mix and match colors.
2. Wash out, and dry thoroughly, all candle jars/holders.
3. Now you are ready to begin. Fill pot(s) about 1/2 way with water and put on stove to boil on high heat. When boiling, reduce to medium heat.
4. While water is boiling, fill each can with the color(s) you wish to start with.
5. Put the cans in the pots and allow the wax to melt, stirring sometimes. Take wicking and dunk each one of the bottoms into melted wax, then put each in the center of one of the jars/holders.
6. Now pour melted wax into jars/holders, leaving a little head space.
7. When solidified, you will want to add just a little more wax to each to even out the surfaces.
*** You can either use just one color, or you can layer the colors by pouring in a little at a time and allowing it to solidify before adding the next layer.
Homemade Candles, Frugal Holiday Gift Idea « Living the Low-Income Life said
[...] Tuesday, November 25, 2008 by slb725writer Mini Homestead in a Trailer Park has a great way to reuse/recycle all of those leftover candle parts, soup cans, and candle jars/holders. Make your own homemade candles!!!! [...]
Kimberley said
This is a really good idea! I have a whole bag of old candles. I think I’ll try this when I move.
slb725writer said
Yes, it has been almost a week since we made ours, and they look great.
Three Ways to Save and Sharing « Living the Low-Income Life said
[...] my daughter and I are making candles from the ends and using the holders. We will give these recycled candles to friends and family as gifts. They loved the idea so much last year, that they want to keep it [...]