If you were ever on the receiving end of a wedding gift from my parents, chances are you received a beautiful pair of brass candlesticks that my mom purchased at the old Madison Hardware on Wall Street. I have vivid memories of the gift department at the front of the store!
I would venture to say that every home has at least one candle. I have a couple on the mantle, one on the dining room table and a few odd candle sticks scattered here and there. Not only do I light them during the holidays, I light at least one during dinner every night. With a new season comes a new candle. Fall colors, oranges and golds grace the table in October and November. Darker burgundies light up the night throughout the winter. As we approach spring, I’ll change them out for paler pink, green and blue. I admit, I have one battery operated candle on the mantel that doesn’t change! As practical as it may seem, it’s just not the same as watching a real flame.
As my husband was working on the woodpile recently, I noticed a wonderful birch log. It was perfect. Robert Frost would have loved it! What could we do with it so it didn’t fall victim to the fireplace? I began to envision it in smaller lengths; decorating the table. “Wouldn’t it make a pretty candle?” I asked. He didn’t disagree (after all, I always have such FABULOUS crafty ideas that he LOVES) and promptly cut the log into several different lengths ranging from three to six inches tall. With a drill and a spade bit he drilled out a hole for a small votive candle. For safety's sake, make sure it is a votive in a metal casing.
That’s it! A simple but beautiful, natural candle in no time.
While making candles from birch logs is specifically for adults, do you remember the candles we used to make as kids? Cut the top off of a milk or orange juice carton (I prefer the pint size). Wash thoroughly and let dry. Cut a wick about two inches taller than the carton. Wrap it around a stick (a plastic utensil works well too) and set it on the top of the carton so the wick will be stationery as the wax dries. Using a double boiler and an old pan (you will only use this for wax from now on) melt several pieces of wax completely.
You can purchase specific candle wax at a craft store when you pick up your wick material. I used canning wax that comes four pieces to a box. You can add pieces of crayons for color! Fill your carton with large chunks of ice. Pour the wax over the ice and let harden. When completely cool, peel the carton away from the wax (make sure you hold it over the sink as the water from the ice cubes will run out). Trim your wick and enjoy your candle! The ice cubes give it a lacey appearance. For a solid candle, don’t use ice! You can use old mugs or tea cups too! Assemble the wick in the same manner, simply pour in the wax and let cool.
If you’d like to bring a little of the beach into your home, make a sand candle! Fill a bucket with approximately eight inches of sand. Wet the sand so that you can mold it, but don’t soak it. Make a depression in the sand by pressing a glass into it. Make a wick using the method I mentioned earlier. Pour wax into the hole you’ve made and let cool completely. When cool, carefully dig your candle out of the sand and brush off the loose sand. You can embellish your sand candle with shells if you press them into the sides of the depression before pouring the wax in. Remember that adult supervision is always necessary when using hot wax!
Candles are inexpensive to create and make terrific gifts. Wrap them in cellophane and tie with a pretty bow. Decorate your table and let there be light!
Materials Needed
For milk carton or teacup candle:
pan for melting wax
milk or juice carton (washed)
wax (candle or canning)
crayon for coloring
wick
ice
For sand candle:
bucket of sand
glass (for making depression)
wax
wick
shells or other items for embellishment
