20. Tea Cup Lights

MATERIALS

Nested pans / double boiler
Partially burned candles
Candy or candle thermometer
Tongs
New wicking
Teacups
Wick sustainers
Wooden skewers

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a small pan set over a larger pan of simmering water, melt down old candles; clip the thermometer to the upper pot, and keep temperature at about 185°. Remove old wicks with tongs.
   
2. Cut a piece of wicking to the cup’s height plus 2 inches. Clamp one end to a wick sustainer; tie the other end around a skewer. Dip wicking and sustainer into melted wax to coat them. Remove and stick sustainer to cup’s bottom.
   
3. Pour in the wax, stopping 1/2 inch below the cup’s rim. Allow wax to set, about 1 hour. The candle will harden with a well in the center. To even it out, use another skewer to prick a circle of holes about 1/16 inch deep around the wick. Pour in melted wax until surface is 1/4 inch below rim. Cut wick.

From Martha Stewart

19. Custom-Tailored Luminaries

These charming candleholders illuminate any space with lovely pinpoints of light. And because they are "stitched" on a sewing machine, you can make multiples in a single sitting.

MATERIALS

Cardstock of your choice
coordinating thread (optional)
sewing machine
glass cylinder candle holders
votive candle
scotch tape

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Begin by stitching patterns onto sheets of card stock. Lightly trace a design or use one of MarthaStewart.com's templates onto the paper with a pencil. Stitch over the pencil marks. As the needle punctures the card stock (with or without thread) it creates tiny holes through which the candlelight will flicker.
   
2. Cut to size, and wrap around glass cylinders; secure with double-sided tape.

From Martha Stewart

If you liked this...

Martha's Homemade Holidays (DVD) -- used and new from $5.52

18. Tin Can luminary

MATERIALS

Tin can of any size: large coffee or Juice cans - to soup cans
water
masking tape
hammer
nails
small candle

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Make sure the can is empty of its contents and cleaned
   
2. fill the can with water and put into the freezer to allow the water to freeze.
   
3. Once frozen, remove from freezer & tape a design (a star, a tree, etc) to the side of the can.
   
4. Take a large nail and hammer it at intervals along the lines of your design (with spaces in between).
   
5. Let the ice melt and drain the water from the can.
   
6. Once dry, put a candle inside and watch your design light up.

Source Family Education

17. Ice Cube Candles

MATERIALS

Candle wax (you can also use crayons)
Cardboard milk and/or cream cartons
Wick (wax coated)
Ice (cubes)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Melt the candle wax &/or crayons. This is best done by filling one pot up with water and placing a second (thrift store) pot on top - like a double boiler. You won't want to use the same pot to melt your wax in that you'd normally cook food in.
   
   note: you can also add fragrance to your candle. Craft stores have special oils and fragrant waxes you can incorporate into your wax as it's melting
   
   
2. Cut the carton to a desired height.
   
3. Cut the wick about 4 inches taller than your desired candle
   
4. Secure the wick in the carton, tying the top to a pencil or tongue depressor (so it won't fall into the carton)
   
5. fill the carton with ice cubes. The coarser|larger the cubes are, the larger the holes in the candle.
   
6. Make sure the wick is standing upright and pour the melted wax into the carton.
   
7. When wax is set (ice will have melted) remove the milk carton and you have a candle that kind of looks like swiss cheese. There may be some water that will drain out as you remove the carton.

Source FamilyEducation.com

If you liked this...

The Candlemaker's Companion (Paperback) --new and used from 9.80