Decorating Candles

Making your own decorated candles can be a great idea for a simple but impressive gift for all sorts of occasions.  You can make Christmas themed candles or beach-themed candles, or make a matching card and candle to celebrate a new baby. And it is simple enough for kids to make too – a unique gift for a special teacher perhaps.  When I first saw candles that looked as though the images were printed right into the candle, I was amazed.  But once you know the secret it is very easy.

You will need:

• Images on tissue paper.  You can stamp your own images or words onto tissue paper, either with coloured ink or with black ink and then colour them in.  Or even simpler use paper napkins that have images you like on them.
• Waxed paper
• A craft heat gun
• Candles – white or pale coloured *

First, cut out your image and cut or tear some waxed paper so that it is at least 0.5cm bigger than the image.  If using a paper napkin, just use the top layer.

It is better to start with smaller individual images as they are easier to manage but once you have got the feel of it, you can use images that wrap right around the candle.  Don’t forget to leave at least 0.5cm top and bottom to allow the tissue paper edges to seal.

Place the image where you want it on the candle (a light smear of glue stick can help).  Then hold the waxed paper over the top, making sure you have the waxy surface towards the candle.

Heat using the heat gun (careful of the fingers) until the wax on the paper melts.  Don’t heat it so long that you melt the candle.

Remove the wax paper and reveal your image.  The wax from the paper seals it into the candle so that it looks like it has always been there.

* And just in case you were wondering – IT DOESN’T WORK ON DARK COLOURED CANDLES.