Thursday, May 12, 2011

Vintage Tin Candles

I have been getting some vintage tins and this idea sounds wonderful.  I love this time of year. The windows are open; I'm burning a spring scented candle and I'm letting the dreamy smell filter throughout the house.  Makes me want to prop my feet up and start a classic novel while drinking a smoothie.  Hmmm.....maybe I will.


Materials
  • metal tins (make sure they don’t leak by filling them with water first)
  • candle wax (you can use old candles, basic candles or an assortment of waxes available at craft stores)
  • candle wicks
  • tin base for wicks
  • double boiler
  • wooden chopsticks or skewers
  • a candle making handbook for more details and troubleshooting (Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Crafts includes simple, basic instructions)
Instructions
1. If your wicks are not pre-waxed, you will want to coat them with a thin layer of wax. Melt a small amount of wax in the top section of the double boiler. Place the uncoated wicks in the wax, coat with wax and remove to harden.
2. Prepare your tins by cleaning them. Add the tin base to the wicks and place inside the metal tins. Dabbing a bit of melted wax on the bottom of the wick tin base will help hold it in place. Use a skewer to stretch over the metal tin, then wrap the wicks around the skewer to hold in place.


3. Melt your desired amount of wax. Different types of wax have different melting points. Wax will not boil, but it is extremely flammable. You will want to take every necessary safety precaution before melting the wax. I used basic scented candles and melted them down.





4. Once melted, pour the wax into the vintage tins. If the top of the candle does not dry smoothly (especially around the wick), this could be a sign of air bubbles. Use a wooden skewer to poke down into the candle (when still soft) to release the air. Add melted wax to the top to create a smooth finish.




5. Let the wax harden for about 24 hours. Trim excess wick and enjoy for yourself or 
as a gift!


1 comment:

  1. Love this idea! It would be great at a wedding! Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete