Tired of lighting boring white candles in your room? You might be thinking about whether you can add stuff like Glitter, Lavender, and Rosemary sprigs to your candle? The answer is YES. I have some crazy DIY ideas with which you can transform your ghost-white candles to sparkling pomp or floral candles in your home.
Let go of the reigns of your creativity, and try out these easy DIY methods to add glitters, dried flowers, or Lavender and Rosemary sprigs to your candles. You can also paint your candles with acrylic paints or customize their fragrance with your favorite essential oils.
Before getting into the details of the DIY crafts, select the candle wax you desire to use. You can choose paraffin wax, soy wax, or beeswax. Paraffin wax is a fossil by-product. Though popular with traditional candles, it releases carbon soot on burning that can be harmful on long-term exposure.
Alternatively, soy wax and beeswax are environment-friendly. These are derived from natural sources, burn bright and clean without soot, and are biodegradable. Once you have chosen the suitable wax, dive into sub-heads for the detailed steps.
- Adding Glitters to your candles
We all love glitters and shimmers. They can add glamour to anything. However, you can twist “All that glitter is not gold” to a candle fact as “Not all glitter is gold (good) for candle.”
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash
The polyester glitters are better than any other. They don’t clog the wick like paper/craft glitters do and have a high burn temperature. They also come in stunning colors. You can use Micas (used in beauty products) and Shimmer dust (cosmetic glitter) as well.
- Adding Sprinkles to your candles
You can color up your candles with sprinkles. Basically, sprinkles are used in pastries for their attractive colors and sweet flavors. But, you can add sprinkles made of food-grade wax to your candles for candy aroma and aesthetic appeal.
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash
Sprinkles come in multiple sizes and shapes. You can select tiny, round Nonpareils, cylindrical jimmies, or vermicelli, and shaped sprinkles perfect for any theme. These creative, sweet-scented candles are perfect sentimental gifts for your loved ones.
How can I add glitters and sprinkles in/on my candle?
You can play out your creativity with rainbow colors and size variations. Follow the basic steps to shine-up on your candles.
- Select the candle to coat: First things first. Select a candle of your choice from a range of sizes, small votive candles to tall taper candles. Glass container candles or battery-operated candles can also be used for outward decor.
- Mask the candle: Next step in the process is masking if you want to create a pattern. Just tape the candle or the glass container on the outside in whatever design you like. You can create a simple linear pattern, a zigzag, a spiral, a crisscross, or any other abstract form.
You can also mask regions you simply don’t want to glitter like the bottom of the candle. But you don’t need to mask the candle if you wish to cover it wholly in glitter. Don’t forget to fold the end of the tap. This makes a small tab that helps to pull the tape off of your candle.
- Apply glue on the unmasked surface: select suitable glue or use a spray adhesive. Apply it evenly on the candle with a paintbrush. Let it dry. Once dry, apply a second coat to it. But don’t let it dry, for you need it wet for perfect sticking of the glitter.
- Masking with double-sided tape: You can free yourself from the hassle of making with tape and applying glue on the standing candle or your container candle. Simply use double-sided tape and carve it out into unique designs. Then, peel off the tape backing from one side and wrap it around the candle smoothly (wrinkle-free). Now, remove the other side and sprinkle the glitter on the tape evenly.
- Roll the candle in glitter: spread the glitter powder on a flat surface. Use a blend of fine or coarse glitter powder for a better finish. Roll your wet candle over the glitter so it gets a perfect layer of glitter.
- Sprinkle the Sprinkles on the candle: Dip the candle in a bowl of sprinkles, so it gets a perfect layer. Use a blend of different colors and sizes for a festive look.
Note: You can always apply another glue coat if glue seems to dry and continue with the process. Stock the remaining glitter and sprinkles back into its jar, and let the candle dry.
- Remove the tapes and extra glitters. Once the candle has dried, remove the tapes carefully. Don’t peel it off abruptly, as you might remove the glitter as well.
- Fixing: Touch up the candle with a new paintbrush to remove any extra glitter and sprinkles. Fix the glitter using a transparent and glossy brush-on or a spray-on sealer, and let it set as well. You can always fill any bare patches with more glue and glitter/sprinkles.
Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash
Are Sprinkles safe to use in/on candles?
If you have safety concerns about using the sprinkled candles, then don’t worry. Sprinkles are safe to use in/on candles if handled properly. Just make sure;
- Sprinkles are not closer to the candle’s wick or flame; otherwise, they can catch fire.
- The wick of the candle should be about 3 inches long and trimmed. This is to ensure a steady flame and avoid flaring.
- And don’t end up eating your pastry candle.
- Adding flowers to the candles
If you want, you can preserve the beautiful flower you received this Valentine’s Day. You can easily make the scented floral candles to increase the ambiance of your space. Also, DIY floral candles are a perfect gift for your special ones on one memorable occasion.
Follow the basic steps to blossom your candles with colorful flowers.
- Select the candle: First things first—select candle flakes of your choice from a range of candle waxes. The best one to use is soy wax or beeswax flakes.
- Melt the candle: Melt the wax flakes completely in the aluminum tin on a water bath. As the wax cools, add a few drops of lavender or rosemary essential oil to enhance the scent (optional).
- Fix the wick: Fix the wick in your metal container with hot glue. Once settled, pour the warm wax into the box (not red hot as it can damage petals). You can also use glass jars or ceramics.
- Add flowers to candle wax: Add a few petals of your favorite flower and allow it to cool. Place some more petals in the middle and pour melted wax to cover it. Repeat the process on the surface to get a layered floral candle. You can use petals from the same flower or a mix of different colors.
Photo by Olga Serjantu on Unsplash
- Adding Dried Herbs in Candles
When we talk about adding shimmers and sprinkles to our candles with synthetic fragrance oils, you might be thinking of going for organic substitutes. You can infuse specific dried herbs in your candle for a natural and long-lasting aroma. You can create intricate patterns with flowers and herbs infused in a transparent container candle for an aesthetic appeal.
They are perfect for aromatherapy as they create a calm ambiance and amazing scent throw. Lavender, Chamomile, Rosemary, Thyme, Mint, and lemon are some of the most favorite aromatherapy picks. Each one of these has its own characteristic scent and a soothing effect.
These candles are inexpensive and eco-friendly. Herbs can be mixed in soy wax or beeswax, as they burn clean, fresh, and are biodegradable. Burning an all-natural scented candle and inhaling a fresh fragrance can help relax nerves and anxiety.
Read on to know how you can mix your favorite herbs to your candle for a strong scent.
- Select the candle: Select candle flakes of your choice from soy wax or beeswax flakes.
- Melt the candle: Melt the wax flakes completely in the aluminum tin on a water bath. Let it cool. Add complimentary dye (color) to the molten wax to enhance the visuals (optional).
- Fix the wick: Fix the wick in your metal container with hot glue. Once settled, pour the warm wax into the container (not red hot as it can damage petals). You can also use glass jars or ceramics.
- Add herbs to candle wax: Before adding the herbs, make sure they’re completely dry. Pour the wax into the transparent container and let it cool. Place some herbs at your desired position. You can create layered texture or a thorough mix of herbs in the wax.
- Repeat the process with alternate cooling and layering. You can use a blend of herbs to enhance the scent throw.
- Make sure the herbs are not too close to the wick. Dried herbs are flammable and can produce soot.
Conclusion:
When it comes to crafting your candles, you’ll never run out of options. You can customize your candles for any occasion and theme. With a myriad of colors and sizes available, let your craftsmanship impress your loved ones and brighten up your space.
