HEART SHAPED CANDLE

Candle making sounds a bit unnecessary and like a granny-craft, but this type of method is actually really useful if you already use candles and you’ve got annoying leftover bits. You can mix them for different smells and colour combinations so you’re not wasting any of the little useless scraps at the bottom of store-bought candles. All you’re essentially doing is re-melting them to become useful again! The equipment is so cheap and because you buy it in multiples, you’ll be able to keep reusing the end bits every time to mix them differently. I took the build up from the sides of a red coloured candle that had too much wax for its pot, and added the leftovers from a gorgeous smelling one I’d just finished.

YOU'LL NEED:

Old candle wax

Wicks (I bought a pack from ebay containing 6 metal bases and a length of cotton wick core for about £1.50)

Mould (I’ve used a cookie cutter on a baking tray to get the heart shape, but if you’ve got a cute mould like a glass pot or teacup then that’s a better and less messy option)

Saucepan

1)      Prepare the wick in the mould first, so that it’s ready as soon as the wax has been melted. Thread the cotton core through the metal base and sit it in the bottom of the mould/on the baking tray. Find a way to anchor the wick so that it stays upright and won’t fall in to the wax – I used a fork but chop sticks would be just as good.

2)      Break the wax in to small pieces and put on a low heat to melt. Once it’s all liquid, pour in to the mould.

3)      At this stage you can experiment a bit. If you have different coloured waxes, you can partially fill the mould with one colour and wait for it to set before pouring in another colour and making layers.

4)      If you’re using a cookie cutter and baking tray, and any of the wax leaks out then put pressure on the cutter to contain what’s already inside and wait for it to set a bit more. Then you can scrape the set wax from around the cutter and re-melt it to add to the top.

5)      Leave the candle to set, making sure the wick is central to the candle and isn’t bent so that it burns evenly and more safely.

As long as you make sure you’re staying safe and following basic fire and cooker safety information, this is such an easy project. From this technique you can try ideas like adding glitter or finding all sorts of moulds.

-OLIVIA