Designer candles are so cute – and so expensive. I love the funny sayings, quotes and names on these candles. If you are crafty enough and have something to write or print on your candle, do it! Many of my genius crafts fail while attempting perfection. Most recently, I was trying to recreate a bathing suit, and it all kept going awry. Cue my kick-ass editor, who swooped in with an unassuming email sharing a cool craft using a candle. So here we are. This craft really only takes a few steps, depending on which you route you take. You can physically make the candle from wax, or you can just decorate the outside of a candle for almost the same effect. Either way, you can call it your own style.

MAKE THE CANDLE*

Supplies:
Candle glass or vessel
Wick end
Wax
Double boiler
Essential oils or fragrance

Steps:
Clean glass that candle will go in. Start double boiling water and measure out, according to directions, how much wax will fit in the container.

Melt the wax, take it off heat, and add your oils or fragrance. This is a tricky process, so you’ll most likely just wing it. Essential oils hold the most fragrance and generally are the best fit to scent a candle.

Pour wax into the container, then drop your wick (end first) to the bottom. Secure it with a wooden skewer on top and let it sit in a cool place to become solid. This takes like six hours! Do not place in fridge or freezer, or you will have air.

STYLE THE CANDLE

Supplies:
Spray paint, acrylic paint
Mod Podge
Labels of any kind
Chalk or markers

Steps:
The decorative part is where the candle really becomes your own. Use a funny quote, a message, a joke, a swear … really anything goes.

If you want to leave your candle in a glass container, skip this step. Otherwise, paint the outside of your candle with either acrylic or spray paint. If you use acrylic paint, give the container a few coats and let it dry between coats.

Print a label, or use a plain label, and stick it on the candle. I used chalk labels and chalk. I loved chalk, which let me change the message.

Burn your candle, sit back, sip your wine and get lit!

*Or go to the store and buy the damn candle.

By Jamie Burke