Coastal Beach Seashell Candle Holders

Last month we took an extended vacation down to the Jersey Shore. We spent 2 1/2 weeks at the condo and had a wonderful time. Every time we go down...I go shelling and pick up all of the seashells, sand dollars and star fish that I find. In addition, I always bring home a small zipper closure baggie full of beach sand. I like to use these things in various craft projects & home decor projects around my home.

Last week I whipped up 6 of these very easy-to-make beach seashell candle holders to sit out around our deck and near our swimming pool for an upcoming party that we are hosting. Here's how I made them.

Coastal & Beach Seashell Candle Holders

Colored Glass Mason Jars
Battery-Operated Votive or Tealight Candles
Beach Sand
Pebbles & Seashells
Jute Rope
Glue Gun & Hot Glue

I found the colored glass mason jars at my local craft supply store for $1.00 each on sale. I also picked up battery-operated tealight candles and a roll of jute.

You can fill your jar up with beach sand, smooth pebbles that you found on the beach and small seashells. Whatever you found on vacation...use it in the jar, including small pieces of driftwood. You can fill your jars up as far as you would like. Since I am using small tealights, I filled my jars up pretty full.

I then took hot glue and glued jute roping around the neck of each of my jars...I think 6-7 rows of it. I then glued small clam shells on top of the jute roping to finish them off. You can decorate the neck opening of the jar however you would like.  You can make them simple & plain like mine (that's the way I like them) or fancy them up. You can make them all the same or vary the design & fillings to suit your own taste.

These look so pretty sitting on the tables and our deck railing during the day and at night...they look even prettier with the candlelight glow.

DIY Coastal Driftwood Flameless Pillar Candles

I decorate my home in a beach and coastal style. With that said...living in the heart of Pennsylvania makes it hard to find pretty decor items to decorate my home. When I do find them...it's always while we are down at our beause in Jersey or when I resort to shopping online.
ch ho
Several months ago when we were down at the Jersey Shore...I spotted some adorable coastal-style flameless pillar candles. The store that was selling them wanted $22.95 a piece and I knew I could make them myself for much less.

Once we got home from vacation I headed to my local craft store and picked up some 6" and 8" tall wax flameless pillar candles (they came with the AA batteries), a bag of driftwood pieces and a tube of E6000 glue (adhesive). You could use a hot glue gun but I found that my driftwood pieces didn't stick onto the waxy candle as well...hence the need for the powerful E6000 glue.

The E6000 can be pretty messy to work with so I prefer to work with it on an old glass heat-resistant cutting board that I have. Once dry...the glue peels right off of it so that old cutting board is my new craft work surface.

You will want to stand your candles upright when working on them. Lay out all of your driftwood pieces and line up about 2 dozen pieces that you plan on using. You will want to use varying lengths and look for pieces that have flat backs which will adhere well to the waxy candle.

Use just a little bit of the E6000 to apply the driftwood pieces around the bottom of your candle. If they slide around...you can use a large rubberband or tie a tight ribbon around them until it has completely dried. I left mine dry overnight. You can let them plain like I did or you can glue some smaller seashells on top. Personally, I prefer the plain & simple driftwood look.

That's it! I made several of them and each one cost me about $6.00 to make instead of $22.95 like the seaside boutique was charging. I'm pretty happy with my results and going to make a few more with some driftwood and small seashells that I have leftover from another project. I will share those next week here on my craft blog. Enjoy!

Turning Old Glass Jars into Candle Holders

Any opportunity that I get to recycle and upcycle items is a good thing! On top of that, I love candles and often times I make or buy candles to give as a gift and to use around my own home. Well, today I have a great idea for all of you from Rachel Paxton on how you can turn your old mason jars and glass jars into inexpensive candle holders and gifts! The article and instructions are below. Enjoy!

Canning jar candles are very easy to make, make great gifts, and are only limited by your imagination!

To start all you need are some narrow-mouth canning jars, wire ribbon, potpourri, votive candles, small glass votive candle holders, and craft glue or a hot glue gun.

If you don't have any old canning jars, you can find some very inexpensively at thrift stores and yard sales. Wire ribbon can be a little expensive. Look for it at yard sales and at craft store clearance sales. The after-Christmas sales a great time to stock up. One roll of ribbon will make several canning jar candles. Potpourri you can make yourself or buy on sale. Votive candles are inexpensive at stores like Target or Walmart, and you can also find glass votive candle holders very inexpensively at Walmart. You want one that will set in the rim of the canning jar.

You can fill the canning jar with whatever you wish. Potpourri is one of the easiest fillers. I bought a nice autumn-scented potpourri and added some orange slices I'd dried in my food dehydrator. You can also add dried cranberries, apple slices, or cinnamon sticks.

After you fill the jar, you set the candle holder inside the mouth of the jar. The top of the candle holder should be even with the top of the jar. You might have a little trial and error before you find just the right candle holder. Place the candle in the holder and then use the ribbon to tie a big bow around the neck of the jar. That's it! (You might want to use a little craft glue or your glue gun to tack the ribbon in place).

You can glue some dried fruit, flowers, or other decorations on the bow for a more decorative look. You can also put other things in the jar besides potpourri. I've seen one half filled with white sugar with a short white taper candle set down in the sugar. Very pretty! And that one doesn't require the candle holder.

At Christmas you can purchase small ornaments and place them in the jar instead of the potpourri. Any small figurine would do--in the spring you could use little bunnies.

Maybe fill a jar with marbles or layers of colored sand. Even pennies! Use your imagination. These candles make great gifts and are also fun to make for yourself. If you get tired of one just empty it out and start again!

Originally published at Suite 101. Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of four. For scrapbooking, card making, gift-giving ideas, and more family memory-making activities, visit http://www.crafty-moms.com.

What to do with Broken Hair Brushes? Turn Them Into Candle Holders!

Here in our home we are really big on recycling and reusing items instead of sending them to the local landfill. When an item breaks or if its a left-over item that I think can be repurposed in a new or unusual way...I toss it into my Rubbermaid bin for another day.

Well...a few weeks ago my Conair hairbrush handle busted off. This was a paddle style hair brush which I just loved! I love how you can get pretty hair brushes these days and I couldn't part with the busted handle. I tossed it into my "craft" bin and went about my day.

Last week I had a brainstorm on what I could do with that hair brush handle! I decided to turn it into a candlestick to hold a votive and/or tea light candle! We do a lot of entertaining outdoors and I needed one to hold some citronella votives that I had just purchased. Here is how I made it.

Broken Hairbrush Candles Holder (Candlestick)

Supplies Needed:

Broken Hair Brush Handle (ours is from a Conair Paddle Brush)
Gorilla Glue or E600 Perm. Liquid Glue
Glass Votive Holder (we got ours at the dollar store)

Directions:

If your handle didn't have a clean break...file it down with a little sand paper. Add a generous amount of liquid glue onto the broken edge and sit your glass candle cup on top. We poked a hole into an empty cardboard tissue box and then put our candlestick down into the hole to dry...this way it stayed upright. You will want to let it dry overnight or for at least 8 hours.

What is really surprising is that it doesn't tip over and it really is a nice balanced candlestick holder. We have been using ours outdoors and love it! If you have kids or pets around...I would NOT use something like this for fear of it getting knocked over and starting a fire...so please use caution around them!

Craft Project: Natural Mood Lighting - Olive Oil Citrus Candles

I was asked to share this very cute craft project with all of my readers today and I think it's absolutely darling and so simple to make! You could use these olive oil citrus candles outdoors when you are entertaining, indoors during a romantic evening for two or make several of them and use at a family get-together...like a romantic wedding reception.

Natural Mood Lighting With Indie Lee
Clementines are for Lovers: Natural Citrus Candle- Sans Wax

Why burn toxic synthetic materials, or exorbitantly priced soy and bees wax, when the perfect citrus mood-lighting is sitting in your compost? Indie Lee, founder of the all-natural skincare line, Indie Lee & Co, shares one of her at-home secrets for an all-natural clementine candle - no wax necessary!

What You Need:

· 1 Clementine
· Olive Oil

How to Make It:

1. Cut clementine in half.
2. Carefully peel skin off as a whole.
3. Twist the inside into a wick.
4. Fill with a bit of olive oil.
5. Light and enjoy!

*Indie Tip: Cut a small design in the top half of the peel to make a creative candle lid!

About Indie Lee
Indie Lee is a natural ingredients advocate, who has devoted her life to educating consumers on the dangerous contaminants that consume our lives. Following her recovery from a life-threatening brain tumor, likely caused by environmental toxins in food products and cleaning and skin care products, Indie left her corporate suits and lifestyle behind to re-dedicate her life to educating consumers on the hidden dangers of chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products. She took it upon herself to provide a healthy, non-toxic alternative. From this notion, Indie Lee & Co. was born.

Indie Lee & Co. was founded on the principle that women everywhere deserve to have access to a luxurious, all-natural alternative to the artificial, chemically-laden products on the market today. The line is specially formulated to meet the growing demand of health-conscious consumers who long for toxin-free and effective skincare products. Each of the six cross-functional collections provide a natural alternative to common skin conditions such as rosacea, blemishes and dry skin.

The Wax For Your Candle Making Hobby

The Wax For Your Candle Making Hobby
By Carmen Lake

Many candle makers nowadays look for a more variety and are willing to experiment on how to make better and quality candles. The starting point for the candle makers is always deciding on what kind of wax they are going to use for the candles they want to make. This is to say that wax is one of the most important ingredients in the candle making process.

Petroleum is the main ingredient of the most commonly used wax, which is the paraffin wax and it is available anywhere, anytime in any stores. But if you are concerned with the environment, there are natural waxes and those are made from plants and vegetables such as palm, soy and bayberry.

Soy based wax is the most popular among the other natural waxes. To make this wax, hydrogenated soybeans are being processed. Soybeans are abundant in the United States for the most part in Iowa, Indiana and Illinois. Another natural wax is made from palm and they are abundant in Malaysia and Indonesia. But most of their rainforests are clearing out and because of that the natural habitats of most animals are now mostly gone. Because of this incidence, the World Wide Fund produced the organization called the RSPO. Their main concern is about the cultivation and sustaining the palm trees and most countries agreed and are involved with this organization. So, it is much better to use natural based wax for your candles.

Another natural type of wax is beeswax; it is mainly made from animals. Waxes that come from natural resources are becoming more popular nowadays such as beeswax because most people today are becoming more concerned with the environment. Candles that are made from beeswax can come in colors white or yellow and they are much more expensive because of the fragrant it will have and it also cannot be melted easily.

One alternative material in candles is gel. Although its texture is similar to rubber it is not really a wax. You can have them in three different densities which are really dependent on the type of candle that you want to have. The density is also affected by the amount of fragrance you put in it.

You will have no problems in making good and different variety of candles because you have many options to choose from in terms of the types of wax. Candle making could be an accomplishment for some people because of the beauty that they make out of these waxes.

If you are interested in candle making wax check out: candle making.

Candle Making Tips | A Variety Of Candle Making Wax

A Variety Of Candle Making Wax
By Lance Mardian

The need for candle making wax, today, is not limited to just the candle manufacturers. It is now in demand even more as a lot of people have now learned and a lot more are learning the craft of making candles at home. It is really an art in itself, the way to make candles, and is widely being learned by people of like decorating their homes and this helps them adding an extra bit to their decor. The only problem with buying decorative candles is that most don't get the desired candles and this makes them decorate it further after buying the candles. The advantage of buying wax to make candles at home is that it is not only a fun process but, more importantly, people can make their own shapes, sizes and designs of candles and make decorations of their own choices which would otherwise be limited.

Making candles is increasingly becoming a famous craft work for the common people especially amongst craft lovers and homemakers. It is considered to be a hobby by many. Previously the variety of wax and the ease of availability was a matter of concern for a lot but due to such growing popularity of candle making, the availability of good quality candle making wax has eased up and there is a variety from which one can choose from. It is no more a fuss to find materials for candle making in today's times. There is a list of the types of waxes that are used for candle making but the most common type is paraffin wax which is made from petroleum. It is basically refined from the fuel and then used for the purpose of making candles. There are other waxes as well, amongst which some are made or refined from plants, vegetables or peels, and are therefore referred as natural waxes. Bayberry, palm and soy are included in the natural candle making wax category.

Soy candles are obtained by hydrogenating soya beans. It is considered eco-friendly as it is renewable and that is why the use of soy wax is greatly encouraged when it comes to candle making. The use of soy wax is widespread in America as soya beans are produced there as well as because soy waxes are of very good quality and make good candles. Palm wax is also popular for the purpose of candle making. The major contribution that was initially made due to use of palm wax is that it helped in the clearing of major poor plantations to grow palm trees for producing palm candle making wax but later an alarm was raised on the amount of danger it caused to the habitat of some local species and certain endangered species. Hence the use of palm wax is only encouraged when it is being produced from a source that is not jeopardizing the flora and fauna of habitat concerned.

The use of gel wax is gaining popularity since the recent past. The reason being it is transparent or translucent nature and the fact that it looks extravagant when a candle is being used in a jar. The decorations done with gel wax can add a little more to the visuals and thus the gel candle making wax is being widely used as well. Gel wax is of a rubbery nature although it is no different from normal wax when it burns and can be considered as competent as traditional wax when it comes to serving the real purpose of candle wax. It is available in different types of densities, three types of densities, and also in different fragrances that makes its use so popular.

Lance is a candle making expert. For more great information on candle making wax, visit http://www.candlemakingtips.com/.

How to Make a Candle: Creating That Warm Glow From Scratch

How to Make a Candle: Creating That Warm Glow From Scratch
By Jason Kinech

I love having candles around the house. Not only are they great for power outages (which is virtually all the unscented ones are used for), but they also create a relaxing and peaceful energy in a room. There is only one problem: they can be pricey. Now I know that every grocery store or convenience shop has them on the cheap, but this is a case where you get what you pay for. How?

The cheap candles tend to be grainy, burn unevenly, and have a very artificial smell to them. None of this is relaxing. Of course, one solution is to simply buy the more expensive, possibly name brand candles, but where's the fun in that? Instead, spend that some amount of money in a few cheap supplies and you can make dozens of candles for yourself. Plus, you can make completely personal and unique candles that aren't available anywhere else. Pretty fun, right?

Obviously, you're going to need to buy a few supplies. However, these supplies will cost as much as (or possibly less than) one of the brand name jar candles. In fact, this simple shopping trip will allow you to make more than enough candles for yourself. Here is your shopping list:

1 candle pitcher
1 block of soy wax (container)
as many jars as you'd like
Pre set wicks (long enough for the height of the jar)
Candle dyes
Candle scents

While all of this might cost $50 or so upfront, there are two things to keep in mind. Firstly, the candle pitcher is optional; you don't have to buy one (it just makes things a little easier). Secondly, the dyes and scents will lost an extremely long time, and you can actually make your own if you want to go really on the cheap. For the sake of simplicity though, I'm going to assume that you purchased everything. Not only will this make this guide easier to follow, but it won't change if you do make your own scents or dyes.

The first thing that you need to need is make sure that your candle jars don't need to be preheated. Most don't that are made for this, but if you aren't sure just put them into your oven and set it to warm. One you're clear on your containers you're ready to start melting wax.

This is pretty simple. Just put a few cups of water into a small saucepan and bring to a simmer, then add your candle pitcher. If you opted to pass on the candle pitcher, just make a double boiler with another pan. I won't judge; don't worry (I have way too many pans, so this was my way to go for a long time). Add some wax to the pitcher/double boiler and grab a candy thermometer.

Alright, I admit it. I forgot to tell you that you'd need a candy thermometer. But it's such a little thing, and no one ever thinks of it being involved with candles! Besides, chances are good that your grandmother has 1 (or 7) anyway, so you shouldn't have to buy one. If you do, they're only a few bucks.

So now that you have a candy thermometer, just clip it onto your pitcher or double boiler so that the metal tip is in the liquid wax. It is really important that you keep an eye on your wax temperature while it is on the heat! Why? Nothing ruins a candle like a large kitchen fire. It may be funny in the movies, but they're a real day ruiner in reality. To avoid dealing with a massive wax fire, watch your wax the entire time it is on the heat!

When your wax reaches the proper temperature (around 160 to 180 degrees, read your wax packaging to be sure) it's time to add the color and scent. We'll go with the color first. This is where the personalization really begins: you can make it any color that you want to! Don't just say pink either; take a page from the big companies' book. Instead of pink, your candle is 'summer love'. It's not green, it's 'spring oak leaf'. The more ridiculous the color, the more impressive it sounds to friends and family. Refuse to tell them how you 'mixed it', it will add to the mystery of your newfound skills.

After the color has been added and mixed the scent is next to go in. While it is much easier to just buy scents (as I assumed you did for this guide), once you are a little more comfortable with the process it's worth it to make your own scents. Don't worry; it's very easy, but for right now just add your store-bought scent. Very important: as soon as the scent is mixed into the wax, pour the candle. Why?

If you leave the scented wax on the heat to long it can burn the fragrance, which results in a very artificial and cooked smell. Not magical, not relaxing, and not something you can show off to friends and family. So just add the scent and stir a few times to incorporate, then pour the wax into your container.

While the wax is still hot, carefully lower your pinned wick to the bottom. If you don't like doing it this way, dip the pin in hot wax and immediately stick to the bottom of your container before pouring the wax. Though it can come up, this method is slightly easier.

Now that your new, unique, and personal candle is poured; you are at the worst part (for most anyway): the waiting. There is really no way to speed this up without negatively affecting the candle, so just be patient. If at all possible, let them cool overnight to ensure that there are no warm pockets or soft spots, as this can create awkward setting and uneven burning if it is lit too soon.

So now your candle is finally cooled off, ready to go, and waiting. Light that thing! Enjoy the fragrance it gives up, and give yourself a firm pat on the back. You've earned it!

If you need more simple steps for candle making just check out our free guide on candle making, and remember to have fun.

Candle Molds For Your Candle Making Hobby

Molds For Your Candle Making Hobby
By Carmen Lake

Candles are becoming more popular today. They can be used as a decoration, that's why candle making is becoming a hobby by many these days. It is very easy and fun because there are many candle molds available in the market and they come in different shapes, sizes and designs to suit your taste.

In making beautiful candles, you should need a wax and a mold. There are different types of molds to choose from and they come in different shapes, sizes and designs. Because of its durability, versatility and ability to resist the heat, aluminum is the most commonly used molds by the candle makers. Having aluminum as the mold for your candles, you will be able to have a smooth and perfect finish candles. Cleaning the molds is not a challenge, you just have to put the molds in the oven upside down and place a baking paper underneath it so when the wax melted it will directly go on the baking paper. You also need a releasing agent for candles to be removed from the mold.

If you want a flexible one for your molds, you can select from silicone, polyurethane or latex. Polyurethane molds have limitations in terms of stretching and it can also give your candle a certain smell and you also need a special agent to remove your candle out of the mold. Those flexible molds are used in making taper or pillar candles. Silicone on the other hand is expensive but very versatile and it could give you the best candles. You don't need to worry about removing the candles out of the molds because you can stretch it to the limits and they do not leave parting lines too. Latex molds were popular until other much better molds have been introduced. If you want to make your own special design molds, you just have to paint it with coats of liquid latex.

Cheaper molds are generally made from plastics, that's why they can easily become brittle after some use. But on the bright side, they are more affordable and can be cleaned easily with just soap and warm water. Just remember, before using it, to keep it dry to avoid forming water bubbles on the candles. For beginners, cheap plastic molds are good to practice on. But for those who want to improve their skills and making it a business, buying better candle molds is recommended.

The author of this article is interested in candle making. For more information about candle making molds try visiting the site on candle making.

Halloween Candle Making: 3 Fun Projects for the Holiday

Halloween Candle Making: 3 Fun Projects for the Holiday
By Jason Kinech

Halloween is like almost all of the holidays: it makes people start to get crafty. Those that never touch construction paper are all of the sudden instant Martha Stewarts, desperately trying to out-craft their neighbors. Unfortunately, this usually results in excellent attempts, but with sometimes pitiful results. So how do you ensure that your spooky candles turn out well? Start simple!

Instead of immediately going for the bleeding skull candle, start with much simpler candle making projects that are just as appropriate for Halloween. To make it easy, here are 3 dead simple projects that you can do:

The Mini Pumpkin Tea Light

Alright, I'll be honest. There is actually no candle making involved in this particular project. However, it costs less than 2 dollars and you can make as many as you want to. All you need is a mini pumpkin (3-4 inches), a tea candle, and either a candle carver or a biscuit cutter. You could also just use a knife or screwdriver.

First we need to pick out a good mini pumpkin. No need for perfection here, we just need something that is going to be level and easy to work with. Next, choose your weapon! Whether you choose the candle carver, knife, or screwdriver, the goal is the same: cut out a circle the same size as a tea light candle.

If you aren't exactly sure on size, just cut a little bit off of the pumpkin so that it is level, then rest the tea light on top and trace around it. This will give you a good indication of the exact size area that you need to cut. Cut straight down then just chisel out inside the circle with a screwdriver, butter knife, or an actual chisel. Remember: safety first! Please be careful whenever using anything sharp. Once you have the area chiseled out for the tea light, drop it in and light. These make great gifts of the neighbors, or you can set up out along your driveway on trick or treat night.

Pumpkin Pie Floating Candles

This project is very easy and goes quickly. Even better, you'll actually be doing some candle making! We're going to make 3 scents: cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin. When all 3 are lit it will smell almost identical to a fresh pumpkin pie. Of course if you don't feel like making 3 different candles, you could easily just blend the scents together.

As with most candle making projects, we're going to start by finding and preparing the mold. To make floating candles I usually just use a heat proof bowl and only pour the wax about.5 to 1 inch thick. This makes for a candle guaranteed to float without any problems. Just rub your heatproof bowls with some vegetable oil to make sure that the candle releases easily.

After your molds are prepped you're ready to focus on the scents. For the cinnamon and nutmeg candles you'll just add the fresh spices to the wax, so those are easy. The only scent that we need to make is the pumpkin, and it is much easier than you'd think.

Simply warm about a cub of vegetable oil in a saucepan to about 100 to 150 degrees, it shouldn't be hot. Next, wash and peel the skin from a pumpkin then add it to the oil, you want about a cup of peelings. Let it steep for about 10 minutes, and then remove from the heat. If possible, let it sit for a week at room temperature (optional, but will result in a much stronger scent). If you don't do a whole week at least let it sit overnight. Then just strain out the solid pieces and you're left with your own pumpkin oil.

To make your floating candles just melt enough wax for all 3 candles, then sprinkle cinnamon into one mold and nutmeg in another. Shake them around to let the spices coat evenly in the mold, then dump out any extra. Just pour in the wax, then set your wick in the center (using pinned wicks with a tab). This little cheat means that you don't have to actually mix the scents in with the wax, saving you a step.

After the cinnamon and nutmeg candles are poured, add about a tablespoon of your pumpkin oil to the wax and mix thoroughly, then pour into your third mold. Let these all cool then float in water and light. Since you didn't add color this can really confuse your friends (everyone is used to pumpkin candles being brown), enjoy!

The Bleeding Candle

This Halloween candle making classic isn't as difficult as you'd think, and we're going to stick with our trusty bowl molds. Ideally, we want molds that have a smooth bottom as well; you'll see why in just a moment. But first:

Prepare your molds! I know; big surprise. Rub a little vegetable oil on the inside of one of the bowls and on the outside of another. Melt some white wax to the proper temperature and pour it into the first bowl, then insert the second bowl until there is only a 1 inch gap between them, and let cool. After it has cooled, remove the inner bowl; this will leave you with a white shell.

Melt and pour red wax until it us.5 inch below the top of the shell, then let cool again. Last step! Pour a final layer of white to cap the red (the wick should have been placed into the red pour), and let cool a final time. For a real bleeding effect drill holes up through the sides of the candle so that the melting red wax can escape.

These are just a few basic Halloween candle making ideas, but you can do almost anything you can think of. Get creative! Make a snowman from pumpkins, made a bleeding pumpkin, or even experiment with cookie cutters to make fun Halloween tarts. Once you've made a few that you're proud of, light them and show them off!

If you need specific candle making instructions just check out our free guide on how to make candles, and have fun!

DIY: Make Your Own Outdoor Candle Holders For Summer

I love recycling and upcycling everyday trash that I would normally throw away and this project is a great Trash to Treasure project because you are using all of those glass condiment jars that you normally would toss away and then they end up in our landfills. This project will save that from happening and in turn you will be making yourself some beautiful outdoor candle holders for summertime use!

DIY: Make Your Own Outdoor Candle Holders For Summer
Supplies Needed:

Empty Glass Jars (clear or you can used colored glass jars)
Colored 20-22 Wire, Needle Nose Pliers and Wire Cutters
Jar Filling: Sand, Small Pebbles, Tiny Seashells, Aquarium Gravel or Smooth River Stones
Votive Candles and/or tealight candles
Optional: Metal Charms

* All of the supplies mentioned above can be purchased at your local craft supply store.

For the next week or two save all of your condiment jars and wash them out and remove their labels. Take your wire cutters and cut off approximately 2 feet of colored wire and wrap that wire around the neck of the jar (tightly) and bring the two ends up to the top and twist the two ends together to form a hanger. Fill your jar with 2-4" of sand, pebbles or small river stones and nestle a small votive candle down inside the jar.

Optional: If desired, thread purchased metal summer-theme'd charms onto the wire as you wrap it around the neck of the jar to add decoration.

You are now ready to hang your newly made summer jar candle holders on garden hooks, tree limbs, etc. As always, never leave a burning candle unattended and that includes outdoor candles.

Primitive Wax Chunky Snowman Basket or Bowl Filler

During the summer months, I was fortunate to find some old metal soap and candy molds at my local flea market. One of the molds was of a snowman and I just new I had to make some wax chunky snowman's using that mold. I finally dug out my mold and got busy with it a few days ago.

I had purchased a candle making wax kit a few weeks ago at my local craft store. I melted down my wax according to the box directions and added some vanilla candle scent. While my wax was melting, I placed some whole cloves in the metal mold where the snowman's eyes and buttons would be. When my wax was ready for pouring, I gently poured my wax into the mold. I left it harden for 2 hours (wanted to make sure it was good and hard) and then removed my snowman chunky from the mold.

I then cut down some of my homespun fabric scraps into 1/2" wide strips and tied them around my wax snowmen.

I now have my wax snowman shapes sitting in a primitive basket in my living room that is filled with waxed stars, dried pods and some pine cones.

Pretty easy project...took me about 20 minutes to melt and pour my wax and another 2 hours for hardening time.

~ Shelly ~

How To Make A Primitive Wax Dipped Wooden Star

I just love primitive and/or country home decor...so I wanted some new things for my primitive fix'ins basket and decided to make a few items myself. For this project, I had my hubby cut me out some wooden stars from 1/8" thick pine wood...you could go to your local craft store and buy unfinished wood shapes pretty cheaply.

I then purchased an inexpensive votive candle making wax kit at the craft store...instead of making votives...I melted down the wax (following the directions that came in the kit) and dipped my wooden stars into it. I had to use an old pair of tongs to dip them and then laid them on aluminum foil to harden. My wax kit came with 3 scented oils...vanilla, gingerbread and pumpkin...so I chose to use the vanilla with the white colored wax.

Once they hardened, I took some homespun fabric scraps and cut them into 1/2" wide strips and tied them around my wax dipped wooden stars.

I have several of these stars now sitting in one of my prim baskets that is filled with rose hips, pinecones and some dried pods.

~ Shelly ~