Recycling Old Candles

Materials

• Old candle
• Variety of jars
• Candle or mug warmer

Directions:

The wick in my favorite candle was completely burned down. The candle was a huge 5" one and the best smelling candle I had ever had. It was really expensive and was given to me as a gift. I couldn't bear to part with it so it set on the back of a shelf. I had seen how to reset the wick and remake the candle and had planned to do that someday but never got around to it.

Then one day in the local discount store I saw a candle warmer. It is just a mini hot plate or coffee mug warmer. It cost less than $5. So I bought it. I came home and broke off pieces of that favorite candle, put them in a canning jar, and set it on the warmer. Presto! Problem solved. The wax melted, giving off that wonderful aroma. I had my favorite candle back with almost no effort. There is no smoke from an extinguished candle and it seems to last much longer.

I discovered that smaller jars like jelly jars or pimento jars work best. If you use a pint sized jar and fill it completely it takes a long time for the wax to melt completely. Another advantage to the candle warmer is the removal of the danger involved with a flame. You can use the warmer with those expensive candles form the speciality store and have them last longer too

Feedback About This Post:

RE: Recycling Old Candles

Instead of using a candle warmer, I set my candle that no longer has a wick, on the back of my stove. When I bake, or cook meals, the heat from the oven warms the candle and gives off the aroma and is very pleasant and soothing.

Laura in NH

Post by DDSS2000

RE: Recycling Old Candles

Candle warmers are great BUT I cleaned for a friend and the candle warmer had messed up the wood on an end table so obviously they do put out some warmth on the surface it is sitting on.I'd suggest moving it occasionally so this doesn't happen to your furniture.

Post By Sharon,KY (Guest Post)

Canning Jar Candles

By Rachel Paxton
rachel@creativehomemaking.com

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 old wide 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!

About The Author:
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who publishes the Creative Homemaking Recipe of the Week Club, a weekly newsletter that contains quick, easy dinner ideas and money-saving household hints. To subscribe send a blank e-mail message to FreeRecipes-subscribe@egroups.com . Visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com and in the Home and Garden section of Suite 101 - http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/creative_homemaking

Post by ThriftyFun

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