| Jar candles are only one of many types of candle | | | | If you have no pre-made and pre-primed wicks, you |
| you can make at home, but candles made in jars are | | | | can simply make your own by dipping some braided |
| without doubt one of the easiest ways to make | | | | strips of cotton yarn into melted wax and pulling |
| candles. At their simplest these can be made without | | | | them straight to dry and harden. |
| any sort of specialist equipment with just what you | | | | Once your wax is melted you are then ready to |
| have around the house. | | | | make your candle. Have your container ready on a |
| If you have some old candles that have burnt down | | | | piece of newspaper on your countertop to make |
| or become misshapen and unattractive these will be | | | | sure any spills are easily cleaned up. Glue one end of |
| ideal for making your new jar candles. | | | | your wick into the center of the bottom of your |
| You will first need to find a container to hold your jar | | | | container and attach the other end to a straw placed |
| candle. Any strong glass container is suitable and if | | | | across the top of the container in order to keep the |
| you have some old stemmed fruit dishes you no | | | | wick central. Pour the melted wax carefully into your |
| longer use, these would be ideal. Just make sure the | | | | container, ensuring that the wick is kept as central as |
| container is perfectly clean, dry and warm before | | | | possible. |
| you are ready to melt your wax. | | | | Let the wax cool slowly and undisturbed for several |
| If you are using old candles, you will need to break | | | | hours or until completely hardened. Sometimes you'll |
| these up as best you can to speed up their melting. | | | | end up with a depressed area around the wick of |
| In order to melt your wax without the danger of it | | | | the candle but luckily this has an easy solution. You |
| burning or catching fire, you will need to heat it up in | | | | just need to melt some more wax and pour it into |
| a double boiler. This is where you have the container | | | | the dip to bring the level up. Once the new wax has |
| with your wax in it inside a second large pot full of | | | | hardened, simply trim the wick down to around 1/4" |
| boiling water. If you use a old tin as your inner | | | | and your candle is ready for use - always assuming |
| container, this can simply be disposed of once your | | | | you are going to light it and not just admire it as an |
| wax is melted and poured and you don't have to | | | | attractive ornament! |
| worry about cleaning this up afterwards. | | | | |