DIY Mason Jar Candles

 I've been teaching a kids art class this year and having a great time at it.   This week we decided we should do a fun craft for Thanksgiving, and thought it would be nice to make candles to dress up the Thanksgiving table.  We loved making these, and it was really a quick and easy thing to do.  We used Paraffin, (because I happen to have a box of it from another craft) and crayons, and a few scrap candles.  If you want a more natural, clean candle, use soy wax or beeswax.  We used 1/2 pint canning jars and essential oils to scent them naturally. If you are thinking of a fun quick craft to do this week for Thanksgiving, you might really love this one.

 

Supplies:
1 lb  Beeswax, Soy Wax, Paraffin or the equivalent of used crayon and candle pieces
1 bag of Wix
1 bag of Wick Clips
Approximately 6 Crayons in your choice of color
3 "1/2" pint canning jars or ( 6 "1/4" pint canning jars)
Essential oils
Glue dots (optional
Pencils or pens

Instructions:

1. Prepare wicks and wick clips by cutting the wick to fit the full length of your jar leaving enough extra to wrap around a pencil or rod. 
2. Slip the wick through the hole in the wick clip and crimp a tiny bit of it over the edge underneath to secure. You will want to be sure that the flat side is on the bottom. 
3. Wrap the top of the wick around a pencil, pen or rod, adjusting the length as you place the wick.
4. Place wick into jar, straightening as needed, and placing wick clip on bottom securely         Note: You can use Glue dots if you would like to glue the base of the wick clip to the bottom of the jar.
5. Lay the pencil over the top of the jar, straightening wick and adjusting it into place as needed.
6. Place wax and crayons into a small pot and turn to the lowest setting.  We did this in three batches, as there were different colors we wanted to use for each candle. Each jar filled nicely by using 1 and a half of the wax squares, and 2 crayons for each jar (for 3 "1/2" pint jars: If you wanted to do it all in one color, you can put it all in the pot at once).
7. Once wax is melted, stir well, and add 15-20 drops essential oils.
8. Pour into the prepared jars.
9. Allow the wax to cool and set for about 1 hour, or more if needed.  You should trim your wicks, leaving about 1/4 to 1/2 inch wick, (this is important to keep your candle from smoking; if your candle smokes, it is probably because your wick is too long. 

 

 Gather and prepare supplies.

These are the wick clips.

 Slip the wick through the clip, allowing a tiny part to come through the bottom and use your finger to crimp the the wick against the bottom.

Crimp and hold wick end as you straighten the length.  Wrap the top end of the wick around a pencil or rod.

 

 Place wick in jar, and lay pencil over top.

 Straighten and adjust wick, and wick clip so that it is straight and wick clip sits flat.

 Ready to go..... lets melt some wax.

 Put wax into a pot, and add approximately two crayons to add the color you want.

Add essential oils.

Stir over low heat until completely melted.  This one is just beginning to melt... but already looks so pretty doesn't it?

 When wax is melted, stir well, and then pour into jars.

 This batch was made up of candle scraps, and paraffin.

 Here they are, nicely set.  You will need to trim the wicks to 1/4 -1/2 inch, to avoid smoking.

 They look beautiful just like this.... but, tie ribbons or twine around them, or decorate them any way you like.

 Note: when using paraffin wax and crayons together, the crayons will tint the wax a lovely color, then will separate from the wax, as the candle cools,  leaving a pretty multi-layered color effect.  For our second batch of candles, I used a couple of scraps of old candles mixed with paraffin. It turned out super pretty as well, although it didn't have the pretty layers that the other candles had.

 Happy Candle Making.