Make Apple Tealight Candles
Whether you're looking for a vibrant autumn centerpiece or you’d like to have a different way to light the night, crafting tealight candle holders out of apples is a unique and creative way to make a statement.
Contents
Steps
Preparing the Apples
- Remove each apple's stem. Simply hold the apple by the stem, either twist the apple around until the stem comes off, don't twist and give the stem a hard pull, or slice out the stem with a craft knife.
- Create the candle holder shape in the top center of the apple. Place the tealight on top of the apple and trace around the bottom with a pen or pencil.
- Cut out the traced hole using a craft knife. Plunge the craft knife into the apple along the traced line, cutting a round hole. Cut about 1" down (2.54 cm) to create a hole deep enough to hold the candle.
- Cut two “X” shapes in the center of the circle with the craft knife. Cutting the X shapes will make it easier to remove the center of the apple.
- Scoop out center area with a spoon. The pre-cut X shapes should lift easily. Then continue to hollow out the apple with your spoon.
- Scrape around the sides of the pre-cut hole to create a smooth center and base to hold your tealight.
Adding the Tealight
- Drop the tealight candle into the hole. Light a wax tealight candle after adding it. If using battery operated candles though, be sure to turn on the candle before dropping it into the hole.
Determine a Theme and Decorate
- Decide how you will use the apple tealight candle holders.
- For a fall theme, you could fill a large tub with water and fill it with lit floating apples.
- A large, Golden Delicious apple perched upon a small saucer placed as a centerpiece on each table might be a great way to celebrate your child’s teacher at the next teacher's luncheon.
- A tall cylindrical vase filled 3/4 full with water would be beautiful with a floating apple candle holder on top! Also, the water could be colored to compliment the apple or a theme of choice.
Tips
- When scooping out the apple to create the hole, design something shallower at first––you can always make the hole deeper if necessary.
- Make sure the candle wick is visible and in line with the top of the apple. The hole inside the apple should not be so deep that the candle is unable to be seen.
- Consider purchasing same colored tea lights for a seamless look, like red apples with red candles, etc.
- Usually these apple tealight candles will last only one night. Keeping them too long will result in them eventually turn brown and mushy!
Warnings
- Remember that apples can be rather wobbly! An apple with a burning flame could be dangerous if tipped over. If concerned, you could slice off a portion of the base of the apple to make it more flat and sturdy. Otherwise, you could place the apple onto a plate or other holder to ensure the apple candle holder will not easily be tipped over.
Things You'll Need
- Apples of any size, large enough to hold a tealight, color of choice, firm to the touch and not lopsided
- Enough tea-lights for each apple; battery operated tea lights are easier and safer than flame versions but the choice is yours
- Sharp craft knife to slice the top of the apple
- Spoon to remove and hollow out the area to hold the candle
- Pencil or pen to trace the tealight shape (optional)
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Sources and Citations
- http://www.designmom.com/2012/09/apple-votive-diy/ – research source
