Make Bottle Cap Candles
Looking for a way to make a DIY votive candles at home? Make candles inside bottle caps reusing items typically found around the house.
Steps
- Save soda or beer bottle caps after you drink them, so you will have a collection on hand. Remove any rubber sealing from the inside of the cap and then wash each before you store it, using warm soapy water and a clean towel for drying.
- Find wax supplies. There are a few ways you can do this – gather as many old, broken crayons together to melt and use as the wax or you can go a step further, hit the craft store and purchase candle wax. Another option is to use old, melted-down candles you find around the house.
- Pick up a package of pre-waxed wire wicks. Do not worry about the wick length, as you will trim it to desired size after the candle wax has been poured.
- Line up the bottle caps, bottoms down, ready to receive the wax. Use only undamaged bottle caps. If the cap is dented or twisted, do not use it for this project, as the wax may spill from the sides.
- Place one pre-waxed wick in the middle of each bottle cap. Place the wick in the dead center of the bottle cap so that when you burn the candle, the wax melts away evenly.
- Leave the long wick intact, as you will not know exactly how low you want to trim it until after the wax has been poured.
- Melt the candle wax. Whether you're using crayons or actual candle wax, melt the wax the same way.
- Place the candles or wax in a small pot. Remove all the paper from the crayons before melting the wax.
- Fill a larger pot halfway to the top with water. Check that the smaller pot containing the crayons or wax can fit inside the larger pot (with room to spare).
- Bring the water to a rolling boil and then place the smaller pot with the wax inside the larger pot. Allow the wax to slowly melt until it is of a liquid consistency.
- Pour the melted wax into a pouring container. It is best if you transfer the heated wax to another container with a spout that allows for easy pouring – this makes it more accurate.
- Pour the melted wax into the bottle caps. Fill each bottle cap to the top, holding the wick upright to keep it centered and above the wax (an extra set of friend's hands may come in handy here).
- Allow the wax to set for several hours. Although wax congeals rather quickly, don't move or use the candle until it has fully set, which takes approximately two hours.
- Trim the wick to the desired length before using. Shape a wick that is neither too long (which may create a larger than necessary flame) nor too short (which may create a crater inside your bottle cap).
- Arrange the bottle cap candles on the table or other surface. Ideally, they should sit on a saucer or candle plate to catch drips and hot wax overflow. There are plenty of lovely candle plates available but using your own pretty crockery works just as well.
- Done. To light, simply use a match or lighter as for any candle. If you find the wick is not catching, you may need to move it upright with a toothpick or similar tool.
Tips
- If you want scented candles, add essential oil during the wax melting process.
- If giving as a gift, arrange a set of bottle cap candles in a rectangular shaped box, with a set of instructions for use attached. This makes a neat gift! (A good idea would be to use a set of matching caps).
- Include the entire family in this craft and ask the kids to select their favorite bottle caps and crayon colors.
- If using old candles for this, scrape them to get small enough pieces. Simply braking or cutting them apart won't work well, because pieces gained in such a way tend to melt much longer and are likely to leave small lumps of wax which will ruin the aesthetic aspect of your bottle cap candles.
Warnings
- Inspect each bottle cap before using. Some contain a small rubbery piece inside (which could be a fire hazard) so remove it before adding wax.
- Don't leave your candles burning unattended. They are small, but wax of any kind (especially paraffin wax, which is most commonly used nowadays), is an accelerant (makes the process of burning faster and more aggressive).
- Also make sure the caps have no holes or similar damage.
- Don't stack too many candles too closely, as the heat that develops may cause all candles to catch fire.
Things You'll Need
- Bottle caps
- Wax
- Pre-waxed wire wicks
- Saucepans, pots or double boiler/bain marie for melting wax
- Water
- Pouring container
- Scissors or clippers to trim the wicks
- Something to protect the working surface from wax spills, such as old newspaper or something of the like.
Related Articles
- Make a Spinning Top from a Plastic Bottle
- Make a Bottle Top Rocket (Vinegar and Baking Soda Propelled)
- Collect Coke Bottle Caps
Sources and Citations
- http://www.craftaholicsanonymous.net/bottle-cap-candles-tutorial – research source
