Christmas Craft | Spiced Candle in a Jar
My granddaughter, Nadia, is the source of inspiration for this crafty blog post! Her mama, Riely, is an incredible talented maker, and a hands-on kinda mom who’s been doing a terrific job of coming up with interesting and fun home-school activities that reinforce curricula.
Here’s a lovely little project they completed recently that Nadia shared with me. I’m hoping to find a sample of her efforts under my tree on Christmas morning, and think it’s a terrific activity for adults and big kids alike!
It’s super simple, yet oh-so-elegant, and a wonderful way to fill a home with beauty, light, delightful scents, and love - so much goodness in a little canning jar!
(Candle-making kits, like the one shown, can be found in craft-stores and on-line.)
Supplies:
soy-based candle wax
a melting vessel, stir stick
essential oils
aromatic herbal tea of your choice
(like Bigelow Tea - one of my 12 Stocking of Christmas Sweepstakes prizes!)small jelly-sized canning jars with lids
candle wick & wick tool (a pencil or cooking skewer also works)
twine or ribbon for decoration
Directions:
Assemble your supplies
Put down newspaper or craft paper to protect your work space.
Follow package directions to melt the candle wax (a tried and true family method is placing the wax in an old tin can, and placing the can in a pan of boiling water - don’t let the water come up and over the tin can.)
Scoop a few teaspoons of aromatic herbal tea into the melted wax.
Add a few drops of essential oils to the mix - more for lighter scents, less for heavier. Stir well.
Attach a measure of candle wick to your wick tool, (or tie it to a pencil or wooden cooking skewer.) Hanging length should match the height of the jar you are using.
Pour wax into little canning jars, suspend the wick in the center of each, resting the wick tool, pencil or skewer across the top of the jar.
Allow to set.
Release the wick from the tool (pencil/skewer,) and trim to about 1/2 inch above the top of the candle.
Place the lid on the candle, tie a piece of ribbon or string around the jar and label as you wish.
Gift away!