Tea Cup Container Candles

Back when I was experimenting with how to make candles, I got discouraged with the pillar candle molds that you can buy at the local craft store. Whenever I sealed the opening for the wick (at the bottom of the mold) so when I poured the melted wax, it would eventually leak and make a  big mess.  So I wound up find some cute tea cups at various places like Marshalls, Ross or TJ Maxx and making container candles with them. 

Since I took the Eco-Friendly Candlemaking Class at The Nova Studio my interest has been renewed to make candles.  I found these instructions on how to make the tea cup container candles project from Martha Stewart that I wanted to share. These would be cute gift ideas  Here is cute gift  idea for Mother's Day or really any day of celebration (Bridal Showers, Bay Showers etc.).

Tools and Materials

Nested pans
Partially burned candles ( or soy candle wax from your local craft store)
Candy or candle thermometer
Tongs
New wicking
Teacups
Wick sustainers
Wooden skewers
Scent and Colorant (optional)

Teacup Lights How-To

1. In a small pan set over a larger pan of simmering water, melt down old candles; clip the thermometer to the upper pot, and keep temperature at about 185 degrees. Remove old wicks with tongs.

2. Cut a piece of wicking to the cup's height plus 2 inches. Clamp one end to a wick sustainer; tie the other end around a skewer. Dip wicking and sustainer into melted wax to coat them. Remove and stick sustainer to cup's bottom.
 
3. Pour in the wax, stopping 1/2 inch below the cup's rim. Allow wax to set, about 1 hour. The candle will harden with a well in the center. To even it out, use another skewer to prick a circle of holes about 1/16 inch deep around the wick. Pour in melted wax until surface is 1/4 inch below rim. Cut wick.
 
 
Source: From Martha Stewart Living, December 2002 and Martha Stewart website