Homemade Christmas – Decorate a pillar candle 7

There is something about the festive season and the darker evenings and nights that cries out for a burning candle and these decorated pillar candles are so simple to make and look amazing and the secret is tissue paper.

Materials:

1. Pillar candles – Mine are from Aldi, but ones with a flat top would look great
2. Tissue paper – I used pre decorated but plan to get the boys to draw on some white tissue paper for their teachers candles
3. Heatgun or hairdryer
4. Wax paper (from the baking section) or baking parchment

Method:

1. I measured my candle both height and circumference (I used a piece of wool for the circumference!) and cut my tissue paper to size.
2. Then I cut a larger piece of waxed paper
3. Wrap the tissue paper around the candle and then cover with the wax paper, pulling it tight.  The wax paper makes this easier to do and stops you burning your hands especially with thinner candles.
4. Then I used the heat gun ( or you can use a hair dryer to melt the surface wax of the candle and the tissue paper will adhere to the candle.

I have been burning the candle and the tissue does remain and not burn, but this paper is rather thicker than standard tissue paper.  I remember making these with my mum and we used the old fashioned sheets of wrapping paper (it was very thin) and rather than cover the whole candle we would cut an image out and just apply that.  We would then cover with glitter that was iridescent and OK to burn.  You can add glitter to your candles, but I would suggest using a water based glue and cosmetic grade glitters.

If you like this then take a look at our soy wax teacup candles