Watch ParentsCanada editor Janice Biehn talk about this and other holiday crafts on CTV Kitchener’s News at Noon.

This project works with melted wax or soap. Supervise children closely. 

 

You'll Need…

  • candle wax (available at craft stores)
  • coloured wax crayons (great way to use up old crayons)
  • ice cubes
  • mallet or meat tenderizer
  • waxed milk or juice cartons
  • taper candle

 

Directions:

1. Cut the top off the waxed carton and rinse it out. Wipe
the inside with vegetable oil to help the finished candle slide out
more easily after the wax hardens.

2. Melt a tiny bit of wax from the bottom of a candle and
pour it into the centre of the bottom of the carton. Push the taper into
the soft wax to hold it upright in the centre. Let dry.

3. Wrap ice cubes in a towel and use a mallet or meat tenderizer to break into chips.

4. Melt three separate colours of crayons and/or candle wax in a microwave-safe bowl. NOTE:
Before you start to build your pillar candle, make sure you have all
three colours of melted wax and your crushed ice close by. The wax will
harden quickly once it hits the ice and it must be warm enough to melt
into the colour below in order for the candle to slide out of the carton
as one piece.

5. Pour a small amount of the colour you’d like on the
bottom of the candle into the carton, then quickly spoon in some crushed
ice, cover with next colour of wax, spoon in more crushed ice, quickly
pour in next colour of wax to cover and repeat until the wax fills up to
the top of the taper.

6. Allow wax to cool completely (about one hour), pouring ice water into the sink as it melts, about every 15 minutes.

7. Slide the finished candle out of the carton, or peel away the container.

 

Originally published in ParentsCanada magazine, November 2013.