Homemade Recycled Tea Lights

I love candles.  I also love the scented wax that you melt in electric warmers.  But what do you do with a candle that burns through the middle and leaves all the wax around the side untouched?  Or a taper that drips so badly you can't every burn it?  What about all that left over wax from the warmer that no longer has a scent?

It feels so wasteful just throwing all that unused wax away, so don't!  Collect the wax from your warmer in an old glass jar.  Store all your used candles in a box until you have enough.  Then use all this wax you have collected and recycle it into new candles!

This might sound difficult, but it's really simple once you get started.

A few quick warnings:

• DO NOT use tools which will later be used for cooking
• NEVER leave your project unattended.
• DO NOT rinse or wash your tools in the kitchen sink or dishwasher.  This causes a wax build up in your pipes and can lead to serious plumbing problems.
• Use the proper precautions when dealing with melted wax.  Keep a first aid kit handy to address any accidental burns that might occur.
• While optional, an apron and nitrile gloves are recommended.  This keeps your clothes protected as well as protecting your hands from staining dyes and possibly irritating scented oils that might be in your used candles.

Tools:

1 large stock pot
1 metal pitcher with handle (a wax melting pitcher can be purchased at most craft stores)
1 half inch cookie sheet
1 paring knife
1 flat metal spatula
cookie cutters of any shape or size
wax
aluminum foil
toothpicks
roll of zinc cored wick (also available at most craft stores)


The first step is getting the old wicks out of the used candles, and is the most difficult and time consuming.  Using a paring knife, carefully dig the wick out of the used candles.  You can also slice the sides off of the candle until the wick is easier to access.  Tapers are a bit trickier.  Very carefully slice pieces of the taper off, leaving the wick in tact.  Another method for getting wicks out, is to melt the candles down, wicks and all, and then pour the melted wax through a sieve before using it.  Either way works just as well.  Wax from a warmer that has been collected in a glass jar can be melted down in the glass jar, or scooped out with an ice cream scoop or spoon.  Once you have your candle wax chopped up it should look something like this:

Next, fill your stock pot half way full with water and bring to a boil.  Fill your metal pitcher 3/4 full of wax chips and place in the boiling water.  Turn your stove to low and let the wax melt.

Carefully pour the melted wax into the cookie sheet.  Be sure the cookie sheet is on a solid flat surface, preferably a counter top or table.

Let the wax cool until it is warm to the touch.  The best test is to rest your hand on the wax to test for temperature.  Press down slightly.  If your hand sinks or makes an indentation, the wax is still too soft.  The color or the wax should be uniform.

Next, using a cookie cutter, cut out the wax in the same manner as cookie dough.

Once you have made cut outs in the whole pan, or as many as you would like, use the metal spatula to carefully remove the wax cut outs from the cookie sheet.  The left over wax, not used in a shape, can be placed back into the metal pitcher and melted back down for another batch.  As you remove the shapes, carefully run a toothpick through the center of the shape and twist it around a couple times.  This is where the wick will be.  If you are making a larger shape and wish to have enough room for multiple wicks, simply make multiple holes where you want your wicks to be.

Do this with each shape and then set them on a piece of aluminum foil to harden.  Make sure the shapes are completely cool and hard before continuing.

Lastly is the wick.  Cut an inch long piece of zinc cored wick from your spool.

Thread the wick through the hole in your shape.  If the hole is still a bit too small, push a toothpick through again to widen it a bit.  Push the wick through until there are equal amounts on both sides of the shape.  Flatten one side of the wick against the wax.  This will be the bottom of your candle.

Leave the other side of the wick up.  This is the part of the wick you light.

Enjoy your candles!  You can use a cookie cutter that makes a shape that will fit into a holder, or you can simply set your homemade candle on a plate or in a shallow bowl.  You can use this technique to make candles for any occasion.  Because of their shortness, these candles also float.

If you want to make a taller candle, simply cut a longer piece of wick and string as many wax pieces onto it as you would like.

There are so many things you can do with these homemade candles including:

• House warming gifts
• Wedding decorations or gifts
• Centerpieces
• Home decor
• Romantic evenings
• Gift for any occasion
• And anything else you can think of!

Happy Crafting!