Make Pink and Purple Advent Candles

As anyone who follows my facebook page knows, I've had trouble finding pink and purple candles for Advent this year. But really, this is nothing new- it's hard every year. Sure, I could order them, but crafting them for super cheap is more my style ;-)


I started with regular white pillar candles from the Dollar Tree. See? (For the record, this green wreath is also from the Dollar Tree. I embellished it with this awesome glittery stuff I got on clearance after last Christmas and attached them with a glue gun. It cost me $3 to make the wreath, so with the candles it cost a total of $7).


Then I "painted" the candles with pink and purple crayons. I know a lot of people are into beeswax, but I hear crayola is on it's way in. If your house is anything like mine, you probably have a bucket of broken crayon bits somewhere. Just peel them and discard the papers. (This is a great job for the 4 year old in your life.)


Painting with wax is actually called encaustic painting, and I did a little of it in college. That's how I knew it wasn't going to be the big pain-in-the-booty you might be thinking it is. All you do is put your wax in a shallow can (like a tuna can) and set it on you griddle on low. By the way, totally leave it to me to find craft uses for all of your kitchen stuff. It's soooo much more fun that way!


It doesn't take long for the wax to start melting this way, and you just leave it on the heat while you work. Little disclaimer to say this is really not a craft for small kids, and please don't burn anyone.


You can stir it a little as it melts with a metal spoon. Don't worry, all the wax will chip right off the spoon when it hardens, which won't take long. Begin painting the wax onto your candles, but don't use your favorite paint brush. 


Don't try and make it look perfect, because you can't. Just enjoy that home-crafted look. It's fancy to have a hand crafted feel, like hand made soap or something, and I love it the personality it adds!


It covered very nicely for me in one coat, and it was very fast and easy to do. I would suggest painting your pink candle first so that you can use the same brush without attempting to clean it. A little bit of pink on your brush won't contaminate your purple paint. 


Here's my wreath with my newly painted pink and purple candles!


I'm aware that I'm posting a lot of pictures, but I'm really in love with my advent wreath this year! We're traveling for Thanksgiving, so I wanted it to be ready to go as soon as we get back. I got the pink place mat under the wreath also at the Dollar Tree. I love that store!!!


For the pink one I painted the wick and everything, but I don't like the look as well as leaving the wick white. And yes, I did try coloring with the candles, and yes- it totally worked! ;-)


I hope you guys aren't advented-out yet because I have another advent wreath craft coming your way soon! And anyone who missed yesterday's edible advent wreath should go check it out!

*Updated to Say* Here's how they're burning:

The candle had a little trouble burning through the layer of crayon. I absorbed a little of the melted wax away from the wick with a paper towel, and now it's burning beautifully! Other readers say that theirs are burning fine although the crayon seems to burn slower than the rest of the candle. I guess it depends on what kind of candle you start with. Mine are just super cheap candles from the Dollar Tree. Hope this answers your questions! :-)

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24 comments:

  1. That is so utterly awesome! I can only find the honkin' huge tapered candles, and I was hoping for pillar candles this year (they don't burn as fast). I think I'll be doing this.

    I wonder how the color holds up when you burn them...? I guess we'll see :).

    Thanks for this!

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  2. They look so rustic and beautiful with your wreath. Now, you will tell us how the melt b/c I can foresee crayon wax on that placemat or do you have the candles on little "coasters" of some sort? The wreath is really beautiful!

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  3. Wow that is awesome. I love how you did the candles, beautiful!

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  4. Great! Now I will never have to pay extra for Advent candles:)

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  5. truly incredible. and beautiful. and yes, there's something about homemade that just makes everything so wonderful!

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  6. genius. I can see why you were excited about it! love it and I think I am gonna try to try it :)

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  7. This is great. I couldn't justify the cost of buying the pillar advent candles this year. But, I can totally do $7. :)

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  8. I've had this problem every year, specifically because I don't like flowery smells and purple and pink candles tend to be rose and lavender.

    So I couple of years ago I bought some clear glass candle holders. I choose the small fishbowl shaped ones, but whatever you like works. Then I covered them with tissue paper and clear school glue. I used a sharp knife to trim the edges after they were dry.

    They turned out great, the are translucent enough that they shine and I can reuse them every year with whatever kind of candle I want.

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  9. This is so neat!!! i already got my advent candles, but maybe for Candlemas... oh I keep thinking of ideas! Thank you!

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  10. This is so cool!! I like when you post more pictures =) I'm a very visual person and I'll remember things better when I have the pictures in my head. Anyways, I've waited For.E.Ver for the prefect advent wreath. I have been married nearly 6 years and we still don't have one. I may have to make my own like you did, this idea is brilliant. I adore the homemade look, it is so cool. Thanks for sharing! Your blog is my biggest resource for celebrating the liturgical year at home with our little children and I'm learning a TON esp. since I'm a convert (although it's bee almost 10 years!).

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  11. First of all, everyone knows I am the QUEEN of Dollar Tree! lol I know what you mean about loving the place! Second, I love your idea! I was thinking about using little tealights this year but didnt really want to. Now I will use small votives and "paint" them. I can prob get white ones for 3/$1! Thanks Lacey!

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  12. Now this, is a great idea!!!

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  13. beautiful idea!! I love your pictures! They look more professional! I will share your idea in my blog! Blessings Lacy!

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  14. I love this. Advent Candles are so hard to find! What a crafty girl you are!!

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  15. I love how they look! FYI, I bought a kit to make 4 beeswax tapers on Etsy for $4, for the tired/non crafty among us!

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  16. These are great, I'm very impressed and also mad that I got behind on my google reader and didn't see this until now, because I already ordered expensive candles! But I'll be doing this next year!

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  17. That looks great, Lacy! Wish I'd have read this post before I spent 10 bucks on Advent candles. I am also curious to see how the color holds up throughout Advent and burning them.

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  18. Hi Lacy,
    I saw that you melted them on a griddle (like for pancakes) and I did that too! Now how do I get melted wax off of the griddle?
    With 4 kids doing it at the same time, I probably should have expected it. Help!

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  19. Thanks for the idea! I just finished my candles! They look fantastic! Just in time to light the first one tonight at Dinner! I had so much fun & my toddlers think they are great! Thanks so much!! Blessings!

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  20. A friend forwarded your blog to me just today with this awesome info. I too have bemoaned not being able to find short, squatty advent candles. I can only find the long tapered ones which are too small for our wreath.

    Our ever-crafty 14-year-old saw the page up on the computer & the next thing she's doing is recruiting two younger kids to help her w/peeling crayons. She just finished the first one. AWESOME!!!! They are so pretty & I love the rustic look.

    Just in time for dinner lighting -

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