Alright, so today I’m gonna share how I made those super cute teacup candles I was raving about last week. It’s way easier than you think, seriously!
First things first, gotta gather your supplies. I grabbed a bunch of old teacups from the thrift store – they were like, a dollar each! Then you’ll need:
- Wax flakes (I used soy wax ’cause it’s supposed to be eco-friendly and all that).
- Wicks (make sure you get the right size for the diameter of your teacup).
- Glue dots or super glue (to stick the wicks to the bottom).
- A heat-safe pouring pot (an old saucepan works in a pinch).
- A thermometer (candy thermometers are perfect).
- Essential oils or fragrance oils (if you want scented candles).
- Something to stir with (I used a wooden skewer).
Okay, so step one: prepping the teacups. Clean ’em out real good. Then, stick a glue dot on the metal bit at the bottom of your wick and carefully center it in the teacup. Press down hard so it sticks. I learned the hard way that if you don’t do this right, your wick will float around in the melted wax – major pain in the butt!
Next up: melting the wax. Fill your pouring pot with wax flakes. How much? Well, kinda eyeball it based on how many teacups you’re filling. I usually do a bit extra just in case. Place the pot in a saucepan filled with a few inches of water (this is called a double boiler, fancy, right?). Turn the heat on low and let the wax melt slowly. Stir it occasionally to help it along.
Now comes the temperature control part. Clip your thermometer onto the side of the pot and keep an eye on it. You want the wax to reach around 180-185°F (about 82-85°C). Don’t let it get too hot, or you’ll burn off all the fragrance later on. Speaking of fragrance…
Once the wax is melted and at the right temp, add your essential oils. I used lavender ’cause I’m all about that chill vibe, but you can use whatever you like. The general rule is about 6-10% fragrance oil by weight, but honestly, I just kinda winged it. Stir it in gently for a couple of minutes to make sure it’s evenly distributed.
Time to pour! Carefully pour the melted wax into your prepared teacups. Leave a little bit of space at the top, like a quarter inch or so. Try not to spill! (I definitely spilled a little… whoops!).
Now, patience is key. Let the candles cool and harden completely. This usually takes a few hours, but I like to leave them overnight just to be sure. Don’t try to rush it, or you’ll end up with cracks and sinkholes in your candles (trust me, I’ve been there).
Once they’re completely cool, trim the wicks to about a quarter inch. And that’s it! You’ve got yourself some super cute teacup candles. Light ’em up and enjoy!
A few tips I picked up along the way:
- If you see sinkholes forming in the candles as they cool, you can use a heat gun (or even a hairdryer on high) to gently remelt the top layer of wax.
- Don’t overdo the fragrance oil. Too much can actually make the candle burn weird.
- Experiment with different colors by adding a few drops of candle dye to the melted wax.
Seriously, it’s a fun and easy project, and the results are so worth it. Go give it a try!
