DIY Network

Stained Glass Candles These custom candles capture the look of striking stained glass. From "Creative Juice" episode DCRJ-805

Palm wax tends to form crystals as it dries, giving these candles a glittery, stained glass look.

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Stained Glass Candle

Materials:

clear glass container
blue painter's tape
"stained glass" spray paint
palm wax
medium saucepan
aluminum pouring container
candle thermometer
candle colorant
candle fragrance
mixing spoon
wick
wick clip
needle-nose pliers
tacky wax
heat gun
bamboo skewers

Figure A

Steps:

1. Use blue painter's tape to create a design on the glass container. Apply the tape to mask off areas that will remain clear; press the tape down firmly to prevent leaks (figure A).

2. Place the container upside down on a protected work surface in a well-ventilated area and paint with stained-glass spray paint. Use three or four light coats instead of one heavy coat, and allow 30 minutes of drying time between coats. Let the paint dry overnight before going to the next step.

3. Remove the painter's tape from the container. Cut a wick a few inches longer than the height of the container, thread the wick through the wick clip and crimp the clip around the wick with pliers. Use a piece of tacky wax to stick the wick clip to the center of the bottom of the glass container. Wrap the excess wick around a bamboo skewer across the top of the container to keep it out of the way.

4. Melt palm wax in a double boiler; for this project, hosts Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza put the wax in an aluminum pouring container inside a saucepan of water. Use a candle thermometer to check the wax temperature.

Safety Alert: Use caution when melting and pouring the wax.

5. Check the instructions for the wax colorant and shave the appropriate amount from the colorant block. Add the colorant to the wax once it reaches 200 degrees. Once the colorant melts, add candle fragrance according to the package instructions.

Figure B

6. Use a heat gun to heat the glass container to help keep the hot wax from cracking the glass (figure B). Heating the container also makes the wax cool more slowly and creates more crystals in the candle.

7. Carefully pour the hot wax into the glass container. Avoid moving the candle around as the wax hardens; once the candle cools completely, trim the wick to about a quarter-inch above the candle.

Tip: If the tacky wax holding the wick comes loose, push it back into position with a bamboo skewer.