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Citronella Tea Cup Candles - Handmade Christmas 2023
Tea cup candles are so pretty, and a really lovely way to display pretty cups and saucers that you don't use.
While I was thinking about the handmade Christmas challenge, I found some tea cups and saucers in my shed and immediately thought of tea cup candles. You can find the instructions for my original tea cup candles here. https://www.cheapskatesclub.net/living-the-cheapskates-way-blog/mothers-day-gift-idea-a-candle-in-a-tea-cup
But candles in mid-summer, while they look lovely, really just add to the heat, so I almost put the idea aside. Then I stepped outside to do some watering and sat down and the mozzies! Oh my but those mosquitoes were persistent, and that had me wishing for a citronella candle.
And that led to me wondering why we couldn't make citronella tea cup candles because really who wants to sit at a lovely outdoor setting with an ugly great hunking citronella candle burning in the centre?
A little experimenting and yes, you can have pretty citronella tea cup candles, and they work very well to keep those pesky mozzies away.
You will need:
A tea cup and saucer
A candlewick
A citronella candle
E6000 glue (or another equivalent adhesive, it needs to be strong enough to hold china)
Hot glue gun
A large saucepan
A melting pot - I have a dedicated saucepan for melting candlewax, but you can use a clean fruit tin
Step 1. Wash and dry the tea cup and saucer. Spread a thin layer of E6000 around the bottom of the tea cup, and then run a bead of hot glue around the base. Gently place on the saucer and push down to adhere the cup to the saucer. The E6000 takes a while to dry, so the hot glue gives almost instant stability to the cup and saucer while the E6000 dries and cures. Use a dab of hot glue to adhere the candlewick in place.
Step 2. Half fill the large saucepan with hot water and place it on the stove to boil. Sit the smaller saucepan or melting pot in the large saucepan, over the water to create a double boiler. I prefer to use a double boiler to melt the wax gently rather than direct heat. Sitting the melting pot in the water as it comes to a boil heats it so that when you add the wax it starts melting straight away.
Step 3. Add your candlewax to the melting pot and let it rest over the simmering water until it melts.
While I was thinking about the handmade Christmas challenge, I found some tea cups and saucers in my shed and immediately thought of tea cup candles. You can find the instructions for my original tea cup candles here. https://www.cheapskatesclub.net/living-the-cheapskates-way-blog/mothers-day-gift-idea-a-candle-in-a-tea-cup
But candles in mid-summer, while they look lovely, really just add to the heat, so I almost put the idea aside. Then I stepped outside to do some watering and sat down and the mozzies! Oh my but those mosquitoes were persistent, and that had me wishing for a citronella candle.
And that led to me wondering why we couldn't make citronella tea cup candles because really who wants to sit at a lovely outdoor setting with an ugly great hunking citronella candle burning in the centre?
A little experimenting and yes, you can have pretty citronella tea cup candles, and they work very well to keep those pesky mozzies away.
You will need:
A tea cup and saucer
A candlewick
A citronella candle
E6000 glue (or another equivalent adhesive, it needs to be strong enough to hold china)
Hot glue gun
A large saucepan
A melting pot - I have a dedicated saucepan for melting candlewax, but you can use a clean fruit tin
Step 1. Wash and dry the tea cup and saucer. Spread a thin layer of E6000 around the bottom of the tea cup, and then run a bead of hot glue around the base. Gently place on the saucer and push down to adhere the cup to the saucer. The E6000 takes a while to dry, so the hot glue gives almost instant stability to the cup and saucer while the E6000 dries and cures. Use a dab of hot glue to adhere the candlewick in place.
Step 2. Half fill the large saucepan with hot water and place it on the stove to boil. Sit the smaller saucepan or melting pot in the large saucepan, over the water to create a double boiler. I prefer to use a double boiler to melt the wax gently rather than direct heat. Sitting the melting pot in the water as it comes to a boil heats it so that when you add the wax it starts melting straight away.
Step 3. Add your candlewax to the melting pot and let it rest over the simmering water until it melts.
Step 4. When the wax has melted, remove from the double boiler and dry the outside of the pot. The residual heat should do this; you just don't want to get any water in your tea cup or in the wax. Carefully pour the wax into the tea cup, holding the wick straight and centred. I fill to about 6mm below the rim of the cup. If you are going to move the tea cup and saucer, do it immediately, otherwise let it sit until the wax hardens.
Step 5. Once the wax has completely hardened, trim the wick to about 5mm above the wax.
If you notice a sinkhole (dip) in the centre of your candle, don't panic, this quite often happens to handmade candles. There are a number of reasons: the wax was melted at too high a temperature or the container you poured into was too cold or even the room temperature is too cold. It can be fixed after the candle has set, and quite easily too.
If your candle has this problem, go get your heat gun (if you have one) or your hair dryer.
Use your heat gun (or hair dryer) to gently heat the candle's surface so the wax melts and fills any holes. Use a chop stick or skewer or even a knitting needle you don't want to very gently open up the sinkhole so he melted was can fill it.
Be gentle and take your time and you'll end up with a perfectly flat candle surface.
Let it set until completely dry, I like to leave them about 24 hours, and your candle is ready to use!
Where to get the supplies:
Tea cups and saucers - go through your china cabinet or your mother's china cabinet for tea cups and saucers that aren't being used. I don't suggest you turn the Royal Doulton or Wedgewood into candles, but often there are pretty tea cups and saucers not being used that would make perfect candles. Look in op shops and at garage sales for pretty cups and saucers too - I rarely pay more than $2 per set, and when I see one I usually buy it simply to have on hand when it's needed.
Citronella wax - try your local hardware store. Citronella candles vary in price. Compare the price, and the ingredients in the candles and make your choice.
Candlewicks - any large craft store should have candlewicks. I am using a packet from Kmart at the moment; they are come in a pack of 30 for $3, so 10 cents each.
Wick holders - again I am using a pack I bought at Kmart a while back. These can be reused and while not essential they do make pouring the candle and keeping the wick straight so very easy.
If you notice a sinkhole (dip) in the centre of your candle, don't panic, this quite often happens to handmade candles. There are a number of reasons: the wax was melted at too high a temperature or the container you poured into was too cold or even the room temperature is too cold. It can be fixed after the candle has set, and quite easily too.
If your candle has this problem, go get your heat gun (if you have one) or your hair dryer.
Use your heat gun (or hair dryer) to gently heat the candle's surface so the wax melts and fills any holes. Use a chop stick or skewer or even a knitting needle you don't want to very gently open up the sinkhole so he melted was can fill it.
Be gentle and take your time and you'll end up with a perfectly flat candle surface.
Let it set until completely dry, I like to leave them about 24 hours, and your candle is ready to use!
Where to get the supplies:
Tea cups and saucers - go through your china cabinet or your mother's china cabinet for tea cups and saucers that aren't being used. I don't suggest you turn the Royal Doulton or Wedgewood into candles, but often there are pretty tea cups and saucers not being used that would make perfect candles. Look in op shops and at garage sales for pretty cups and saucers too - I rarely pay more than $2 per set, and when I see one I usually buy it simply to have on hand when it's needed.
Citronella wax - try your local hardware store. Citronella candles vary in price. Compare the price, and the ingredients in the candles and make your choice.
Candlewicks - any large craft store should have candlewicks. I am using a packet from Kmart at the moment; they are come in a pack of 30 for $3, so 10 cents each.
Wick holders - again I am using a pack I bought at Kmart a while back. These can be reused and while not essential they do make pouring the candle and keeping the wick straight so very easy.
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