Tea cup Candles

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Candles are a popular gift for any occasion and can be easily made yourself with few ingredients. Once you know the basic process for making candles, you can experiment with the containers to hold your candle.


One frugal option that makes a charming container is to use a recycled teacup and matching plate.

Thrift stores or second hand stores often have a wide variety of china for very reasonable prices.



You will want to select a pattern that has a matching saucer or plate and inspect the piece for any cracks, chips or breaks. Clean and dry the pieces of china to prepare them for the wax.


For this project you will need:

Paraffin Wax or Gel Wax

Double Boiler

Tea Cup & Saucer

Hot Glue Gun

Wick

Chop Stick or Pencil


USING GEL WAX

You can make your candle from beeswax or paraffin wax, a petroleum by-product. Gel candles are also charming in teacup containers as well and have a slightly different process in working with this product. Gel wax burns 4-6 times slower than paraffin wax and needs to be melted with direct heat.


You will also want to choose a wick one size larger than you would be choosing for paraffin candles. You would also need to hold the candle upside down when trimming the wick, so the left over wick does not get into the smooth wax surface.


USING PARAFFIN WAX

If you choose to use Paraffin wax to make your candle you will find it readily available with high oil content. Paraffin is also available with various melting points and is easy to work with.


Start by using a double boiler (or a fry daddy works well when heated slowly) and add cut up pieces of wax to speed up the melting process. To pour the wax into a permanent mold as we are in this craft, the temperature of the melted wax should be between 85 and 95 degrees C (180 and 200 F).


Because the teacup is a permanent container there is very little prep work required. While the wax is melting you can prepare the wick. Wicks come in different types and diameters. You can determine the size of wick needed by choosing one size higher for each 2 inches of your teacup diameter. This will ensure a long burning candle while reducing drip and the amount of smoke released from the candle. Wick is available at crafting and hobby stores and in most cases the number on the package correlates with the larger the wick diameter will be.


There are several types of wick to choose from as well. It is suggested that you avoid purchasing wick with a paper core, as they tend to smoke more than a metal core wick. Metal core wicks are those using zinc or lead and are most often found in votives, tea lights and are a viable option in our project as well. Other wick options include a flat braid and a square type of braid. The flat braid, used often in taper candles, has a nice decorative look but is not as sturdy as other choices and may not stand erect when burning.


The square type of wick is also a braid but is stronger and used in dipped candles and container candles, ideal for this craft. In, The Candle maker’s Companion by Betty Oppenheimer, page 15 she explains that "Square braid comes in various sizes with various numbering systems. A major wholesale supplier of wick in this country uses a numbering system ranging from 6/0 (extra small) to 1/0, then beginning with #1 through #10, which is the largest. The wicks with /0 after the number are regular braid, and the ones with the # symbol in front of the number are loosely woven, so they are fluffier and larger in diameter without actually being heavier."


After choosing a wick, measure the depth of your teacup and add about 3 inches. This should give you enough wicks to tie the end of it around a square chopstick, pencil or tongue depressor. Tying the wick with this method will allow you to center the wick in the middle of the candle while the wax is setting up.


When your teacup is ready and your wax is melted, you can add color chips and stir into the melted wax. (You can also use shredded crayon to color your wax) This is also the opportunity to add any scented oils you prefer. The scent should be added last so that it will not dissipate or be burned in the heat.


Your wax may shrink a little so I prefer to under fill, wait a few minutes till it begins to harden and refill again with hot wax. It will take your candle several hours to cool at room temperature. Don't forget to trim your wick short after the wax is cool.


When the wax is completely cool, use a hot glue gun to secure the teacup to the china saucer or plate. This will give your candle a steady base and complete the look of the teacup giving you a nastalgic gift or decorative and useful display!