Making classic candles is a captivating interest. On this information, I present you tips on how to make tea cup candles utilizing beeswax. What a beautiful method to recycle and repurpose outdated cups from thrift of second-hand shops. And, beeswax is a pure clear burning wax – simply excellent for candle making. They’re each charming and helpful.

In fact, there are lots of enjoyable methods to make beeswax candles. Nevertheless, there’s something particular about giving outdated, elegant mismatched tea cups new life.

Beeswax Tea Cup Candles DIY

The great thing about making beeswax tea cup candles is that you’ll probably not have a whole “set” of the identical form of cups. As an alternative, count on an eclectic mixture of colours, shapes and sizes. This makes each particular.

Isn’t it fantastic to present new life to those outdated objects that gave the impression to be on the finish of their goal. In addition they function a hyperlink to the previous whenever you see patterns that remind you of outdated dishes that your grandmother used.

Selecting Tea Cups

You may make a candle in any sort of tea cup. However, a cup with a bigger opening works finest. This permits the wick to breathe and promotes higher flame.

Take into account – the bigger the cup, the extra wax you will want. A deeper cup (even with a smaller diameter) will work. Nevertheless, because the candle is burned – over time, reaching down into the cup to gentle the wick could also be an issue.

Store round and it is best to have the ability to discover some very cheap choices. Ideally with a wider high than backside.

Candle Wax

Vibrant and clear burning, beeswax has been used for making dipped beeswax candles for tons of of years. You should buy beeswax in chunks, bars or pellets.

In case you have wax from your individual beehives, or purchase it from an area beekeeper – you’ll want to filter or clear your beeswax earlier than making your undertaking. Even when the wax appears to be like clear, it could comprise substances that may clog a wick and trigger poor burning.

Beeswax or a Mix

I desire pure beeswax more often than not. Nevertheless, when working with container candles – pure beeswax could be a bit sensitive (extra on that beneath). The wax should be very clear of left-over honey, bee propolis, grime, and so on. 

For those who should not have a lot expertise with beeswax, I counsel you attempt a mix. Make a tea cup candle with solely beeswax.

Then, make one other with a mix of fifty% beeswax and 50% coconut oil or soy wax. It’ll nonetheless be a lovely tea cup candle however you face fewer burning challenges. Evaluate the 2 and determine which you want finest. There isn’t any fallacious reply.

Selecting a Wick

The wick is likely one of the most essential components of a candle however they’re usually over appeared. Particularly, when working with beeswax – the correct wick dimension should be used. Beeswax burns how and requires a bigger wick than standard candles.

Braided cotton wicks work finest – however what dimension do you want? Properly, that relies on the dimensions (width) of your candle (or tea cup). 

For the cups on this undertaking which can be round 3 – 3 1/2” large – I’m utilizing a dimension 6 wick. Measurement 7 could be higher however they’re laborious to search out.

Take note of wick sizes – dimension 6 just isn’t the identical as 6/0. Usually, if you happen to learn intently – wick producers will present steerage on the very best dimension.

Gently warmth your beeswax till it’s in liquid kind, it shouldn’t be overheated. Mixing beeswax with soy wax or coconut oil is usually a follow used for a smoother burning candle.

The Course of

Full directions beneath however here’s a temporary overview of the method of making a candle in a tea cup.

1. After selecting your tea cup, measure the diameter of the highest. This helps you select the proper wick dimension to make use of.

2. Safely soften beeswax in a double boiler setup (superb). Now, it’s possible you’ll select to “pickle your wick”. I don’t all the time do that however issues prove higher after I do.

Minimize items of wick lengthy sufficient to achieve down into the underside of the tea cup with a few inches additional. Put the wicks within the pot of melted wax and go away them there a few minutes.

Use skewers or much like take away the wicks from the new wax and lay them on a paper to chill. Gently straighten them.

3. As soon as the wicks are cool. Cling them from a wood skewer or (chop stick) down into the candle. Make certain the wick reaches to the underside of the cup.

You should use a clothespin to carry the wick in place. Or if you happen to pickled the wick – you possibly can wrap one finish across the skewer to carry it.

4. Slowly fill your tea cup with melted wax. Depart to chill. As soon as the candle is cooled you possibly can take away the skewer on the high and trim the wick to 1/4″

Professional Suggestions

Keep in mind, I mentioned that pure beeswax could be a bit testy? I believe it’s definitely worth the effort however be ready for a couple of challenges. The commonest issues skilled are: cracking and tunneling.

Cracking

It’s not uncommon for a beeswax container candle to have cracks on the floor as soon as it has cooled. This occurs as a result of beeswax shrinks because it cools. It’s a laborious wax with many fantastic properties however cracking is ugly.

Chances are you’ll not all the time have the ability to forestall it. Nevertheless, avoiding over-heating your beeswax when melting. This can assist scale back cracking.

One other thought is to make your candle in a heat room the place the wax is allowed to chill slowly. Quick cooling of scorching wax all the time make this drawback worse.

Nevertheless, if this occurs – don’t panic, you possibly can repair it. Both soften extra wax and pour sufficient on high to cowl up the crack – or use a warmth gun or much like soften the floor of the present candle in order that the liquid flows into the cracks.

Tunneling

Tunneling is likely one of the most aggravating components of candle making. When this occurs, the candle burns downward in a column across the wick. It’s ugly and wasteful as a lot of the wax just isn’t used.

The 2 most typical causes for tunneling are:

• fallacious wick dimension
• improper burning

That is another excuse to check your wick dimension and wax with one check candle earlier than making plenty of them. Chances are you’ll have to make changes.

As for improper burning ( I’m very responsible of this) – keep away from burning your container candle for brief intervals of time. Ideally, let the tea cup candle burn for one hour for every inch of diameter.

You need a big pool of melted wax to kind throughout the highest of the cup earlier than extinguishing the flame. This encourages the soften pool to proceed to be giant because the candle burns down.

Extra Concepts

Immediately, many crafters use molds to craft beeswax candles into enjoyable shapes. In a manner that’s what we’re doing with our DIY tea cup candles ( we’re simply leaving them within the mildew) 😉

And, the only manner of creating a beeswax candle is by rolling sheets. Even the children can do these.

A Remaining Phrase

It’s so simple to make these superb tea cup candles with beeswax (or a mix of your selection). They make nice presents. Place them on an identical or complimentary saucer – glue in place and add a ribbon. Now, you might be prepared for the subsequent birthday or bridal bathe.

DIY Tea Cup Candle Tutorial

Charlotte Anderson @ Carolina Honeybees, LLC

Be part of the recycling era. Carry classic tea cup again to life with some beeswax and just a little wick. A sublime method to reuse dishes that have been nearing the tip of their usefulness.

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• 3 tea cups
• 18″ cotton wick dimension 6
• 1 pound beeswax
• 3 wood skewers or related

Professional Suggestions

• don’t overheat your beeswax – be protected
• use the proper dimension wick for the diameter of your cup
• when burning – you’ll want to burn the candle till a big wax pool has fashioned earlier than placing it out