DIY // beeswax birthday candles

I love coming up with crafty ideas for events, but DIY-ing special touches for a birthday celebration is the best of all. These small touches will be remembered long after the candles are blown out and the cake (or cake donuts, as the case may be) is eaten.

So for Joanna’s birthday I wanted to make something extra special, with a boho-chic vibe that reminds me of her personal style. Claire already made her a recipe for the ultimate birthday cake — a Momofuku-inspired funfetti cake with lots of yummy, special components. So I thought I’d do a DIY for something fun to put on top!

This project is actually super simple. Basically, you create a mold for your desired candles, make two halves and sandwich them together!

Tools

• mini-crockpot (or a double-boiler)
• number cookie cutters

Materials

• beeswax
• dried rose petals
• hemp cord
• toothpicks
• cardboard
• parchment paper
• washi tape
• vegetable oil spray

Start by preparing the mold for you candles. Tape a piece or parchment paper down to your cardboard, then run washi tape all the way around the cookie cutter, leaving about a 1/4-inch overhanging from the bottom of the shape. Cut the tape at all corners and curves, then secure to the parchment piece.

Next, melt your beeswax. I picked up a mini-crockpot from Goodwill for crafting, but you could just as easy place a heat-proof bowl over a pot of boiling water and liquify the wax in a double-boiler. Prep your mold with a quick spray of vegetable oil to avoid sticking, then spoon the beeswax into the mold.

Once you’ve filled it about a 1/4-inch, pop it in the freezer for about 20 minutes, or until completely solid, then carefully push it through the bottom of the mold.

For the top half of the candle, repeat the steps above, but before placing in the freezer to cool, add your desired decoration. I went with dried rose petals for a boho-chic style and nice smelling addition.

When finished cooling, remove the top half from your mold, now you have the two halves of your birthday candle.

All that’s left is to assemble it! Arrange half a toothpick at the bottom of your candle, spoon on a little hot wax and press into place. Cut a short section of hemp cord to serve of the candle wick and arrange overhanging the top. Place a few droplets of hot wax on the base layer and firmly press the top layer onto it — essentially you are ‘gluing’ the two halves together.

Dim the lights and enter the birthday girl… don’t forget to make a wish!

This method can be used to make candles of any shape, all you need is a metal cookie cutter and et voilà. I couldn’t resist making a wiener dog shaped candle for Joanna! What candle shape would you make?

Project and styling by Gwen McKenzie for Jojotastic.

Photography by Meghan Klein. 

pssst… more DIY projects right this way!