How to Paint a Candle

If you’re a candle lover than you’re probably constantly looking for the next big thing in candle-wear. If you’re a candle crafter than you’re probably looking for something new to add to your collection of crafty candle ideas. Hand-painted candles are a great way to make personalized gifts for everything from weddings and showers to birthdays and holidays and because they’re accessible to even the most amateur artist, you don’t have to worry about your craft skills when it comes to creating them. This hand-painted candle project will turn even the most traditional pillar candle into a beautiful work of art. Here’s how to craft a hand-painted candle.

Things You'll Need

• Candles (pillar a square candles work best and should be large enough for you to paint on)
• Stencils (paper stencils work best for candles)
• Tracing paper

• Makeup sponges 

• Candle paints (you can use acrylic, but the new candle paints have more staying power) 

• Assorted paint brushes
• Toothbrush 

• Cotton balls and swabs

• Paper bag or newspaper
• Pen
• Masking tape
• Hole punch
• Thick ribbon
• Magazines and/or coloring books

Instructions

1. Prepare your crafting area. When using paint, you should cover your work space with paper bags or old newspapers to prevent paint spills on tables. Make sure you have enough room to work, allowing for comfortable maneuvering of your arms.

2. Sponge paint the surface of your candle. Dip the makeup sponge into the color of your choice and gently dab all over the surface of the candle so that the candle surface begins to look textured. If the paint is covering too much, dab it with a wrinkled paper towel to release some of the paint. You can remove color from the candle by sponging it with a dry makeup sponge as well. Set aside to dry.

3. Use a stencil. You can use any kind of stencil, from abstract designs to cartoon characters; whatever your preference. Keep the receiver in mind when deciding on a stencil design. Paper stencils work best, as they’re easier to attach to the candles surface, but you may be able to use heavier plastic ones if painting on a square candle. Place the stencil over an area of the candle, securing it on the top, base and side with tape. Paint.

4. Paint a design freehand. If you’re a talented artist or if you’d just like to try hand-painting something, you may do that as well. You have two options of free-handing, one is by creating a dot-to-dot outline of the image your like to draw using the pen. This allows you to correct minor mistakes before making the image permanent with the paint.

5. Use tracing paper. The other way to create more elaborate designs is by using tracing paper. You can create your own design on the tracing paper or you can trace an image from another source like a coloring book or magazine. Once you’ve drawn or traced your design onto the tracing paper, you can easily transfer it to the service of the candle. Carefully outline the trace using small brushes before filling in the whole design.

6. Create lettering. A great way to make personalized candles is by writing a nice saying like "Happy Birthday," "Merry Christmas," "Congratulations" or writing a short poem or quote. You can use stencil letters or you can simply write on the candle using a pen. Using a pen helps to make the design more antique and less commercial. Once you have the trace, simply paint over it with a fine-bristle brush.

7. Create a splattered look. Another technique is to create a splattered paint design on the candle. This can also look like dripping candle wax. Take a toothbrush or a large bristled paint brush and dip it into your paint. Bring the brush about 3 inches from the surface of the candle and, using your pointer finger, pull backward across the bristles. Do this as many times as you need to get the desired look.

8. Correct minor mistakes. Take a wet cotton swab or cotton ball to fix mistakes. When candle paint is still damp it is fairly easy to wipe away. Simply take a wet swab and rub on the section or area you want to remove. Don’t worry about removing too much, as you can always repaint it later. Removing paint can be tedious, but have some patience and you will see that it comes off with relative ease.

9. Seal the design. Once the candle is dry, spray it with an acrylic paint sealer. Be careful not to spray the top of the candle or the wick.

10. Give the candle as a gift. If you’d like to give your candle away as a gift, you can make a personalized gift tag. Cut a piece of or use card stock to create a small gift tag. Wrap a thick ribbon around the middle of the candle and tie a large bow. Use a hole punch to cut a hole in the tag and attach it to the ribbon. Curl the ends of the ribbon and you're done.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not paint anywhere on the top of the candle or around the wick.

• Do not use acrylic paint sealer on the top of the candle or around the wick.