How to Make an Autumn Candle

There is something about the fall that makes people want to run out and begin to collect their decorations for the autumn season. Fall projects are a delight to those who enjoy the crisp, cool breezes of autumn, along with the falling leaves and changing landscapes. Harvest decorations add warmth to your home on chilly, autumn afternoons, and the earthy fall color palette offers unlimited choices when it comes to accessories. Beautifully lit candles, alive with the scents of pumpkins and baked apples can make your home a cozy place to be during the fall season. The candles can even be decorated with autumn leaf and flower collages that will add shimmer to your décor.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Artificial swag
• Spray glitter
• Candles
• Low-temperature hot glue gun
• Low-temperature hot glue sticks
• Embellishments

1. Collect pillar candles in different sizes, shapes and colors. Earth tones such as orange, yellow, brown, rust and deep green will compliment the fall leaf decoration. Candles that are scented with scents such as pumpkin, harvest, baked apples, cinnamon and spice make pleasant choices for autumn candles.

2. Remove the autumn leaves and flowers from the artificial swag, and place them to the side. You will want to remove the flowers and leaves gently to prevent them from falling apart when taken from the vine. You can also use flowers, petals and leaves from artificial bouquets.

3. Place a dab of low-temperature hot glue on your first candle, and begin to arrange your leaves and flowers around it. You can overlap the leaves and flowers, being sure to leave some of the candle exposed around them. The more of the candle that is exposed, the better your leaves will glow with the light of the candle showing through.

4. Spray some glitter over the autumn leaves and flowers to give them an instant shimmer. Spray glitter comes in aerosol cans in varying colors and densities. Glitters in shades of gold and copper will really add sparkle to your autumn candle.

5. Embellish your candle with gems or rhinestones to really make your candles shine. The gems and rhinestones can be found in a variety of colors at your local craft store.

Tips & Warnings

• For those that are not comfortable with lighting candles, it is not necessary to do so. Candles that are strongly scented will emit fragrance even when they are not lit. You can enjoy your decorated autumn candle even if it is not lit.
• You can use this idea for other seasons as well. For summer or spring, you can use the flowers of the season, and for winter you can try balsam and pine.
• Artificial autumn swags are a vine of leaves and flowers--usually about 3 to 4 feet long--that can be found in your local craft store.
• Lit candles can be a hazard. Always pay close attention to where and when they are lit.
• Be sure to use a low-temperature hot glue gun. One that is high temperature will melt the wax.
• The glue gun itself can be very hot, so be careful.
• Only use the spray glitter in a well-ventilated area.

Resources

• A.C. Moore craft supplies