How to Make Patriotic Party Favors

Make patriotic favors for your guests attending a Fourth of July or other patriotic party. Red, white and blue candles--whether you opt to simply give them a votive in each color or to make a multicolor candle--will be an appreciated gift for your guests. Most people like to burn candles, they make nice decorations and best of all they are easy to make. Even younger children can help you make the candles if you use granulated wax crystals, which do not require melting or heating.

Things You'll Need

• Glass jars
• Hot glue
• Pre-tabbed zinc wick
• Granulated wax crystals
• Baggies
• Candle dye (optional)
• Fragrance
• Spoon or funnel (optional)
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Decide if you're going to give each guest a red, white and blue votive candle, or make multicolored candles in larger jars, such as Mason jars. Gather all of your supplies.

2. Secure your pre-tabbed wick (34-40 zinc wicks are ideal for this project) in the center of the container with a dot of hot glue. Glue all of your wicks in place at one time so they have time to dry.

3. Ready your granulated wax crystals--also called wax art crystals. If you purchase colored crystals, skip this step. Separate the crystals into heavy-duty plastic baggies that zip closed. Put 1 cup of crystals in each bag. Add a drop or two of candle dye to make one baggie red, one blue and leave the last one alone so it remains white. Shake the baggies with dye in them until the dye is evenly distributed amongst the crystals.

4. Add liquid candle fragrance to your baggies of crystals, if you desire, at a ratio of 1/8 to 1/4 oz. of fragrance per 1 cup of granulated wax crystals. Shake the baggies well to evenly distribute the fragrance. Perhaps a rose scent would be appropriate as it is the official National Flower.

5. Wrap the wick around a pencil or stick so it remains centered. Have a helper hold the pencil or stick, tape it or position it in a manner that it won't slip.

6. Spoon or funnel blue crystals into the bottom quarter of the jar, taking care not to touch the side of the container with any crystals. Repeat with white crystals, then with the red, resulting in a red, white and blue candle.

7. Trim the wick if necessary. Add any finishing touches such as ribbons, thank-you cards or clear stickers commemorating the event. For example, you could attach pre-printed clear stickers that say "The Johnson's Memorial Day BBQ" or something with similar wording and the date or year of your patriotic party.

Tips & Warnings

• Other patriotic party favors may include red, white and blue soaps, beaded key chains or pins, cookies, suckers, pouches of appropriately colored candies or any other item you wish to give your guests.

• Never leave a burning candle unattended--which includes sleeping in the same room.

References

• How To Art and Crafts
• Let's Make Candles
• Symbols of the United States of America