How to Make Honey Pot Beeswax Luminaries

Make luminaries with balloons.

Wax luminaries are small wax bowls that hold a tea light inside. The tea light shines through the wax and makes it glow. This is especially attractive with dried leaves and flowers pressed into the wax.

Because these luminaries are made almost entirely of wax, once they burn down there is no need to store them. Either melt down the shells and recycle them into homemade candles or simply toss them. They also have no breakable parts that could be dangerous to feet and paws.

Though you can purchase these luminaries, they are often expensive, but you can make them yourself for less.

Things You'll Need

• Double boiler
• Spoon
• Cooking thermometer
• Helium balloons
• Flat, dried flowers, leaves and herbs
• Clean cookie sheet
• Flat knife
• Tea lights

Instructions

1. Melt about 1/2 pound of beeswax in a double boiler. Break the wax into small pieces before throwing them into the heated top pan for faster melting. Stir the wax gently as it melts, heating it to 180 degrees F. Check the temperature with your cooking thermometer and lower the heat to maintain the temperature.

2. Fill a helium balloon about halfway with lukewarm water. Make sure the water is not too hot or too cold; extreme temperatures could cause your balloon to pop or the wax to be come brittle. Make sure to use a helium balloon; other balloons are too thin.

3. Dip the balloon into the wax to about 1/4 inch below the water line in the balloon. If you dip past the water line, the balloon may burst. Lift the balloon out of the wax for a few moments until the wax dries. Repeat about 10 times.

4. Press a few leaves and flowers into the warm wax after dipping your balloon the last time, working quickly and pressing very gently. Choose plant materials that are perfectly flat and paper thin. Thicker materials will distort your container.

5. Dip the balloon quickly back into the wax to seal the plants and flowers in place. Keep dipping your balloon until the wax is about 1/4 inch thick. You may add more plants every few dips if you like, but too many will make the luminary look messy and crowded.

6. Set the balloon down gently on a clean cookie sheet, but do not let go of it. The cookie sheet will give the luminary a flat bottom and help it to cool. Once cool, hold the wax shell in the palm of your hand and pop the balloon with a knife over the sink. Remove the balloon pieces, heat the knife and rub it over the lip of the luminary to make it flat and even.

7. Place a tea light inside the luminary and light it. It should give off a pretty yellow glow and highlight the embedded plant materials.

References

• Curbly: How to Make Teardrop Luminaries
• You Tube Video: How to Make Teardrop Luminaries