How to Make Candles With a Milk Carton & Ice

Ice candles make beautiful decorations and gifts. These candles are easy to create and make an excellent craft for kids (just make sure adults supervise and handle the hot wax.) Pouring hot wax over pieces of ice gives each candle a uniquely lacy "Swiss cheese" pattern. White ice candles look elegant and simple, but you can also easily dye the wax a variety of colors with wax crayons or wax dye.

Things You'll Need

• Milk carton
• Candle wax
• Pot
• Can
• Candy thermometer
• Ice
• Candle wicks or a taper candle
• Wax dye or colored crayons

Instructions

1. Break the candle wax into chunks and put the pieces into the can. Fill the pot halfway with water and place the can inside the water. Heat the water until the wax melts. Make sure the wax reaches 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Never melt wax directly above a flame, because wax is very flammable.

2. Break crayons into pieces and add to hot wax, or add wax dye according to package instructions. Leftover candle stubs can also be added to hot wax to dye the wax. Wait until the crayons or dye pieces have completely melted.

3. Cut the top off the milk carton. If you are using a wick, poke a hole in the bottom of the carton and thread the wick through the hole. If you are using a taper, place the taper in the center of the milk carton.

4. Fill the milk carton with ice. You may want to crush larger chunks of ice to create a more delicate pattern. If your pieces of ice are too big, your candle won't stay together, so make sure you leave enough space for the wax.

5. Pour the hot wax over the ice slowly and carefully until you fill the milk carton. Let the carton sit until the wax dries, then carefully peel the cardboard from the wax. If you used a wick, cut the top so half an inch remains.

6. Allow the ice candle to harden for 24 hours and then refrigerate the candle for 12 hours.

Tips & Warnings

• If wax catches fire while you are heating it, smother the fire with the pot's lid. Do not put water on a wax fire.

• Never let candles burn unattended.

References

• Make-Stuff: The Art of Candle Making
• Better Homes and Gardens: Milk Carton Candles