How to Make Candles Out of Clay

You can make candle decorations out of clay.

If you're decorating for the winter holidays, it's traditional to put out certain symbols of the season, including candles. Instead of placing real candles, which can drip hot wax all over your carpeting and furniture, you can place out ceramic candles made from terra-cotta clay. Clay candles provide the beauty and appearance of real candles, but will be safe to touch and won't cause a mess.

Things You'll Need

• 1 lb. of terra-cotta clay
• Rolling pin
• Clay knife
• Wire
• Bowl
• Water
• Ceramic glaze
• Paintbrush
• Kiln

Instructions

1. Use a rolling pin to roll out 1 lb. of terra cotta clay into a 1/2-inch-thick sheet.

2. Cut out a rectangle from the clay sheet, using the clay knife, that measures 6 inches wide and 3 inches long.

3. Roll the clay rectangle, by hand, into a log, starting at the widest side and rolling across to the opposite side.

4. Insert a wire into one end of the roll.

5. Wrap clay around the tip of the wire. Form it, by hand, into a flame shape.

6. Allow the clay candle to dry completely.

7. Paint the candle with ceramics glaze. Paint the base of the candle white and the tip of the candle orange, red and yellow to resemble a flame. Let the glaze dry completely.

8. Fire the clay candle in a kiln.