How to Make Beeswax Candle Crayons in Baby Food Jars

Empty baby food jars make perfect candle holders.

Resourceful crafters often save leftover containers and scraps of this and that with the knowledge they can put it all together at a later date and make something. Such is the case with colorful, homemade candles made from empty baby food jars, broken old crayons and leftover beeswax. These three supplies, when put together, provide you with an enjoyable family craft that can be used to make inexpensive decorations for holidays or other occasions.

Things You'll Need

• Pot
• Metal jar lid
• Empty metal coffee can
• 8 oz. beeswax
• Peeled, broken crayons
• Tongs
• 4 baby food jars
• Kitchen towel
• 4 birthday candles
• Matches
• Hot pads

Instructions

1. 

   Use a clean, empty coffee can to prevent wax mess inside your cookware.

   Place a metal jar lid, such as the lid from a mayonnaise jar, in the bottom of a pot. Fill the pot halfway with water and bring it to a boil. Position a metal coffee can inside the pot, using the metal jar lid as a base to keep the coffee can from sitting on the bottom of the pot.

2. Adjust the temperature under the pot to the medium heat setting. Break off small pieces of beeswax and add to the coffee can until you've placed the entire eight ounces of wax in the can. Allow the beeswax to melt entirely.

3. 

   Broken crayons add color to homemade candles.

   Drop a piece of broken crayon into the melted beeswax. Stir the melting crayon into the wax to evenly distribute the color. Add more crayon for a deeper shade, if preferred. Remove the coffee can from the pot and allow the wax to cool in the can for 10 minutes.

4. Grasp one baby food jar at a time with tongs. Hold the jar underneath hot running water for a few minutes, allowing the water to run over the outside surface only. Doing this prevents hot wax from causing the glass to crack.

5. Dry the baby food jars with a kitchen towel. Light one birthday candle and hold it over the center of the jar, allowing the wax to drip into the bottom. Blow out the wick and secure the bottom of the candle to the inside of the jar by sticking it in the melted wax. Repeat this step with the other jars and birthday candles.

6. Allow the candle wax in the bottom of the jar to solidify for a few minutes. Carefully pour the beeswax and crayon mixture into the jar, around the birthday candle. Fill the jar within one-half to one inch of the top of the jar.

7. Set the filled baby food jars on a hot pad and allow the wax to cool until it's solidified.

Tips & Warnings

• Let children participate, under adult supervision, by having them decorate the outside of the baby food jars with glue and glitter or tissue paper.

• Combine colors of crayon to make your own colors.

• Add a few drops of fragrant essential oil to the beeswax and crayon mixture to make scented candles.

References

• Disney Family Fun: Candle Jars
• Kaboose: Crayon Candles
• Beeswax Creations: Recipes