Halloween just isn't Halloween without candy corn. And even though many folks don't like the taste of it, candy corn does make a fun home decorating motif during the fall season. These pillar candles are inspired by the white, orange and yellow confections. To create the tapered candy corn candle shape, use paper cups, which are perfect for holding the hot wax. The candles slide right out when they're done. Displayed on a platter of actual candy corn, they'll add a whimsical touch to your Halloween revelries.
Things You'll Need
Paper cups
Knife
Candle wick
Adhesive putty
Duct tape
White candles
Tin cans
Orange and yellow crayons or wax dye
Preparing the Wick and Mold
Poke a Hole in the Cup
Turn the cup upside down. With your knife, nail or drill bit, poke a hole in the center of the bottom of the cup. The bottom of the cup is where the top of the candle will be.
Tip
For a complete set of candy corn candles decorations, use three different sizes of paper cups. Take a trip to your local coffee house and ask for some free empty cups. You may never think of a Triple, Venti, Half Sweet, Non-Fat, Vanilla Latte with Soy Milk the same again.
Thread a Wick Through the Hole
Cut a piece of candle wick that is at least four inches longer than the cup height. Thread the wick through the hole in the cup, leaving about one inch extending above the hole. The remainder of the wick can run out the bottom for now.
Cover Up the Hole
Plug the hole with a bit of adhesive putty to prevent melted wax from seeping out. This is the type of putty used to hang posters on the wall without nails. Press down on it to get a good seal.
For additional protection, cut a small piece of duct tape and cover the putty with it. This prevents candy corn wax from spilling out of that small hole.
Secure the Candy Corn Candle Wick
Turn the cup right side up. To keep the wick centered and secure, position a piece of duct tape across the diameter of the cup. Cut a slit in the middle of the tape, and thread the other end of the wick through the slit. Pinch the duct tape at the center to hold the wick tightly.
Melting the Wax
Break Up Wax Into Pieces
With a knife, shave down the sides of a white pillar candle, and the wax will crumble into small pieces.
Melt in Tin Cans
Thoroughly wash tin cans and let them dry. Be careful while handling them, as can rims are sharp. Pour the crumbled wax into a can, and place the can in a pot containing about two inches of water. Heat the water, and the wax will slowly melt.
Pour the First Layer
The colors on candy corn are typically white on top, orange in the middle and yellow on the bottom. Because the bottom of the cup is the top of the candle, and the top layer of candy corn is white, pour the first layer with plain wax without any coloring. When the wax is completely melted, pour it into the cup about 20 percent of the way.
Tip
The colors of candy corn are roughly divided into thirds, although the middle orange section is usually larger than the white and yellow sections. To help you determine how much of each layer of wax to pour, draw measurement lines on the outside of the cup with a black marker. Make the lines thick enough so you can see them on the inside of the cup while you're pouring.
Adding the Colored Sections
Choose the Type of Dye
To create the orange and yellow sections, you can use either crayons or wax dye. Crayons are typically easiest to obtain, and they dye the wax evenly. However, crayons have pigments that can clog the wick, so the candles might not burn as well. If you are using the candles for decorative purposes only and not planning on lighting them, then crayons should be fine. If you do plan on lighting them, then wax dye is a better option. It is pricier, with fewer retail outlets that sell it. For this project, wax dye purchased online was used.
Dye the Wax Orange
Melt the crumbled white wax just as you did for the first layer. When it is completely melted, add the orange dye, stirring with a wood skewer. If you are using crayons, cut them up into small pieces first. Start with about an inch of the crayon, and keep adding more until your desired color is reached. Similarly with the wax dye, start with a few flakes and gradually add more. Keep in mind that when the wax hardens, the color will be lighter than it appears in liquid form, so err on the side of saturation with candy corn wax.
Tip
Because the orange section is usually the largest in candy corn, you'll need a larger quantity of melted wax. Therefore, look for a larger tin can that will hold more wax. I used a 47-ounce can of black beans (emptied and cleaned, of course).
Pour the Orange Wax
Make sure the first layer of white wax is solidified, about 24 hours. Then pour the orange wax on top of it. About 75 percent of the mold should be filled after the orange wax is added. Let this layer of wax harden overnight.
Dye the Wax Yellow
Melt more crumbled white wax in a tin can. When it is melted, add pieces of yellow crayon or yellow wax dye, stirring with a wood skewer. Remember that the resulting color will be lighter than it looks melted, so make sure the yellow is very saturated.
Pour the Yellow Wax
Pour the yellow wax into the mold on top of the hardened orange layer, going all the way to the top. Let it harden overnight.
Releasing Candles from Molds
Cut Off Excess Wick
Trim the excess wick from the top of the yellow layer. Since this will actually be the bottom of the candle, there does not need to be any visible wick.
Remove the Seal to Reveal the Candle
Turn the mold upside down. Take off the duct tape and adhesive putty covering the hole at the bottom of the cup. Squeeze the sides of the paper cup, and the candle will slide right out.
Clean Up the Edges
If any colors seeped into another section (e.g., the yellow wax going into the orange), don't fret. It can happen when the wax contracts, leaving gaps that subsequent layers of melted wax will want to fill in. Just shave off any overlapping wax with a knife, and the candle will be perfect.
Tip
After shaving off any uneven edges, run a hair dryer over the surface of the candle and smooth it out with your fingers.