Make a candle Christmas gift

As a contributor over at Birds On The Blog, I am running a mini series, encouraging us to make handmade Christmas decorations and gifts this year.

Last week we looked at some suggestions to make Christmas tree decorations.

For my second part of my series, we will be looking at general Christmas decorations for the home, including a Rachel de Thame Christmas wreath, using material gathered from around your garden, and a cute Christmas garland (will be published 10.00am 10th December).

As well as making personalised greeting cards from my botanical photography I also enjoy a range of crafts such as paper crafts.

Earlier this year, I picked up some blank candles which were on special offer and wondered how I could add a decoration to them.

Through various designs such as using dried flowers, and adding transfers that I made with my flower images, I also came up with an easy project to share, using stamps and ink.

To make this decoration you will need:

Plain candle – You can pick one up for a couple of pounds at a variety of shops
Stamp ( if you have a local Hobbycraft, or independent craft shop near by)
Pigment Ink (as in below image)

As you can see I used a pretty dragonfly stamp, but you can use any stamp.

My recommendation would be to either use very small ones dotted all over the candle or long stamps.

Here is how I decorated the blank candle:

Directions:

Put stamp on table with the stamp facing up
Dot the ink pad over the stamp image until the raised section is covered evenly with ink
Place candle carefully from the right hand side and roll gently and firmly over the image carefully so as not to smudge the image
If you do accidently smudge the image, take some tissue and wipe it off gently and try again
Leave to dry.

Finished candle:

For a gift suggestion you could wrap in tissue paper and finish with some festive ribbon (once it has dried)

I hope you will enjoy making some decorations this Christmas

What have you been making?

Make Your Own Handmade Christmas Decorations And Gifts 2011 – Part One (birdsontheblog.co.uk)

Comments

Sarah Arrow says:

December 13, 2011 at 10:16 am

Wow, that looks easy enough for me to do Anita! I see you used silver ink there, is there a special type of ink? Or does silver work best?
Sarah Arrow recently posted..Up periscope – Women now serving on submarines

- Anita says:
  
  December 13, 2011 at 7:36 pm
  
  Hi Sarah,
  
  Thank you for your comment
  
  I chose silver as when the candle is displayed or lit the image sparkles
  
  I think any colour would work; maybe not black, in case you want to re do the image.
  
  The ink that I used was – ‘Ink it up!’ Pigment ink stamp pad, metallic silver.
  
  Here is an example –
  http://www.firststopstationers.co.uk/acatalog/Ink_It_Up__Pigment_Ink_Pads.html
  
Linda Mattacks says:

December 13, 2011 at 4:14 pm

Neat tip rolling the candle over the stamp rather than the other way round

Probably seems obvious to you but I could just see me trying to move the stamp-over-the-candle and making a complete mess of it…
Linda Mattacks recently posted..Looking for something a little bit special this Christmas?

- Anita says:
  
  December 13, 2011 at 7:40 pm
  
  Hi Linda,
  
  Thanks so much for your comment
  
  Are you going to have a go?
  Anita recently posted..Celebrating the Poinsettia
  
Angela Boothroyd says:

December 14, 2011 at 2:20 pm

Ooh, I love this idea, Anita I love having lit candles in the house (especially at Christmas) and I think I’ll have a go at this for myself, as well for a present or two.
Angela Boothroyd recently posted..Idiom: a night owl

Anita says:

December 15, 2011 at 12:12 am

Hi Angela,

Thank you for your comment

I love candles too – I have them everywhere!
Would love to see photos of your finished candle x