DIY Twisted Candles
Happy Almost Fourth of July!
It's finally nice weather, time to get people together and I could not be more excited. When I was getting ready to have a couple of friends over, I wanted to have fun with it and create a unique tablescape that would bring a smile to their faces. I found these adorable table settings and décor at Hobby Lobby when I was shopping for arts and crafts and just had to have them! Then to add a little ambiance as the sun sets, I wanted candles - but I thought, I can do better than just votive candles, I want to make fun candles. Everyone has been loving the modern take on candles by bending them and twisting them into fun shapes, so I thought I would give it a try! I followed the below instructions and was able to create some fun shapes in about 30 minutes, and 20 of that was just soaking! Check out these easy steps and have fun adding character to your table next time you’re hosting!
Step 1
Find tapered candles that are 12 inches or longer, so you have plenty of length to bend and twist into any shape you like. If you are choosing to use colored candles like in my post, make sure the candle is not just coved in a colored outer shell and that it is the desired color all the way through. Often I found that when using candles with just a colored shell, no matter how long I soaked them, or how I bent them, the color cracked while I was shaping them.
Step 2
Once you have your candles, find a large vessel that will allow the candles to be completely submerged in water. I had two tall flower vases lying around and used those. I filled the vases with hot water. You don’t want the water to be boiling but very warm just out of the tap. Then let the candles sit for 15 to 20 minutes or until you start to notice they are getting a natural bend from becoming pliable.
Step 3
Take the candles out one at a time and mold them into the desired shape. If you take the candles all out at once, the candles will harden while they are waiting to be molded. When molding your candles you can bend them into many different shapes; however, a few tips I learned are:
Take it slow while bending!
If you are going to twist your candles it's very important to roll the parts your twisting flat with a rolling pin first!
If you’re bending candles but finding the candle won't stand up, it can help to create a flat side of the candlestick by shaving a little off with a potato peeler.
Step 4
Once you have the desired candle shape, make sure to run the candle under cold water to set it. Then you’re done and ready to display them! Happy Fourth of July!
