I've been collecting pretty little vintage china teacups and creamers from flea markets and thrift stores for a couple of years now, thinking I'd find something fabulous to do with them.
Perusing Pinterest I was inspired to make container candles. If you do a Pinterest search for this you'll see all sorts of beautiful photos with links to easy directions. Yay! Perfect for my upcoming show ~ a little something for those who don't have much money to spend.
I bought a candle making kit and followed the directions to a T. I approached the process much like baking and precisely measured and re-measured to ensure my candles would be perfectly beautiful.
It was easy. Simple, really. It was fun. And the entire house filled with the lovely scents of lavender and lilly of the valley.
Things started out well:
From a distance they turned out beautifully.
Up close? A hot mess! These look like, I don't know, snot?
These like teenage acne?
Not one post I read, nowhere in the research did I find, nor in my kit directions, did I find any mention of potential problems. Pinfuriating!
I made
Clearly, these are not Retro Revival worthy! Maybe I'll keep them on hand for some kind of Apocalypse or something (I have 15 pounds of unused wax!). In the meantime, I may submit my can'tdles to Pintrosity!
Don't forget that I'm giving away a copy of Beth's book.
Click here to enter. Drawing is August 31st ~ good luck!
Oh no! I made candles when I was a girl and then again with my boys but we never were concerned with the beauty of the wax... Hmmm... Hope you find an anwer!
ReplyDeleteDontcha' just hate it when your project doesn't turn out the way you want! Girl, burn them anyway! It's just wax so burn them and you will never see the boo boo's :)
ReplyDeleteThey are still nice.
That my dear is a pin fail. Surely you could re-melt them? Set them out front in the sun to clear up the cloudiness? Thanks for keeping it real...smiles..Renee
ReplyDeleteOh man...too bad! They would have been lovely. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at your visual descriptions! They do look pretty .... maybe you will get a tip on how to fix the top bit.... Cathy xx
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy!
ReplyDeleteI think you're too hard on yourself! Once your candles are lit...all the "snot and acne" will melt away! You are too funny!
I have so many pretty containers in boxes and drawers...What a great idea for reusing them.
Love this, my friend,
Carolynn xo
Does the book come with a one of those pintabulous smelling Lily of the Valley candles?
ReplyDeleteTammy
Snot and teenage acne! LOL! Oh I was rolling when I read those names....I can honestly say I have never seen candles with those kinda names. hehe. They may not look like you envisioned, but they still function as candles, right? Just let em burn, baby, burn. :)
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Angie
Pin-trocity?!? Hillarious! Wonder what went wrong there. It was a great IDEA.....
ReplyDeleteThese are so totally cute!
ReplyDeleteOh my I smiled when I read this post. I had a similar experience with my candles. The coloring came out muted and dull. After the first burning they were fine though and gained the proper coloring back. I am curious as to why this happens. I am your newest follower!
ReplyDeleteHow cute is that....you know what...you'll be burning those anyway :) hooray that you did it ~ that's deserving of applause in itself!! YeA!!
ReplyDeleteOh my! I often wonder if the things on Pinterest are actually leaving some bit of info out to recreate their loveliness.
ReplyDeleteAt least you have kept your wonderful sense of humor. And, I didn't think they looked so bad really. Cool idea. anyway.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your experience. It seems like a great idea in theory, but I guess not in reality. Oh well...sometimes we have to try and see how something turns out.
ReplyDeleteJust burn them and maybe try again when you find a better "recipe". Wonder what the problem is?
ReplyDeleteActually I think they are adorable!
Hugs,
Donna
Oh Cindy!
ReplyDeleteAfter all that work!
I'm sorry they didn't turn out like you hoped, but they can still be used at least.
I love all of the bone china pieces.
Ciao Bella
Creative Carmelina
So I was speaking to my Mr. about this post and he had an answer. I don't know why I didnt think to ask him when I was making mine as I commented before. He makes and remakes candles all the time. I think I was embarassed to tell him mine stunk. Anyway, he said that the problem is that the containers were too cool (mine were teacups) for the wax and it caused the was to settle wrong in the cooling process. He explained that if it cools right there will be a little funnel shape around the wick that you will fill up again when they are completely cooled. Maybe keeping the cups in a warmed oven until they are ready to be filled will help.
ReplyDelete