fall project: scented teacup candles

A week or so ago we experienced a crazy thunder and lightning storm followed by rain where I thought, Finally! Fall is here, let the festivities begin! as I've prematurely done three or four times already. And of course, I was tortured by the return of brutal heat, that I swear is here to stay. Argh.

Well, during that two day period of deliciously cozy weather (I may be part Addams, part Oregonian but who doesn't love a good storm?!), my sister showed up with a box of firewood, her sleeves rolled, ready for a craft project. We were feeling ambitious enough to try cinnamon stick-wrapped candles in addition to teacup, but by god it was the most difficult, expensive idea (five or six sticks to a $7 bottle!) we've ever had. On the contrary, the scented teacups were easy as pie and quite cheap to make. Don't even get me started on the trip to Michaels!! Love. That. Place. Stop. It.

And they were fast, since we used microwaveable wax and skipped the whole glue-gun nonsense. Who owns a glue gun?! I'm not as crafty as I thought because I definitely don't. Added to my Christmas list.

We melted the wax in just a few minutes, added a few drops of cinnamon scent, wrapped the wicks (that came primed already, you'll need to look up priming if yours aren't) around pencils and set them in the cups, and poured. Then we let them set and voila! Cute, vintage, sweet-smelling candles perfect for fall. Along with tea, spiced bread, scary movies, apples galore, seasoned firewood and pumpkins, you've got to be stocked with an assortment of candles.

I love to eat by candlelight [insert husband: "Um, I can't see my food."] or have some casually lit by the fireplace or on the coffee table on blustery nights, with a movie or puzzle going. The light is soothing, flattering, and altogether cozy cozy, which—surprise!—is my obsession year-round but especially come autumn. There are few things in life I love as much as fall.

Did I mention the cinnamon aroma? The kind that makes you drift out of your seat and float lazily along cartoon-style after it? I might try vanilla or lavender next but nothing draws back memories of Halloween, pumpkin patches, hot cider on the stove, baking with my mom and the general excitement of the holidays more than cinnamon. And now I'm off in dreamland...

Supplies

Teacup (from thrift stores, flea markets, back of Mom's cabinet)

Wax (I used microwaveable soy wax from Michaels, but all kinds work)

Candle wicks (at least 1" taller than your cup)

Candle scent (I used "cinnamon twirl" from Michaels)

Pencil

Directions

1. Clean your cup and dry completely.

2. Wrap one end of the wick around a pencil. Place your wick in the center of your cup with pencil resting on the rim. Glue or use putty at the base of hold wick in place. (I think you're safe skipping this step if you don't have either-- I did and it worked fine.)

3. Heat wax and add in scent according to package directions. (You can use a candy thermometer to gauge but I just heated til it was clear, not cloudy.)

4. Pour into container. You can gently straighten the wick after wax has been poured.

5. Let sit until the wax is cool and solid (about 30 minutes). Trim wick down to 1/4 inch.

6 Comments

i wish there was a michael's easily accessible to nyc. i like candles but always forget to light them when just hanging around the house

Posted by: Julia (Color Me Green) | September 30, 2009 at 10:56 AM

That is so cool!

Posted by: noble pig | September 30, 2009 at 02:12 PM

gimme gimme gimme...

i want to do this, STAT. my beau recoils whenever i light a synthetic-smelling candle—could i add cinnamon sticks or something naturally cozy-inducing to the wax without it looking like puke or giving off a weird aroma?

Posted by: saskatch | September 30, 2009 at 04:42 PM