Christmas Craft: Ice Candles

When I was a kid, my mom made ice candles with me. It must have been a popular ‘70s activity. It brought back memories of doing crafts with my mom – something I had forgotten until these candles popped up on social media somewhere. They’re very pretty with the light shining through the holes. I think they look like snow, and they remind me of the winter season. I decided to try to make some for my office mates. They were as simple to do as I remember.

You might want to make them with your kids. Just be careful because there is hot wax involved.

Materials

A mold: I used paper cups and a couple of empty milk containers. The milk containers work best, I think, because you get a larger, square candle.

Tapers: You could use old candles that you already have. They need to be even with the top of your mold, so you may have to cut them.

Wax: You can get candle wax at hobby stores.

Ice: I used the crushed ice option from my refrigerator. If using ice cubes, smash them up a bit. If the cubes are too large, the holes in the candle will be too big.

Pans: One large saucepan for boiling water and a small one for the wax. Do not melt wax directly on the burner. Put it in a small pan and put that pan in a larger pan of boiling water to melt the wax.

Decoration: Optional. I tied festive cord around mine and added a stem with red berries that I cut from a floral stem, also available at a hobby store.

Newspapers or something under the molds to either catch wax or absorb water draining from the candles.

Directions

Using the double-boiler method of one pan with water and a smaller pan with wax, heat the water to boil and put the smaller pan on top to melt the wax.

Prepare the mold or molds. If using a milk carton, cut it to the size you want. It can be tall, or you can cut it down shorter, but you will have to cut the top off.  Place the mold or molds on the newspapers.

Have your ice ready in a bowl or cup.

Place the taper in your mold and hold it in the middle as you place the ice around it. The ice should hold it up in the middle.

Pour the hot wax into the mold. Start pouring in the middle of the mold around the taper. Once the mold is filled with wax, let it set briefly and peel off the mold.

Drain the water from the melted ice by holding the candle upside down over the sink or a large bowl. The ice will continue to melt, so keep newspaper underneath the candle or put it in a bowl to catch the rest of the ice.

Once it is completely set and drained, light and enjoy!