Sunday 20 March 2011

Egg Shell Candles

The spring equinox falls tonight and we have decided on a craft to celebrate Ostara, although it would also be a good craft for Easter. We really loved the look of the egg shell candles but as you know, I have really small children and I was not keen on melting the wax to make the candles as they both get very enthusiastic at craft time and hot wax could be a bit dangerous for them if it spilt. So we have decided to make egg shell candles in a totally safe way even for the smallest of children.


First, save some egg shells, I tried to break the eggs in a way to leave one side slightly larger to accommodate the candle. I used a knife to try and get the right size and make it as clean a break as possible and no eggs were wasted, we used them all. I then gave them a quick rinse out and left them to dry.



We put the egg into an eggcup to steady it and to stop small fingers from accidentally crushing the delicate shell. If you choose to you can neaten the edges of the shell with some scissors but we decided to leave them.


Next we used colourful candle sand so that we did not have to use hot wax, this is available at craft shops or you could use wax beads as an alternative if you have some. Aim to fill the egg shell about half or two thirds full, my children decided to fill the shell right up.



Next is the cheating bit, everyone who has small children will have lots of these laying around in the back of the candle drawer, well if you are anything like me that is. Half used birthday candles make excellent emergency wicks, just push the candle down into the wax sand until just the wick is visible. You could use wick if you prefer but I was thinking of the simplest thing for small children.


This is what the finished multi coloured candles look like, you can't see the birthday candle at all, I think they look quite beautiful and it was absolutely safe for small children to make.


As you can see they look lovely alight too...

20 comments:

  1. lovely idea - I'll defintitely try that xx

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  2. thank-you for reading, we loved the safeness of the wax sand :)

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  3. Oh these look fantastic! That's a great tip about the birthday candle wicks too. :)

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  4. thank-you, the old birthday candles are very easy for little hands to use :)

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  5. oh wow, they look wonderful, such a fab idea
    :-)

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  6. Found a link to your blog via twitter and now following you! I love this idea-they are so pretty but easy to make x

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  7. thank-you both for reading, they were very easy to make :)

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  8. Oh these are really cute! And I love the "recycling" of bday candles - how fun and cute and adorable!!!!

    Thank you for linking up to Kids Get Crafty!

    Maggy

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  9. thanks for visiting my blog - was a lovely idea :o) Scarlett x

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  10. What a great idea to share! I love the fact you are using egg shells and used birthday candles to make these candles. They look fantastic. Thank you for visiting my blog today. Bx

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  11. thank-you all for reading and your lovely comments :)

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  12. what a great idea. I want to have a go at making teacup candles and th idea of the childrens candles for the wick is inspired.
    Lovely post and pics xx

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  13. Ingenious! Can't wait to make some of these for Easter with my little ones. Thanks a bunch for the inspiration!!!

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  14. Fantastic - I've never seen that done before - we'll try that one this end - thanks for sharing :-)

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  15. They are so pretty and they do burn beautifully.

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  16. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog, I'm intrigued to try these little candles now - I've never come across them before!

    Jem xXX

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  17. Featured these on Easter Get Crafty today :-)))))

    http://www.redtedart.com/2011/04/01/easter-get-crafty/

    Maggy

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  18. thank-you, will drop by to visit all the other crafts :)

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  19. Thanks so much for sharing this with our Spring Carnival. :) Just wanted to let you know that I featured your post here:
    http://sunnydaytodaymama.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/all-year-round-week-four-7-spring.html

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