Painted Candles

Skill level: Beginner

You will need:

• Plain dinner candles
• Water-based, non-toxic, acrylic paint pens
• Clean cloth
• Candlestick holders
• Water
• Scrap paper (optional)

To make:

Using your cloth and the water, wipe down the candles. Leave to dry.

You may wish to practise your designs on paper before painting the candles. Don’t forget you will be drawing onto a curved surface.

Lay the candle on the table and use the paint pens to draw on your design. Place the candle into the candlestick holder and leave to dry (this will take approximately five minutes). You may need to allow one side of the candle to dry before painting the other side to prevent smudging.

When the paint is dry, apply a second coat, place it back in the candleholder and leave to fully dry.

Tips and ideas

• Handle the painted candles with care as the paint can chip.
• If you don’t have acrylic paint pens, use water-based, non-toxic paints, using fine brushes to apply to the candles.
• You could use different coloured candles and paints to create candles for various occasions and festivities.
• Small votive-sized candles could be painted with names and used as table settings for a dinner party or wedding.

Important information

• Do not paint on the top of the candle near the candle wick.
• Ensure you use water-based, non-toxic paint.
• If you use alternative acrylic paints, do not burn and use the candles for decorative purposes only.