Make a Polar Animals Candle

Follow this step-by-step tutorial to make a polar themed candle, perfect for cosy evenings or for a homemade Christmas gift. Craft Design Team member Cheryl Sanderson shows us how to use a selection of our winter moulds to create this sweet votive candle.

Step 1 – What you'll need to make the candle:

• Jug to melt wax in, stood in a pan of water (always use a bain marie when heating wax)
• Thermometer
• Wax suitable for candles in containers
• Fragrance oil suitable for wax
• Oil based dye
• Glass candle container
• Candle wick
• Sticky tab to stick wick to base of glass
• Wick centering tool – or you can improvise using a pencil and Blu Tack
  
  

Step 2 – Stick the wick to the base of the glass and use the centering tool to centre the wick ready to pour the wax.

Step 3 – Melt and dye the wax then pour into the glass.

• Melt the wax then add dye according to manufacturer's instructions.
• Cool a little and pour into the glass (temperatures vary for different waxes).
• Remove any air bubbles by popping them with a skewer. Leave to cool and set before removing the wick centering tool.

Step 4 – What you'll need to decorate the glass:

Click below to shop:
Polar Bear Family Mould
Penguin Family Mould
Icicles Mould
Blue Hearty Air Drying Clay
White Hearty Air Drying Clay

Or get the Mould Bundle or Moulds & Clay Bundle

Step 5 – Make the decorations.

Cheryl's top tip: I have mixed the blue and white clay to make a pale blue – you need very little coloured clay as it's highly pigmented. New packs of clay can be a little sticky to work with so leave a piece to dry a minute or two before using.

• Fill the moulds with clay. Make sure the clay is pulled away from the edges of the mould as shown on the small bear in the mould top left.
• To remove the clay, give the mould a wiggle until the clay shape comes loose and comes out of the mould easily. If it stretches, leave to dry a short while and then try again.
• Once removed from the moulds, leave your clay pieces to dry on kitchen paper before decorating with water based paints or inks.
• If you want the pieces to dry on a curve or round the corner of the glass, leave the clay to dry over the item you plan to adhere it to – see step 6.
  
  

Step 6 – Leave the icicles to dry over the side of the glass container to shape the clay piece, making it easier to adhere to the glass.

Step 7 – Stick your clay shapes onto the candle glass.

• Apply silicone adhesive directly to the back of the clay shape to adhere it to the glass.
  
  

Steps 8-10 – Repeat step 7 with each of your clay shapes and adhere them to the candle glass.

Well done, you've made your very own polar themed candle!

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