Canning Jar Candles
Canning jar candles are very easy to make, make great gifts, and are
only limited by your imagination!
To start all you need are some old wide mouth canning jars, wire ribbon,
potpourri, votive candles, small glass votive candle holders, and craft
glue or a hot glue gun.
If you don't have any old canning jars, you can find some very
inexpensively at thrift stores and yard sales. Wire ribbon can be a
little expensive. Look for it at yard sales and at craft store clearance
sales. The after-Christmas sales a great time to stock up. One roll of
ribbon will make several canning jar candles. Potpourri you can make
yourself or buy on sale. Votive candles are inexpensive at stores like
Target or Walmart, and you can also find glass votive candle holders
very inexpensively at Walmart. You want one that will set in the rim of
the canning jar.
You can fill the canning jar with whatever you wish. Potpourri is one of
the easiest fillers. I bought a nice autumn-scented potpourri and added
some orange slices I'd dried in my food dehydrator. You can also add
dried cranberries, apple slices, or cinnamon sticks.
After you fill the jar, you set the candle holder inside the mouth of
the jar. The top of the candle holder should be even with the top of the
jar. You might have a little trial and error before you find just the
right candle holder. Place the candle in the holder and then use the
ribbon to tie a big bow around the neck of the jar. That's it! (You
might want to use a little craft glue or your glue gun to tack the
ribbon in place).
You can glue some dried fruit, flowers, or other decorations on the bow
for a more decorative look. You can also put other things in the jar
besides potpourri. I've seen one half filled with white sugar with a
short white taper candle set down in the sugar. Very pretty! And that
one doesn't require the candle holder.
At Christmas you can purchase small ornaments and place them in the jar
instead of the potpourri. Any small figurine would do-in the spring you
could use little bunnies.
Maybe fill a jar with marbles or layers of colored sand. Even pennies!
Use your imagination. These candles make great gifts and are also fun to
make for yourself. If you get tired of one just empty it out and start
again!