How to Make Hand-Painted Candles

Hand painting candles give them an elevated look with the custom design of your choice. They add a wonderful touch to any display and can be tailored to any holiday or theme with various colors.

Materials

Directions

1. Prepare Your Work Area: Lay down newspaper, paper towels, or a protective sheet to catch any spills or excess paint.

2. Remove packaging and stickers: Remove any packaging and stickers from your candles. If using taper candles that are attached at the wick, use the scissors to cut the wicks and separate the candles. Make sure candles are clear of any residue by wiping clean with paper towels or wipes then wipe dry. Be careful not to wipe too hard as to not nick or damage the candles or wax surface.

3. Plan out your design: Paint tiny dots around your candle to space out the design, leaving 1-2 inches from the top of the candle. This is not required but helps to evenly space out the design. Alternatively, you can paint as you go and eyeball it. If you mess up or aren’t happy with where you’ve placed the dots, immediately wipe the surface clean. If the paint is too dry to wipe off, gently scrape the paint off with a flat tool like a spoon or you can use your fingernail. Once it is clear, you can reapply the dots at your desired spacing.

4. Paint your design: This is the fun part! Get creative and go for it. Start with larger lines and outlines. Let dry and add in additional details in layers. For best results, it’s best to add in thinner layers of paint and add more details as you go. The finer the tip on your paint brush, the easier it will be to paint on the small rounded surfaces.

5. Let dry: When you are finished painting your design, let your candles sit for a minimum of 30 minutes. If you are using taper candles, let sit in candle holders to avoid having to lay them on their side and smudge the paint.

6. Enjoy: Once dried, place your candles on display or package up to give as gifts to friends and family.

Image by Ashley Myers via Minted