Ignite your imagination.

Give simple white or ivory pillar candles a new look for Halloween! You probably have most of the supplies in your home, or can easily obtain them at your neighborhood Publix. Get ready to see simple household items such as cans and crayons in a whole new way, and let’s get crafting.

Supplies:

• Two kitchen pots
• Two (28-ounce) aluminum cans, emptied, cleaned, and dried (Note: We used Publix Crushed Tomatoes cans.)
• Three white or ivory pillar candles in varying heights (Note: We used candles with 2.8-inch widths and heights of 3, 4, and 5 inches. These will be referred to in the instructions as small, medium, and large.)
• Two plastic forks
• Paper plates
• Crayons in shades of yellow and orange
• Candy corn (optional)

Steps:

1. Fill each of the kitchen pots with 1 – 2 inches of water, and place one tin can in each pot to make a double boiler. Place each pot on a burner, and bring the water in each to a boil; reduce heat to simmer.


2. Place a medium candle in one can, and place a small candle in the other. Allow candles to melt.

3. Once candles have melted, remove the wicks from the melted wax using a plastic fork, and place on a paper plate.


4. Add orange crayons to the melted wax from the medium candle, and add yellow crayons to the melted wax from the small candle. (Note: The yellow wax needs to be more saturated than the orange. We recommend using about three times more yellow crayon than orange.) Using a different plastic fork for each tin, stir the crayons and the wax until well combined. Place forks on a paper plate in case you need to stir again.

5. Hold a white or ivory pillar candle by the wick and dip the candle straight down into the orange wax until it is about two-thirds covered. Lift straight up out of the wax (be careful to avoid hitting sides of can). Repeat the dipping process until you reach desired hue. If the color is not saturated enough after 3 – 5 dips, place candle on paper plate, add more orange crayons to the melted wax, stir, and dip the candle again. Still holding by the wick, place candle on a paper plate. Let dry 10 – 15 minutes.


6. Holding the orange-dipped candle by the wick, dip into the yellow wax until about one-third is covered. Lift straight up out of the wax (be careful to avoid hitting sides of can). Repeat the dipping process until you reach desired hue. Again, if a more saturated color is desired, place candle aside, add more yellow crayons to the wax, stir, and repeat dipping process. Still holding wick, place candle on a paper plate. Let dry 10 – 15 minutes.


7. Arrange dipped candles on a tray, and scatter candy corn around the base, if desired, to complete the centerpiece.


8. For easy cleanup, simply discard the cans, paper plates, and plastic forks.