Cup candles

By Spotlight

Old crockery gets a new life with this DIY decorator idea.

Final Result

Materials

• old cups & saucers
• candle wax
• candlewick
• candlewick holder
• pencil
• saucepan
• scissors

Step 1

Cut a 20cm length of candlewick and attach the candlewick holder to one end. Wrap the open end of the candlewick around a pencil until the candlewick is the same length as the depth of the cup. Place the pencil across the top of the cup with the candlewick hanging down so that the candlewick holder is sitting in the bottom of the cup.

Step 2

Melt the candle wax in an old saucepan, at a low temperate but do not boil the wax. Pour the melted wax into the cup until it is 5mm from the lip. Leave to cool.

Step 3

When the wax has set, unwrap the candlewick from around the pencil and trim the wick to 1cm above the candle.

Handy Hint

Cups make great pots for small plants (i.e. cactus, succulents and African violets) creating a lovely display on kitchen windowsills. Choose cups in a style to complement your décor, vintage cups give an old-world feel, or mixed styles of cups create an eclectic look.