Old Advent Candles, New Reminders to be the Light

Every year at this time, we face a problem. What do we do with last year's half-used Advent Candles? At the beginning of this Advent, we had three purple candles and no pink one. What happened to the pink one; I do not know. 

This morning, snowed in and bored, the three purple candles shouted in unison to me, "repurpose us!" My response was, "but how?" "Make a candle, " they called. So I did.



Remembering how to make a candle challenged me. One attempt to melt a bowl of candles in another bowl of hot water jogged my memory. I decided to microwave them. The peace coffee cup served as my mold. I recorded the process for you all below. 

  

How to Make Old Candles into New Ones

                                                                       Microwave Method 

 

        

Step 1:

    Break the candles.

Step 2:

    Put them in a glass bowl. Don't use metal, as this can cause a chemical reaction.

Step 3:

    Select a heavy glass form for them. I used a coffee cup.

Step 4:

    Microwave the candles for 1 minute, covered by a microwave-safe covering.

Step 5:

    Pour the wax into your mold.

Step 6:

    Microwave the candles for an additional minute. 

Step 7:

    Pour additional wax into your form.

Step 8:

    Remove the wicks from the hot wax carefully.

Step 9:

    Place the wicks in the center of your form. Place a popsicle stick on the top of your form and tie the wick to the center of the stick while the wick sticks down into the wax.

    If this seems too hard, put the wick in the center of your mold. Keep it centered by leaning the unused portions on the side for support. 

Step 10:

    Let wax in the form cool slightly.

Step 11:

    Melt more wax in the microwave for one-minute intervals. Pour the wax into your mold. Repeat four or five times until desired height.

 Step 12:

    Let the wax cool and harden, and remove your candle from your glass mold. Or you may also burn your candle in its glass mold if you choose a decorative vase or jar.

Cleaning your microwave:

    Clean your microwave from residual wax. Microwave one cup of water for 5 minutes, and scrape the wax from your microwave while warm. Repeat this process if necessary. Clean other dishes with warm, soapy water while the wax is still warm.

    Additional notes:

    This project is not for children to perform alone. There is a risk of being burned by hot wax and/or other materials. Attempt making this craft at your own risk.

    At the end of the craft, I now possessed a little candle that would remind me to let Jesus's light in my heart shine. That reminder makes all the difference in the world to me.



    




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