Inexpensive Craft Idea: Halloween Painted Candle

It is almost time for Halloween again, and purchasing new Halloween candles at the store each year can become quite expensive. One option to alleviate this problem is to make your own painted candles using craft items you may already have in the house. It is relatively inexpensive, and can decorate the house and provide enough lighting to set the mood for a spooky Halloween evening. The process is fun and easy to do, and can be done as a project for the whole family to enjoy if you have small children!

For this project you will need:

Fine-grained sand paper

Tempura or acrylic paint

Thin paint brushes

Candle (black or orange is preferable)

Optional: Fingernail polish in place of paint

Netting (or tissue paper)

Colorful Yarn in Halloween colors

The first step in making your spooky painted Halloween candle is to lightly sand the surface of the candle. There should be small scratches on the wax, just enough to hold the paint to be applied. Small squares of fine sandpaper are easiest to use, and can be reused from past art projects, or can be used for more than one candle.

Next, the paint can be applied. The paint should be slightly thick. Be careful it is thick enough that it doesn't run down the sides of the candle. If it begins to run, it should be removed promptly before it has a chance to dry. Or it can be removed after it dries by sanding the sides again. If the paint bubbles, it can be sanded off and applied again. Spooky scenes or items can be painted on, either freehand or using stencils or precut shapes as guides.

Fingernail polish can be used in place of paint, and can be purchased at a relatively low cost. Halloween colors are easy to find at Halloween time, as well! The same process can be used for both paint and fingernail polish. Note that a double coat of fingernail polish may be necessary, as it may not be as thick as regular paint. Using fingernail polish will likely cut down on cleanup time in the end because there will be no need to clean separate paintbrushes!

After the paint has dried, one option to add as a finishing touch is to tie a small piece of netting (or tissue paper; you can even use tissue paper you've saved from gifts or past art projects at an additional savings!) around the candle and tie it off with a small piece of colored yarn. This will make a great presentation if you want to give the candle as a gift. Just remember to keep the netting and yarn away from the wick, as it could become a fire hazard!

Either keeping the candles you've made for yourself or giving them as a gift, this project is fun to do. It provides an inexpensive way to spend constructive time with your children (or just by yourself) and serves to help set a festive mood in your house at Halloween time!