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Make Elegant, Decorative Candles
From Plain Pillar Candles


Making decorative candles from plain pillar candles is about the easiest craft you will find here. I have made several of these for family and friends over the years, and I still get compliments on them. Those that I gave them to, often tell me how many compliments they get from their family and friends...and they are soooo simple to make!

decorative candle


You only need 4 items and 1 tool to make these candles:

  • a pillar candle or a large multi-wick candle like I used here.
  • wide wired ribbon
  • narrower ribbon - I used 1/8 inch ribbon, but you could go wider if you like.
  • charm - you need to have some type of opening to tie the ribbon to, unless you just hot glue the charm onto the ribbon.
  • hot glue gun

decorative candle supplies 1decorative candle supplies 2

Step 1: Measure around your candle and add 2 inches. Cut a piece of the wide, wired ribbon this length. Fold one end of the ribbon under about a half inch.

I like wired ribbon for this step because it holds the fold nicely so you aren't trying to hold it while hot gluing it.

candle ribbon


Step 2: To see where you want the ribbon positioned, wrap this ribbon around the center of your candle. If you have a very tall candle, you might want to position it a little closer to the top of the candle.

Run a thin bead of hot glue under the fold, near the fold line. Working quickly, before the glue cools, wrap the ribbon around your candle, carefully holding it in position until the glue cools.

decorative candles making


Step 3: Cut the narrower ribbon the same length as the wired ribbon. Thread the ends of the ribbon through the charm to create a loop of ribbon that will go around your candle. Fold one end of the ribbon to the back along itself and hot glue.

Wrap it around your candle and thread the other end of the ribbon through the other side of the charm. You may need to trim it off a little. I like to have about a half inch of overlap to glue. This is the trickiest part for two hands. You might want to have someone else hold it onto the candle, while you add glue to the end of the ribbon, pull it tight around the candle and glue the ribbon to itself in the back.

candle charmpillar candle charm 2


ribbon wrapped pillar candle


Thats it...pretty simple...and simply pretty! You can use any type of candle holder you like for your decorative candles. For this fat, multi-wick candle, I made a bow from some different wide, wired ribbon, wired that onto a grapevine wreath that fit around my candle. Then I wrapped a star garland (designed for Christmas trees) around it and tucked artificial berry clusters in.

You can get very creative with this craft project by varying the ribbons and charms used. For instance, you could use a checked ribbon, and use a large button instead of a charm. Let your imagination go. Have fun with it! For stunning inexpensive homemade gifts, that get rave reviews, these decorative candles fit the bill perfectly!

finished decorative candle


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