This is a simple craft that doesn’t require many materials or a lot of time.
Materials:
- Eggshells
- Beeswax (pellets, chunks or even old candles bits)
- Wicks (tealight size)
- Dried flowers (optional)
- Crushed mica (optional)
Method:
First prepare the eggs: I use eggshells from eggs I have eaten or baked with and don’t do anything special when I crack them. If you know you are planning to make some, just think about making the crack closer to the skinny end, but as long as you have a solid half (ie don’t crush it into a million pieces like my children do…) it should be fine. The fiddliest bit is that you need to pull the membrane out, if you do when they are fresh I can usually just yoink them out in one piece. If that doesn’t work you can boil your shells for a few minutes to coax it out. (If you were filling the eggs with something edible you would want to boil them anyway, but for a candle it isn’t imperative)
Once your eggs are clean and dry, start melting your beeswax. Bring a few inches of water to a boil in a pot on the stove (preferably one that you only use for crafts) and then lower to a simmer. Put your wax into a mason jar or clean coffee can and set into the simmering water. The amount of wax you need will depend on the number of candles you are making. Eyeball the quantity and then add some more, it always looks like more than it is before you melt it. (Any left over wax can be poured onto a piece of foil to harden and be used another day.) If you’d like some color throw in a piece or two of broken crayon– I used green for the candles in the picture.
While you are waiting for your wax to melt, cut your wicks to be a few inches taller than your shells. Set the shells into an egg carton so they aren’t rolling around and dip the end of your wick into some of the melted wax and quickly stick it to the bottom of the egg shell. There is a special product you can use for this, but I don’t generally bother. When you wax is completely melted, give it a gentle stir to make sure everything is evenly melted, and pour your wax into the shells. (If you wanted to add scent, you would do that right before pouring, off the heat) Now just wait for the wax to harden and use!
It’s natural for the wax to sink a bit around the wick as it hardens, if it bothers you reheat the wax again and do a second pour on top.
If you are using the dried flowers and/or crushed mica sprinkle them on top when the wax has started to set but is still hot.
I like to display these in egg cups with a little moss, but they’d be lovely in a variety of displays!