How to Make Tea Cup Candle Favors

Homemade gifts are a great choice for the holidays, because they communicate thoughtfulness and caring that’s difficult to achieve with a store-bought present. If you’re still looking for a handmade gift idea for a sister, teacher, or friend, why not consider tea cup candle favors? This project is easy to create and involves upcycling thrifted materials, making it affordable, practical, and eco-friendly.

Keep reading to learn more about how to turn beautiful vintage tea cups into lovely little candles.

Getting Started on Your Tea Cup Candle Favors

Supplies Needed:

For this project you’ll need to start at your local thrift store and seek out some vintage tea cups that inspire you. The rest of the supplies you need can be easily gathered online or at a nearby craft store.

●      Tea cups

●      Partially burned candles (or soy wax flakes)

●      Wicks

●      Wick holder (food sealing clips work great for this!)

●      Candle scents

●      Candle dye (optional)

Tools:

●      2 pans (for a double boiler)

●      Tongs

●      A candy thermometer

Step 1- Prep Materials

If using old candles, break up the wax and separate it from the old wicks. If you’re using new wax flakes, you can skip this step.

Step 2- Melt the Wax and Add Scent

Add water to the bottom pan of your double boiler. For the top pan in your double boiler, you may want to consider using an older pot or vessel, something you’re not too attached to, as it will soon be covered in wax.

Next, place your wax into the top pan and allow it to melt at a temperature of about 185 degrees. Add in your candle scent when your wax is approximately 180 °F. Fish out any leftover pieces of old wick using a tongs.

Step 3- Prepare your Teacups and Wicks

Now it’s time to lay out your tea cups and add in the candle wicks. Measure the depth of each tea cup and cut your wicks so they are 2 inches taller than the top of your tea cup. Use a wick holder to steady your wick in place so it doesn’t move around as your candle cools.

Step 4- Filling your tea cups

Once your tea cups are prepared and your wax is scented and melted, it’s time for the final step. Carefully pour the wax into each cup, stopping ½ inch before you reach the top so you don’t overflow the candle.

Step 5- Cool and Enjoy

You’ll want to allow your candles to cool for at least 6-8 hours before attempting to light them and enjoy.

There you have it – in just 5 simple steps you have a go-to gift idea using these tea cup candle favors!

Good Earth Candles

If you don't have time to DIY these tea cup candle favors this holiday season, you have a lot of great options for natural, giftable candles. Good Earth creates 100% natural, non-GMO, soy candles that burn slowly and evenly and won’t add toxins to your home’s air. Their fragrance options include lavender, sandalwood, sweet basil vanilla, eucalyptus, cranberry spice, and more!

Have you made tea cup candle favors? Share your favorite holiday DIY gifts with us in the comments section below.

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Photo by Soroush Zargar on Unsplash

DIY Christmas Stocking Cross Stitch Pattern Designs & More!

Nothing says “Christmas is here” like hanging your stockings by the fireplace with care. A family’s holiday stockings can become a treasured heirloom, taken out and enjoyed year after year. If you don’t currently have a set of stockings you love, you have the opportunity to hand make stockings that will show up in family pictures and memories for decades.

Keep reading to learn how to make your own stockings as well as Christmas stocking cross stitch pattern ideas!

Cozy Sweater Stockings

This DIY Christmas stocking idea is made from discarded sweaters and can be made in 12 easy steps! Start with a large sweater and lay it out flat. Next, create a pattern for your stocking by using a stocking you have on hand and tracing it onto brown craft paper. Use your pattern to cut two stockings out of your sweater, cutting through both sides. Pin your two sides together and sew before turning inside out and hanging by your fireplace!

DIY Felt Christmas Stockings

This Christmas stocking pattern is perfect for beginners at sewing, as felt is a very forgiving material to work with and doesn’t require turning your edges under to prevent fraying. Start by laying out your pieces and cutting according to the pattern. Next, sew together and turn out your cuff. Now comes the fun part, embellishing your felt stocking to fit your decor and the personalities of your family! Use ball fringe, rick-rack, felt flowers, embroidery, or any design you choose to create a truly unique piece your family will love.

Christmas Stocking Cross Stitch Patterns

Create truly unique and personalized stockings by making your own Christmas stocking cross stitch pattern. For this project you’ll need a blank counted cross stitch stocking, DMC floss in your selected colors, and a pattern. This website can help you personalize your christmas stocking cross stitch pattern with ease!

Burlap Christmas Stocking

If you are looking for an inexpensive, farmhouse Christmas stocking tutorial, this DIY stocking pattern ticks all the boxes. For this project you’ll need a yard of burlap, a yard of linen, matching thread, embroidery floss, scissors, and a sewing machine. Print the template and cut accordingly. Once you’ve sewn up your stockings, decorate with homemade tassels, faux fur, or anything you can dream up!

Retro, Mid-Century Christmas Stockings

Looking to add a little mid-mod flare to your holiday decor this year? If so, this retro stocking tutorial is just what you’ve been looking for. You’ll need ½ yard of white flannel, ½ yard of colorful cotton lining, and ½ yard of fusible fleece interfacing as well as a sewing machine, thread, felt, and other notions. Start by cutting your pattern from freezer or butcher paper and cut your stocking pieces. Sew them together, following the instructions, and then cut your felt into retro ornament shapes. Use an applique technique with matching embroidery floss to embellish your stockings with a colorful, mid-century vibe.

Now you have the ideas, so grab your needle and embroidery floss or plug in your sewing machine and get started with these Christmas stocking cross stitch pattern ideas!

If you enjoyed this crafty project, you may also like learning how to make tea cup candle favors!

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Photo by Jason Coudriet on Unsplash