If I have said it once I have said it a thousand times: Candles are everything. Candles are pantyhose for your home – they make everything look good. I’m not saying they will put away the the dirty socks on your floor, but they will make those socks less noticeable. And probably smell better too! Candles are my favorite gift to give. They are budget friendly, semi-useful, and they are still considered a small luxury and many will not buy for themselves. Oddly enough, my ALL TIME most widely viewed blog post is all about how to remove candle wax from glass containers (it’s worth a gander btw), so that tells me that other folks love a good candle too. However, sometimes candles come with weird labels on the outside and I’m too lazy impatient to soak and scrub. Having a little sweater sleeve not only makes the candle look a little more special, it doubles as gift wrap. People, it’s time to make your candle a cozy!
Materials
Old Sweater. If it’s been natural fiber and run through a hot wash/dry and slightly felted, that’s better. Not necessary, but better.
Scissors. The sharper, the better.
Candle. My favorite is Fresh Balsam, but I’m not about to tell you what to do. However. If you have not tried Fresh Balsam, you are missing out.
All you need to do is cut off the cuff of the sweater. The size will depend on the height of your candle, but I suggest you start at the elbow and work backwards, as you can always snip off more. Most wool sweaters will not unravel (especially if they are slightly felted from hot water), but if your sweater is mostly acrylic, you might need to finish the edge with a little fray check or white glue.
Slip candle into the sweater cuff.
Roll over the cuff, making sure to keep it completely clear of the rim. You do NOT want some little hair to catch fire. I have done this before, and although it does not trigger the whole thing to flame up (weird right?), it will smell like burning hair. And no good smelling candle can counter the badness of burning hair.
Speaking of fragrance…you know the best candle smell of them all? Blown out candle. When is someone going to start selling that?
Well there it is. A candle cozy for all ages. And here you were thinking your candles didn’t need sweaters. Silly you!
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This marks the end of Craft Lightning week. Special thanks to Angie and Carolina for inviting me to take part. Are you looking for some more quick and easy holiday craft ideas? Me too! One Artsy Mama is kicking things off with this adorable reindeer ornament.
Artistic Endeavors is sharing how to make this fun snowman snow ornament.
I am in love with these adorable succulents in a jar from Happy Go Lucky.
Whip up a batch of this peppermint sugar scrub from Mom Off Track for gifts this holiday season.
Fireflies and Jellybeans is sharing how to make these simple shell ornaments for your tree.
Jennifer Priest is sharing how to make placemats, napkin rings and more for her amazing table setting!
Carolina from 30 Minute Crafts actually broke out the glitter! She is sharing how to make these glittered pinecone earrings!
Don’t miss any of the Craft Lightning fun by following along with our quick and easy crafts Pinterest board.
Dear Aunt Peaches,
I was in awe of your ability to reduce the Michael’s tree branches to a more reasonable figure. Can you do that with candles? Cuz I looked at that balsam candle at Bath & Body works. $22/large candle or 2/22 of the medium size. See…. Those things will burn for 5 hours or so, Max. That comes to $4.50 per hour of candle burning! Sheesh!
So, how do you bring that price down? No way am I buying candles at that price!
Alice, you are missing out! Two things…I never buy the BB 3 wick candles retail. They have a 2 for $22 sales usually a week every month (a lot right about this time). Plus, if you sign up for their mailing list, they send you 20% off coupons a llllllllll the time. But they last FOREVER. I’m sure there is a consumer report somewhere but I’m guessing at least 30 hours. I broke out my Balsam candle this weekend and it burned at least 8 hours and it’s not even 10% down from the top. So rest assured – if you make the investment – it’s worth it. But yeah, wait for the sale!
Dearest Peaches, I appreciate your depth. I’ve learned about several important to me things since subscribing (or what ever I did) to your emails on Monday. I did not know about the deaths in Beirut, I love that you noted the act of kindness of the “stranger” turning in the woman’s phone, I appreciate that you let your sometimes “controversial ideas be know rather than just stay quiet.
My nephew and the woman he married just adopted two kittens. The cat that lived with them for years died about a year ago, she had not been well for some time and they took wonderful care of her. She was a “domestic short hair” cat. They all live in Europe so after I congratulated via email, they sent me a little video. The kittens are Ragdolls sent to them in Switzerland from California. I’m sure they cost a bundle. I do animals rescue, TNR, donate what I can financially, give 50% of the art I make and sell on Etsy to The Humane Society of the United States in the name of the customer who purchased my wares. I was not happy about my nephew’s action, even though it is no fault of the kittens that there are humans who breed them there by taking up the room and hearts in a home where truly homeless and needy kittens or cats could have gone. Now my Swiss family is pissed off. Perhaps I made a mistake. I don’t know. I couldn’t let it just go by. Have you an opinion about this? I’m interested in knowing.
Be well,
Erica
Oh Dear, I’m sorry Erica! I’m sorry your family is pissed, but I’m not sorry you stuck to what you know is right. Millions of euthanized every year, many because of irresponsible breeding practices…and any cat lover worth their salt will love them regardless of appearance. I can understand why someone would want a rag doll – we had one as a kid – and they really are good with children…but knowing you are so dedicated to helping animals…it is very strange. Still, its not the cats’ fault they were born for profit and they deserve a loving home same as the feral alley cats – hopefully your family can give it to them 🙂