Christmas is a crafter’s dream…glitter, baked goods, and decor everywhere. As a self-proclaimed human elf, I adore getting to create and make some Christmas magic myself. So, I teamed up with my sister (aka my crafter in crime) and we tested out five holiday crafts that will fill up your holiday break and make you a bit more jolly.
Today, we’re going to make whipped latte candles!
Anyone who loves the smell of coffee will adore this craft. It’s one of my favorite scents and my room smells delicious with these candles aglow. By using a whipped wax method on top, we are able to make a simple candle look like a delectable treat. Although it may be tempting, don’t eat it, of course! This was my first time making candles and it definitely seems more intimidating than it, it’s actually easy and fun and gives a great result.
What you’ll need:
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Soy wax
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Glass jars (ours were 6 ounces)
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Candlewick
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Tape
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Ground coffee (we used K-cups which worked really well!)
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Vanilla extract
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Whisk
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Double boiler
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Stovetop
Directions:
For the candle base:
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First, measure out your wax. We didn’t do this exactly but just used our jars to measure. For a full candle, you need about a jar and a half of wax (approx. 9-10 oz for 6 oz jars).
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Boil water on the stove and create a double boiler by placing a heat-safe bowl over the water. Keep at medium heat.
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Dump the wax in and stir to melt.
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After it is melted, add the scents. We used one K-cup of pumpkin spice grounds and 1.5 tablespoons of vanilla extract.
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Stir to combine and take the heat to low. Let simmer for a couple of minutes while we prep the wick.
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Secure the wick end to the base of your jar (we used tape), make sure that it is centered. (Editor’s Note: another way to attach the wick to the base is to use a dot of wax or hot glue!)
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After the wax has cooled a bit but before it is hard, pour the wax into the jar. Hold the wick out of the way to keep it clean and centered.
For the whipped top:
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Using about half of a jar of wax (3-4 oz), follow steps 1-3 above.
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Instead of adding the coffee, just add the vanilla extract. 1.5 to 2 tablespoons.
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Keep an eye on the wax but let it semi-harden. It should turn from clear to opaque
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When it is opaque but not hard, use a whisk to stir the wax until it becomes a buttery, whipped texture.
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Spoon the whipped wax on top of the candle base, being careful of the wick.
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Allow the candle to fully solidify for 24 hours before burning.
This was a bit of an experiment, but I actually really loved how it turned out. The coffee grounds will settle throughout the candle giving it a cool, almost cookies and cream look to it! Smells yummy, just like a vanilla latte!
Click here to check out the first craft we made, easy no-sew embroidery hoop ornaments, and here for our dried orange Christmas garland! One of my fellow HC at LUM writers also shared her favorite super simple DIY for winter, so click here to read about how to make homemade snowglobes! Be sure to stay tuned for our other DIYs, they’ll be published later in the week!