Hello there dear friends and readers! Guess what time it is? That’s right! Itt’s time for the Monthly DIY Challenge! In case you’re new here, here’s the scoopity scoop: on the 2nd Wednesday of every month, me and my fantastically creative bloggy friends and I create something based on a common theme and/or material. Sometimes we work with brands and sponsors, sometimes we don’t. Here are some of my fave past challenge project materials: Michaels crates, plumbing pieces, air dry clay, leather, HomeRight spray paint shelters, and Mod Podge. This month we decided to use everyone’s favorite permanent marking pens: Sharpies!
I don’t know about you, but I love Sharpies. Remember using them in middle school to decorate everything?? I know I do. Even though I’m now technically a grown-up, I still love using these colorful permanent pens to decorate things and make all my notes pretty and eye catching. My bloggy friends agreed that Sharpies are the bomb, so we decided to use them in this Month’s DIY Challenge!
Custom Candle Materials
Step 1
Draw your design on the tissue paper with whatever color sharpies you choose. I love black and gold, so I quickly drew this slightly tribal design. When you’re done coloring, cut as closely around your design as you can. Pro Tip: Slip a sheet or two of paper behind your tissue so the sharpies don’t bleed onto your table!
Step 2
Once your design is cut out, place it where you want it to be on your candle, and then wrap a piece of wax paper your candle and design and hold or tape in place. To get the design to stick to the candle, use a heat gun or hair dryer and blow hot air over the candle for several seconds. Peel back the wax paper to see if it’s stuck – if the edges are still sticking up, press the wax paper back down and continue heating. Then remove the wax paper and your design will magically be on your candle!
It looks like the candle was made this way – the design is on there so well. I’m loving the gold and black pattern! It fits in so well with my living room’s style.
Funny story, I didn’t actually have a heat gun and my hair dryer is broken and only blows cold air. So I had to get creative to get my design transferred to the candle! First I tried turning up the heat and holding the candle over the heat register. No go. So then I turned on the stove burner and (very carefully) held my candle over the heat. Voila! It worked! However, I wouldn’t recommend that solution – use a heat gun or hair dryer if you have them!
It fits right in with all of my black, white, and gold goodness going on 🙂
Now that you’ve learned how to make a custom candle using sharpies, it’s time to check out all of my friends’ awesome sharpie projects! Just click a photo below to be transported instantly to their posts 🙂
Love it? Pin it! <3
What’s your favorite sharpie craft idea?
So pretty, Erica!!! Perfect for your decor!
Thanks so much, Nicole! I love how it just fits right in and took me only a few minutes to make!
Whaaaat? This is crazy! How in the world did you think of this transfer method? I must try it! Your candle is super cute.
Haha, well I have the magical world of Pinterest to thank for the inspiration. It really is such an easy technique!
This is a genius technique!! Love how it turned out!
Thanks, Bre! I can’t believe how easy it was. I’ll be decorating all my blank candles from now on!
The candle is beautiful, Erica! The gold touches are so you!! Have a wonderful rest of the week, my friend!
Aw, thanks so much, Kendra! You know how I love my gold!
I love this idea and am about to make some Christmas candles as presents. I am wondering if it is ok to burn them once the sharpie decorations are finished?
From what I’ve researched on the web, it seems like people have mixed results. For some people burning the candles works just fine, but for others, they say the tissue paper has caught fire or smoldered. So I would say to err on the side of caution and just use these candles for decoration. Happy crafting!