
Milk Carton Candles
Supplies:
- Clean half-gallon cardboard milk carton
- A pan and a large clean can
- Broken ice
- 10-inch white taper candle
- Large spoon
2-1/2 to 3 pounds of wax and 3/4 cup of stearin (to make the wax
burn better) or use 2-1/2 to 3 pounds of wax or wax crystals with
hardener already added
- Candlemaking thermometer
- Superfine glitter
Instructions:
- Break the wax into chunks and place it in the can.  Pour
a few inches of water in the pan, then set the can of wax in the
water.  Bring the water to simmering and let the wax melt.  (To
make pouring the wax easier, you may want to bend the can at the
top to form a spout before putting the wax in.)
- Add stearin to the melted wax. If you're using wax crystals
or wax with hardener added, follow the manufacturer's instructions
for melting.
- Partially fill the milk carton with broken ice cubes.  Center
a taper in the milk carton, then continue filling the carton
with ice.  Tap the carton on your work surface to settle the
ice, then add more ice.  Sprinkle glitter over the ice.
- Let the wax cool to 170 degrees F, then pour it into the
carton.  As the wax cools and shrinks, add more ice or wax
- After the wax hardens completely, peel the cardboard carton
away from the sides.  Trim the top of the taper so it's level
with the top of the candle, leaving 1/2 inch of wick.  If
the bottom of the candle isn't level, slide it across an old
warm skillet to smooth any rough spots.
Caution:  Was is extremely flammable!
- Never melt wax directly over heat or to a temperature above
220 degrees F.
- Never leave melting wax unattended; if it starts to smoke,
remove the pan from the heat immediately.
- If wax catches fire, smother the flame with a pan lid; don't
throw water on the flame.
- Never leave a burning candle unattended, and never burn
candles where the flame might come in contact with flammable
surfaces or objects.
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