Rolled beeswax Christmas tree candles are a fun and economical way to bring some cheer to your table or tree decorations. They are easy to make even for children, with a little help. Use them for gift toppers, tree decorations, and table decor.
Making candles from beeswax sheets is an easy introduction to candle making. The sweet, honey smell of the beeswax is intoxicating as you work with it. A wide variety of candle shapes and sizes can be made. Today we’ll focus on making cute tree candles that can serve as ornaments or for gift giving.
Beeswax sheets are sold as comb foundation for beekeepers. While beekeepers are limited to using undyed sheets, these sheets also come in dozens of bold and pastel colors. Inexpensive and easy to use, they can be used in many ways from simple rolled beeswax candles to more elaborate havdalah candles.
These rolled beeswax Christmas tree candles require 2 sheets of contrasting beeswax. Traditionally forest green is used along with white but you can also use red or blue. To make the candles you will cut the beewax sheets in half and then cut them again. You’ll get 4 Christmas tree candles from 2 honeycomb beeswax sheets.
Choosing your wick
These candles use a #2/0 wick, about the same size wick that you will use when making beeswax tealight candles.
The size of the wick used when making candles is important. Wicks come in various sizes to accommodate small tea lights all the way up to 3-inch diameter pillar candles. When the size of the wick is right for the diameter of the candle, the candle is dripless and smokeless. If the wick is too small, the candle will drip because the wick cannot burn the wax as fast as the beeswax is melting. When the wick is too large, it will smoke because the flame consumes the wax faster than the wax can melt to feed the flame.
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Rolled Beeswax Christmas Tree Candles
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 4-inch candles 1x
Description
These small conical candles resemble a Chrismas tree. Use them for gift toppers, tree ornaments, party favors, or table settings for your winter holiday decorations.
Ingredients
Materials:
Equipment:
- Ruler
- Craft knife or sharp scissors
- Hairdryer
Instructions
- Work with 2 beeswax sheets together one on top of the other.
- Lay the 2 beeswax sheets on the table, one on top of the other, so that the long side extends from left to right. Measure 4 1/4 inches along the 8 1/2 inch side of the beeswax sheets. Score the sheets at this point, dividing the both sheets in half. Use the craft knife or scissors to cut the sheets in half. You’ll have 4 pieces of beeswax measuring 4 1/4 inches by 16 inches — 2 pieces of each color.
- Working with half the beeswax sheets at a time, place the rectangle on the table in front of you with the long side extending from left to right on the table. Place the contrasting color of beeswax on top of the first rectangle. You’ll work with the two rectangles stacked one on top of the other.
- Using the craft knife, score a diagonal line from half an inch up from the bottom of the rectangle, beginning at the left side, to half an inch down from the top of the rectangle on the right side. Separate at the score mark. You’ll have four “triangles” — 2 of each color. Repeat with the other rectangle. You now have eight right-angle triangles that are 3 1/2 inches on the shortest side.– four of each color.
- Find the top of your wick by looking for the V along the braid. Cut the wick into 5-inch pieces if you are making candles to burn. If you are making ornaments for gift toppers or to hand on a Christmas tree, make the wicks 6 inches long.
- Lay your first triangle on the table in front of you with the point of the triangle pointing away from you and the 3-inch edge closest to you. Place the contrasting color triangle on top of this triangle, with the long edge about 1/4 inch up from the edge. Place the right angle of the triangle on your left side.
- Place the wick along the short edge of the triangle with the bottom of the wick flush with the right angle corner. The top of the wick will overhang the wax by 1/2 inch. If you are making this as a gift topper or ornament, loop the wick and place the cut edge inside the wax to secure it.
- Warm the wax with the hairdryer until it just begins to glisten. Do not overheat. Using the edge of a ruler, turn up the short edge of the wax and fold it over the wick. Roll the candle tightly, keeping the bottom even and letting the sides of the candle flare out slightly. Secure the edge by warming the wax with your hand and pressing firmly.
- Repeat with the three remaining Christmas tree shapes, using two colors of wax for each tree.
Notes
TIP: Add glitter to decorate the tree shapes. To do so, warm the trees with a hairdryer. Sprinkle a small amount of glitter on a paper towel (use polyester glitter rather than aluminum glitter if the candles will be lit). Roll the warmed wax in the glitter to evenly distribute on the wax. Shake off excess glitter. Allow the trees to harden.
Rolled Beeswax Christmas Tree Candles
These small conical candles resemble a Christmas tree. Use them for gift toppers, tree ornaments, party favors, or table settings for your winter holiday decorations.
Yield: 4 (4-inch) Christmas Tree shaped candles
Materials:
Equipment:
- Ruler
- Craft knife or sharp scissors
- Hairdryer
Equipment:
- Ruler
- Craft knife or sharp scissors
- Hairdryer
Directions:
- Work with 2 contrasting beeswax sheets together one on top of the other.
- Lay the 2 beeswax sheets on the table, one on top of the other, so that the long side extends from left to right. Measure 4 1/4 inches along the 8 1/2 inch side of the beeswax sheets. Score the sheets at this point, dividing the both sheets in half. Use the craft knife or scissors to cut the sheets in half. You’ll have 4 pieces of beeswax measuring 4 1/4 inches by 16 inches — 2 pieces of each color.
- Working with half the beeswax sheets at a time, place the rectangle on the table in front of you with the long side extending from left to right on the table. Place the contrasting color of beeswax on top of the first rectangle. You’ll work with the two rectangles stacked one on top of the other.
- Using the craft knife, score a diagonal line from half an inch up from the bottom of the rectangle, beginning at the left side, to half an inch down from the top of the rectangle on the right side. Separate at the score mark. You’ll have four “triangles” — 2 of each color. Repeat with the other rectangle. You now have eight right-angle triangles that are 3 1/2 inches on the shortest side.– four of each color.
- Find the top of your wick by looking for the V along the braid. Cut the wick into 5-inch pieces if you are making candles to burn. If you are making ornaments for gift toppers or to hand on a Christmas tree, make the wicks 6 inches long.
- Lay your first triangle on the table in front of you with the point of the triangle pointing away from you and the 3-inch edge closest to you. Place the contrasting color triangle on top of this triangle, with the long edge about 1/4 inch up from the edge. Place the right angle of the triangle on your left side.
- Place the wick along the short edge of the triangle with the bottom of the wick flush with the right angle corner. The top of the wick will overhang the wax by 1/2 inch. If you are making this as a gift topper or ornament, loop the wick and place the cut edge inside the wax to secure it.
- Warm the wax with the hairdryer until it just begins to glisten. Do not overheat. Using the edge of a ruler, turn up the short edge of the wax and fold it over the wick. Roll the candle tightly, keeping the bottom even and letting the sides of the candle flare out slightly. Secure the edge by warming the wax with your hand and pressing firmly.
- Repeat with the three remaining Christmas tree shapes, using two colors of wax for each tree.
TIP: Add glitter to decorate the tree shapes. To do so, warm the trees with a hairdryer. Sprinkle a small amount of glitter on a paper towel (use polyester glitter rather than aluminum glitter if the candles will be kit). Roll the warmed wax in the glitter to evenly distribute on the wax. Shake off excess glitter. Allow the trees to harden.
More gifts you can make with beeswax honeycomb sheets
Make a Rolled Havdalah Candle, while it’s traditionally used to welcome the ending of the weekly Sabbath, it can also be used as a beautiful decoration. It is a braided candle with multiple wicks, and has a very beautiful and unique look.
Another fun rolled candle project is making Rolled Hanukkah Candles, most commercially available candles are paraffin, so making beeswax rolled candles can help you enjoy clean air, and bright light, during the festival of lights.
How to Make Rolled Beeswax Candles if you’ve never made them, or just want to make regular full sized candles. These are a favorite, and can even be made by children as gifts!
Be inspired with more beeswax recipes from my book The Beeswax Workshop:
Beeswax is easy to work with and a versatile ingredient for DIY Perfumes, salves, and personal care products. It’s not just for candles, even though DIY candles are wonderful, too. Grab my book The Beeswax Workshop, and learn more about this amazing ingredient.
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