I figured I would start off our first Holiday DIY with something that’s very easy to customize, candles! I made two different versions that range from simple, to a little more difficult (but definitely doable!). Check them out below.

Candle 1: Modge Podge Comic Candle

Supplies Needed:

• Candle of choice
• Comic book, magazine, or print out
• Scissors
• Modge Podge
• Brush

If you’re seen our other DIY posts that feature Modge Podge, like these Star Wars heels, or these decoupage wallets, you know how very easy to use it is.

Step one, cut out what you want to put on your candle. I went with a page that had lots of different Marvel characters.

Once you have your images cut out, brush on a layer of Modge Podge onto a section of the candle. Then place your image on top.

You’ll then want to add a layer of Modge Podge to the top of your image in order to seal it.

Wait 10-15 for that to dry, and then move onto the next section. Once dry, you’re done! I think if you had any Christmas themed comics on hand, those would work really well for this project.

Next up was definitely my favorite of the two. Mostly because it looks more fitting for the holidays while still being geeky! There are two parts to this tutorial. The first part shows how you can make your own custom stamp. However, if you already have a stamp you want to use, you can skip to the second part!

Candle 2: Stamped candle

Part one: Making a stamp
Supplies needed:

• Carving block or rubber eraser
• Carving tools (exacto knifes or linoleum cutters work well)
• Design, drawn or printed out
• Pen
• Ruler (for more geometric designs)

For this candle, I came up with the idea of using a triforce for the Legend of Zelda games. I felt like the design really worked this project. Because I didn’t have a stamp already, I decided to make one using this a carving block I happened to have on hand. Since this design is fairly simple, I drew it out on paper, and then traced it onto the block.

The great things about these carving blocks is they’re very soft, so it doesn’t take much force to carve them. Since all I have on hand was an exacto knife, I used that to carve out my design.

That’s pretty much it! If you’re not feeling up to carving your own stamp, there are a few Etsy stores that sell geeky stamps like this one, this one, or this one.

Part two: Decorating your candle

Supplies needed:

• Stamp
• Candle
• Tissue paper (what you use for wrapping presents)
• Ink color of choice
• Scissors
• Heat tool (heat gun or embossing gun work well)

Cut out a piece of tissue paper that’s the height of your candle and the circumference. Stamp out your designs. I choose to do a pattern rather than random stamping, but go with what you think looks best.

Next wrap the tissue paper around your candle and use tape to keep it in place. Make sure you get it as smooth as you can, that will affect how the candle comes out.

When you have your design taped on, wrap a piece of wax paper around the whole thing. This will provide a bit of a barrier between the candle and heating tool and help to smooth things out. I used binder clips to keep it taut around the candle.

Now take your heating tool and start heating up the candle. Try to keep it moving so you don’t melt one area more than another.

This is what you start start to see. It’ll look like the tissue paper has melted away leaving only the design.

Pretty much continue doing that until all the paper had been “melted” and then you’re left with a stamped candle!

Some notes: Since these are meant to be more decorative, you shouldn’t burn them like you would an actual candle. To still light your candle, burn it until it creates a well, and then place tea lights in the candle.If you choose to do either of these for thinner candles, like menorah candles, we suggest that it’s only for decoration and not for burning.

Also, for the stamped candle, if you’re using ink that has any glitter, or something added to the pigment, make sure your design faces outward so you can see the ink better. My ink had gold glitter, but since I faced the paper in, I didn’t get to see it much once the paper was melted into the candle.

Happy decorating! If you do happen to make either of these, please link us to them so we can take a look!