I saw this idea on Martha’s website and I had to make my own mini terra-cotta votives! Aren’t they adorable for fall entertaining?! You can make any size (even really large!) and add any scent to them. I think extra-large ones would be a nice touch placed in the middle of a table or the small ones at individual place settings. They’re also perfect for adding a beautiful, fall glow to an outdoor area. The tiny ones would make great wedding favors AND you can paint names on them too : ) I’m a little obsessed with these! They were so simple to make and cheap too! I bought all of my supplies at Michaels.
Instructions:
Supplies: soy wax, twigs, wick, pennies, and mini terracotta planters
Place a penny in the bottom to close the hole. With the wick, tie a loose knot around the twig and cut so it fits nicely in the terracotta planter.
Melt the wax and add any oils or scents you like. Pour into the planter. Make sure the wick is centered.
Let the wax harden then remove the twigs and cut the wick down to around 1/4 inch.
Light and watch the glow
Skye Parker says
August 23, 2012 at 11:40 pmadorable idea!!! candles are so expensive!
Alycia says
August 24, 2012 at 1:33 amsuper cute! great tutorial 🙂
thepintopony.com says
August 24, 2012 at 4:27 amLove this idea so much! I’m thinking I might try a super big version with multiple wicks. 🙂
Anonymous says
September 10, 2012 at 4:09 pmI’m wondering if a color could be added? Food coloring maybe?
Pria says
September 12, 2012 at 5:30 pmYou can add wax crayons or oil paint to give color..both works pretty well..
Anonymous says
September 24, 2012 at 11:20 amI tried the penny trick and wax still leaked out the bottom, I did a small batch of 3 first time around. Thank goodness I put them in a pan before I filled them, otherwise I would have had a very messy table. The remaining pots I put the wick up through the bottom and hot glued it in place. I also used modge podge on the inside to prevent the terra cotta from catching on fire, which was suggested on another site.
Anonymous says
October 2, 2012 at 8:43 amWax crayons aren’t good for coloring candles as its pigments will clog the wick preventing it from burning well. NEVER use oil paint to color a candle. Not only are the chemicals flammable, they are also toxic when burning. Food coloring is water based and won’t work. You need an oil soluble colorant. Just go to a craft store like Michael’s, Hobby Lobby or Joann’s and get some candle dye/colorant.
Erica says
October 5, 2012 at 12:50 pmThese are amazing. I’m gonna have to try this next summer.
TO DIY OR NOT TO DIY says
May 24, 2013 at 9:57 amGreat idea!
We made a post (with links and credits) on our blog:
http://todiyornottodiy.blogspot.pt/2013/05/velas-em-vasos.html
Thanks for sharing such great ideas!
TO DIY OR NOT TO DIY
nancee says
September 25, 2013 at 7:39 pmi love this
Pedro Rodríguez says
October 16, 2013 at 5:42 amEsta genial para toda ocasión felicidades por tan genial idea.
Della Harrison says
February 13, 2014 at 5:31 amGreat idea and you can decorate the little pots
Grant says
July 19, 2015 at 12:16 pmLove these little candles. We sell the materials needed to make these including the terracotta pots in various sizes.
Price for 10 is as little £8.99 including free P&P
Deb Story says
June 25, 2016 at 4:24 pmCan you do it with regular wax?
Eden says
June 26, 2016 at 9:20 pmYes of course!
Sue says
May 19, 2018 at 6:54 amI like this idea! Very pretty n creative. Where do you buy the wax and wicks? Are they very expensive?
Eden says
May 20, 2018 at 9:26 pmWe buy them at a local craft store. They’re not very expensive.
Carla says
May 19, 2018 at 6:50 pmCan you paint the pots
Beth says
July 24, 2018 at 12:00 pmMy pennies will not stay and wax is coming out bottom how do you fix this
Beth at
grace.beth.bopp@gmail.com
Eden says
July 24, 2018 at 12:02 pmTry adding a dot of hot wax under the penny first and let it cool before adding the other wax.
Anita says
January 1, 2019 at 10:09 amNice. It’s just so expensive to buy the main stuff.
And you didn’t say how you poured the liquid wax I’m sure it would liquid trough the bottom hole.
Mary Felix says
February 22, 2019 at 9:37 pmI love this idea!!!! Will be great as gifts and to use ourselves!!!